Swaraj Abhiyan to launch political party by October 2, announce Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan

Delhi: Erstwhile members of Aam Aadmi Party and now Swaraj Abhiyan leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan on Sunday announced launching of a political party by October 2 to provide an 'alternative political vehicle'.

Yadav and Bhushan were sacked from AAP in April last year for 'anti-party' activities. They had hit out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal questioning his 'supremo style' of working" and 'lack of transparency' in the party.

Addressing the concluding session of a two-day Abhiyan national convention here, Yadav said, "We were never secretive about going political. A decision to launch a political party was taken with nearly 93 per cent of the delegates at the convention overwhelmingly supporting it."

"Of the 433 delegates, 405 voted in favour of launching the party," he added, amidst chanting of slogans 'Vande Materam','Inquilab Zindabad' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' by the volunteers.

However, he clarified that Swaraj Abhiyan will continue to exist even after the new political party is launched. Although the decision to launch a party has been taken by the delegates, the two will function independently.

The duo, however, parried questions on whether the new party will contest the Assembly elections in five states, including Punjab, which are going to polls next year.

Taking on AAP Bhushan said, "Even if we are championing clean politics, people will not vote for us unless they feel we can win elections. This was precisely the case with AAP. It took birth out of movements like India Against Corruption, Janlokpal and these helped get public support. We should fight elections when we have done enough groundwork, be visible so that people can identify with us. We should contest polls only when we think we can win," as per PTI.

Yadav, however, said this does not mean that it will not contest polls at all.

"We will look for alliances, but that will be only with people's movements or party that have taken birth from such movements," he said.

Suspended AAP MP Dharamvira Gandhi was present at the event, but he left before the announcement of launching of a party was made.

"I am not a part of this (Swaraj Abhiyan) political party. I have extended my support to alternative politics, which is not a forte of any single political party. Anyway, I have been suspended by the AAP," Gandhi said.

He, along with another party MP Harinder Singh Khalsa, was suspended by AAP for aligning with Swaraj Abhiyan.

Swaraj Abhiyan adopts yellow headband as a symbol of hope and energy as it moves with resolve. #SwarajSankalp pic.twitter.com/c14wAymHar — Swaraj Abhiyan (@swaraj_abhiyan) July 31, 2016

हमारे लिए राजनीति का मतलब है देश में सच्चाई और ईमानदारी की ऊर्जा को जोड़ना। हम इस ऊर्जा को संगठित करके एक मिसाल पेश करने का संकल्प लेते हैं। — Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) July 31, 2016

Swaraj Sankalp - A new beginning, a day of resolve and determination!
नयी ऊर्जा के साथ आई है ये नयी सुबह - स्वराज संकल्प की सुबह! — Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) July 31, 2016

Elected reps of 114 Dists of @swaraj_abhiyan voted to form Pol party to practice Alt politics, betrayed by AAP. To be ratified by referendum — Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) July 31, 2016

Alt pol means democratic, accountable&transparent pol with policies adopted in pubic Int, divorced from vote considerations. Betrayed by AAP — Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) July 31, 2016

We call upon all who are alarmed by the threat to the Constitution&to the very idea of India to join hands to provide a new vision for India — Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) July 31, 2016

(With Agency inputs)