@ThinkTank · 2:02
The Aam Admi Party; Challenges and Potential- In Conversation with AAP National Spokesperson Captain Shalini Singh
I just want to start this interview off by asking you what your initial interest was in the Amali Party's ideology. What got you interested and what were your experiences in the early stages when you joined the party?
Capt Shalini Singh
@Shals77 · 4:42
If you are moving out to in politics, it is not for your personal gain. It is for so you have to leave a side of your personal life, and you have to be part of the people. So it has been a very good journey, because we were also, like my family was a little bit skeptical because everybody has in mind that, okay, politics is just like that. Why would you go into politics? And how will be the people around?
@ThinkTank · 0:42
Katherine Sharney an undeniable fact, as we mentioned, is that the app is now being looked at as a serious alternative to the BJP. However, it seems that the party is mostly focused on the north at the moment. How does the party plan on expanding its footprint to other parts of the country, such as South India? And also, what are the challenges that you really face when you go into a new state? And is there a model that you follow when the party enters a new state?
Capt Shalini Singh
@Shals77 · 4:02
Definitely Amanda party wants to leave with footprints all over the India and yes, I think not us, the entire nation will be the happiest if we are in the center at some point of time, a few years down the line. We all hope very strongly for this. So the roadmap is slowly and steadily we start moving to states. We contest the smallest of the election, whether it is MCD election, whether it is the Punjab election. So the smallest of election, we contest and we reach
@ThinkTank · 0:20
In the same vein, why do you believe that your model of education and basic standard of living didn't work in states like Goa and Gujarat when you went into elections? And how have these learnings been brought into election pitches when you approach the other states that are going into election?
Capt Shalini Singh
@Shals77 · 4:33
We just went we campaigned for so hard, we worked so hard and we just came out with nothing. Even securing those five seats was a very uphill task. And my Shals soft and kudos to those five MLA's sitting MLAs who have come out as winner. So it will take some time because we are just a new party to very new party. Just ten years and we have become a national party. Gujarat election has given us this big thing that now we are the national party
@ThinkTank · 0:28
Just as a followup to that, ma'am, what do you think of the idea that the up kind of practices soft Hindutva, as it were, and this in turn splits the opposition votes in states where multiple parties contest against the BJP? So what do you make of this assertion, ma'am? That the Amadi party is splitting the opposition vote?
Capt Shalini Singh
@Shals77 · 5:00
See, I will not say that Amani party is splitting the votes. This is a very wrong kind of a notion which is very aggressively and actively being spread by BJP or Congress. So we are just with our party's philosophy, we are with our party's ideology. We are reaching into people's heart and trying to pave way through our education model, through our health model, through our basic development of infrastructure model. Now see, the Congress in some way is trying hard to revive
@ThinkTank · 0:46
Before we conclude, Ma'am, just one final question about the state of unemployment. It is the biggest concern. It is a boiling issue and in the minds of the youth not just in Delhi and Punjab but across the country how does the party plan on approaching these issues, especially in Delhi and Punjab? And I'm sure you saw her similar badal's speech, the MP in Parliament where she was accusing Bhagatan, the Chief Minister of Punjab of being inaccessible and unavailable
Capt Shalini Singh
@Shals77 · 4:33
Whatever he has the kind of change they are trying to bring in people's mind. They are giving them options at what better things can be done for the development of Punjab. For the development of Delhi. And all these things will develop the country in a whole. So Amanda party believes in the model of education. And this education model is empowering the youth to generate employment, to get employed and to generate employment
@ThinkTank · 0:49
And this is truly a platform which is voice based, and you can really express yourself without being interrupted. Captain Charlie, once again, it's been an honor to host you on Swell. I really hope I can have you back on the think tank Swell cast soon. But until then, all the very best to you and good luck, ma'am, and have a great weekend
Capt Shalini Singh
@Shals77 · 0:42
Thank you so much, Karun, for having me here. It was real pleasure to chat with you, to speak my mind and speak party's mind. And definitely it is very important that the real things should be known to people because you said so many things are polarized and interrupted. And also it was a real pleasure to present my views and parties ideologically in front of your audience and on this think tank. And thanks a lot. Best wishes to you and hope to chat with you soon again