Kejriwal's AAP Announces 44 Probable Candidates for Delhi Assembly Polls

Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came up with a list of 44 probable candidates for 12 constituencies from different sections of the society on Friday.

The list comprising candidates with varying profiles from car cleaner, to engineering student to farmer sticks to Kejriwal's firm motto of a party of the common man of 'aam aadmi.'

The list includes prominent media personality and active AAP member Shazia Ilmi and Manish Sisodia.

According to party chief Kejriwal, the candidates were selected from 106 applications of "advocates, journalists, engineers, former defence officials, resident welfare associations office bearers, social activists and supporters from other political parties like Congress and BJP," and will contest for the upcoming Delhi assembly polls.

However, the candidates would be further screened and brought down to 12.

"The final 12 would be selected after recommendations of grassroot level workers and selection committee after proper consultation and debate among them," said Kejriwal to Press Trust of India.

With an aim to launch a crime and corruption free politics, the former taxman said, "Our focus was to ensure that candidates do not have any criminal case against them, they are honest, having clean image in the locality and no two persons belonging from same family. Similarly, we have tried to discourage nepotism and dynastic politics."

Stressing on the need for a unbiased and clean politics, Kejriwal stated that unlike BJP, Congress which had fielded 15 nominees with criminal records and BSP 15 nominees, the AAP wanted to "bring people with clean image and prevent persons with criminal antecedents from entering politics."

On being asked about the party funding, Kejriwal said, "We have received around rupees two crore in last two months through internet banking and anybody can visit our site to see the list of donors. We don't accept any amount from those who want to remain anonymous."