Aam Aadmi Party goes shopping for brooms

The Aam Aadmi party is on a shopping spree ahead of the December 4 assembly elections. The item of purchase: Their election symbol, the humble broom.

The Aam Aadmi party is on a shopping spree ahead of the December 4 assembly elections. The item of purchase: Their election symbol, the humble broom. The workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) actually carry it along wherever they go.

AAP has spent quite a bit on procuring brooms for its workers. The party’s central office in Connaught Place has so far purchased 1,200 brooms from Paharganj.

“When we acquired the symbol on August 3, we procured about 200 brooms. Last month, we got 20 more,” said one AAP worker. “Our symbol sets us apart from
Congress (hand) and BJP (lotus) also because they cannot carry the actual objects shown as their symbols.”

Brooms are also being bought in each of the 70 constituencies in Delhi, with volunteers and supporters also providing brooms to help the party in its campaign.

Rakhi Birla (26), AAP’s candidate from Mangolpuri, said, “Brooms are made in our area, so we get a discount. People come and join us with their own brooms, but we have still bought 100-150 brooms, for `5-7 each.”

The election commission explained how the broom is just a one-time symbol for the party. “AAP is a registered party, but only national and regional parties get permanent symbols. AAP may or may not get to use the broom in the general elections,” said an election commission official.