Former Aam Aadmi Party leader Yogendra Yadav on Sunday said their newly-formed social movement 'Swaraj Abhiyan' would intervene in upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and might extend support to political parties.
"Bihar polls are coming and there is a lack of political options in the state. Our duty in this situation is to intervene positively, knock and interfere. We can even extend support to some political parties. We'll take a decision over these at our national working committee meeting in New Delhi on June 2," Yadav told reporters in Patna.
Yadav said that intervention in the Bihar polls could be in various ways like a manifesto prepared by the people, making thepeople conscious about candidates, warning against tainted candidates or maintaining a vigil against use of money and muscle power during elections. He was speaking along with another former AAP senior leader Prashant Bhushan at the inaugural function of 'Swaraj Samvad' as part of 'Swaraj Abhiyan' in the state.
"There is much anxiety, energy, hope, worry regarding Bihar politics, which has become devoid of options. On one side there are flag bearers of social justice, who have destroyed several aspects of Bihar in the last 25 years, while on the other hand there are powers who bear the saffron flag and want to destroy India in the past and future," Yadav said. The psephologist-turned-politician said the state wanted to know what options were there, and Swaraj Abhiyan would try to provide a new choice in politics and tell the people that "the construction of such a choice" was its religion.
Yadav said that they had no desire to form a political party and contest elections as of now and the movement would spend time in gathering thoughts, strength and energy across the country. "We'll decide our direction after that," he said.
Asked whether the 'Swaraj Abhiyan' will tie-up or support AAP in the Bihar polls, Yadav said it could be talked only in the context of Delhi. "AAP is the name of a regional party in Delhi, and just like Lalu Prasad has branches of RJD in Manipur and Maharashtra, which people do not know about, AAP has opened its branch in Bihar. So any relation with it could be only in Delhi," he said.
Reacting to questions on 100 days of AAP government in Delhi, Yadav said 100 days could not be enough to assess its performance, especially when "it had gone through much turmoil during it". "We should give it more time and wish it well on this occasion... at least I would do so," he said.
Questioned about aligning with Anna Hazare, Yadav said he and his supporters had much respect for Hazare and all honest citizens including him would be welcome to join the 'Swaraj Abhiyan.' "But Hazare has said right from the first day that he was against political initiative, while we believe in providing another option in politics. So I don't know why he will connect with our effort," Yadav said.
The former AAP leader also said that the demand for full statehood for Delhi was a justified one, but its Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was raising it in a "wrong manner". "There is no provision of full statehood for Delhi in the Constitution. So to achieve the aim much prudence, patience and diplomacy are needed. Confrontation, locks and orders are not needed for it," he said.
