Public support for the AAP is gaining momentum in Gujarat, with hundreds participating in the party’s five-day long State-wide “Jhadoo Yatra”, which ended at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on Thursday, said party members.

The party launched a massive march on Republic Day, covering all of the State’s 26 Lok Sabha constituencies. The march was flagged off by TV journalist-turned-politician and AAP leader Ashutosh.

Aimed at sensitising people in the remotest areas about the “anti-people and pro-corporate stand” of the Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government, the march was taken out to raise local issues in the upcoming Parliament elections.

“The rally was very successful. We have been able to sensitise people about our work and mission against corruption,” Sukhdev Patel, party convenor in Gujarat, told Business Line. “There was huge support from small towns. They have welcomed AAP as a good alternative to the present political parties.”

Wider reach The party, which has received membership of over 500,000 in Gujarat since December 8, plans to penetrate into smaller pockets of the State. Interestingly, it has seen new leadership emerging from local levels.

“The entire movement was organised and managed by fresh and young leaders, who did not have any political affiliations earlier. This shows an emergence of new leadership in politics in Gujarat,” said Patel.

He further claimed that several workers from other parties, including the ruling BJP, expressed their silent support to the AAP.

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