New Delhi, Jan 10: The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday launched its 17-day free membership drive called ’Man Bhi Aam Aadmi Hoon’ to get 1 crore new members. With the party deciding to contest the Lok Sabha elections, it has launched the drive with a target to expand its footprint all over India.
The drive from January 10 till January 26 is open for all. The only conditions are one should be above 18 years of age and not be a government servant. There is no screening test for becoming an AAP member and only if one is aspiring to be an office bearer will stringent check be carried out to check the person’s background, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier, the joining fee for a new member was Rs 10.
Kejriwal said, "Anyone can be a AAP member and we screen the member if we are planning to make the member a party office bearer."
Kejriwal added, "We will give opportunities and responsibilities to new members if they deserve." The membership form can be filled online or can be submitted to the local office, he added. The party has announced a new helpline number for the membership drive - 077-98220033
AAP spokesperson Pankaj Singh Chouhan said that there is a possibility of extending the campaign depending on the response.
When asked about former IBN7 Managing Editor Ashutosh joining the party, Kejriwal said he will join the party soon.
Claiming to have more than 1 crore members, the BJP and the Congress refused to give the exact number saying they don’t have the exact figure. In fact, both the parties do not have the exact numbers as their offices never felt the need to collate the numbers, their leaders said.
You can become a member or help others become a member in the following ways:
1) You can fill out the form at Aam Aadmi Party website
2) You can directly SMS your Name, STD code, Assembly constituency, from your mobile to 07798220033. Your membership number will be sent to your mobile through SMS.
3) You can also give a missed call at 07798220033 to become a member.
The following information is for existing volunteers who want to help in recruiting more members
4) You can download the Special Membership form from the website, circulate its copies/prints among people through camps or door to door campaign. To receive a membership number, you can help SMS the potential member’s name, STD code, Assembly constituency area to 07798220033 from their mobile phone.
5) You should also keep a note of their membership number. Volunteers helping with filling membership forms must upload the membership numbers of members they inducted, after January 17 on the website.
6) In case the membership applicant does not possess his/her own mobile number, please note their name, STD code, assembly constituency name and Voter ID. After January 17, upload the same to the website to get the membership number. Finally, communicate the membership number to the new member.
7) You can also spread the word of this membership campaign through social media and by forwarding the SMS.