These small parties want to do an AAP in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which got 2.2 lakh votes in Tamil Nadu during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections (0.5% of total vote share), is not in the fray for the May 16 assembly election in the state.
However, inspired by AAP victory in the Delhi assembly election, several new generation political parties have fielded young candidates in the election promising change and a corruption-free government.Most of these new parties depend on social media and donations for the campaign.
Though many of these organisations are new to electoral politics and also ideological differences and have a different working style, they all are united for a transparent and corruption-free governance and total prohibition.
For instance, Puthiya Sakthi Front (PSF), a political alliance which comprises more than 50 organisations, has already fielded candidates in 29 candidates. PSF has now decided to support candidates of political parties which include Abdul Kalam Vision India Party, Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam, Ilaignar Kottamaippu and Nermai Ani.
“We are now identifying likeminded candidates in 113 constituencies across the state. We are getting a good response from the public. The list of candidates supported by PSF will be uploaded on www.puthiyasakthi.org” says D Jagadeeswaran of Loksatta Party, who is part of Puthiya Sakthi Front (PSF).
However, Lok Satta Party is not contesting the election as the national leadership has decided to take a break from the electoral politics and to concentrate on people movement for healthcare and decentralisation.
V Ponraj, founder Abdul Kalam Vision India Party (AVIP), says the party will contest in 24 constituencies which includes Harbour, Velachery, T Nagar and Alandur.
“Our aim is to have a corruption-free government and will also implement Lokayukta and Right to Quality Services. We could not field candidates in all constituencies because of the lack of time but all these candidates are properly trained by us”. He also promised interlinking of rivers across the city.
Anti-nuclear activist S P Udayakumar is contesting in Radhapuram under the banner of his newly launched party Pachai Tamizhagam. “We don’t have any money power. People are fed up with the corrupt-governance of two parties [AIADMK and DMK which alternatively ruled the state for around 50 years]. I will ensure quality education, desilting of lakes and ponds and also protect the interest of farmers.”
Similarly, Nam Makkal Nam Nadu, floated by a groups of youths, will contest in Velachery, Royapuram and Chepauk. “We are conducting field campaign in these constituencies for a corruption-free society.”
AAP’s future course in TN
AAP state convener S A N Vasigaran said the focus is now on building the party from the grass root level. He said the party is in the process of forming a ten-member committee in each of 65,000 booths across the state.
He said AAP might contest in local body elections, which will be held later in the year.