Social activist Medha Patkar with Aam Aadmi Party leaders Mayank Gandhi (left) and Anjali Damania (right) at a press conference in Mumbai on Monday. Photo: Vivek Bendre
Decision soon whether or not organisations will join party
In a move that could bolster the base of the Aam Aadmi Party, social
activist Medha Patkar on Monday announced that the National Alliance of
People’s Movements would “actively support” it. Ms. Patkar is convener
of the NAPM, an umbrella forum of around 250 social organisations across
the country.
Ms. Patkar said the NAPM constituents would decide by January 17 whether
or not they would join the party after holding talks with the AAP.
Asked whether she would join the party or contest an election, Ms.
Patkar said: “I am not ruling out anything. I cannot give any decision
just now. The process of consultation with NAPM members is still on.”
However, several NAPM members, including Alok Agarwal of the Narmada
Bachao Andolan, have already declared their intention of fighting the
Lok Sabha polls on AAP ticket.
Ms. Patkar, who has spearheaded the Narmada Bachao Andolan and has been
part of various other social movements for over 30 years, has so far
steered clear of politics. However, she said, the country was witnessing
a critical phase and the AAP was performing the important role of
connecting people’s movements with politics.
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