Common Man Party energises Indian expatriates in the UAE

DUBAI // India’s newest political party has captured the interest of Indian expatriates in the UAE, with growing support for the party that vows to fight corruption.

Shazia Ilmi, a spokeswoman of the Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party (AAP), visited the Emirates at the weekend to attend alumni functions. She was overwhelmed by expatriates who pledged their support and asking for details on how they could be of help ahead of the general elections in April.

“People see it as the fight of the common man against the political class,” said Ms Ilmi, a former broadcast journalist who is among hundreds of Indians from various walks of life who are drawn to AAP.

“We want to create a citizen’s voice and not play on any religious card. Corruption has no religion and misgovernance has no caste. Also, poverty and illiteracy have no religious colour.”

AAP won 28 of Delhi’s 70 parliamentary assembly seats in elections last month. It shook up India’s political system when its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, a former civil servant, became the chief minister.

With campaign promises of rooting out corruption and inefficiency, and cheaper power and water supply, AAP plans to contest the general elections. This is causing anxiety to the ruling Congress Party and the opposition nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who worry that voters would turn to the AAP.

The party has also energised Indian expatriates around the world. In the UAE, they are willing to offer their time, expertise and funds to AAP.

On Friday and Saturday, more than 500 people gathered to hear Ms Ilmi speak in Dubai and Abu Dhabi at the alumni functions of the Jamia Millia Islamia University and the Aligarh Muslim University.

“The response has been fantastic. People’s hearts and minds are with India and they want to help,” she said.

“NRIs [non-resident Indians] are concerned about corruption, bad roads, cleanliness, the deteriorating security situation. They want to invest more in India but corruption bothers them.”

Indian expatriates also spoke to her about their desire to stand for election.

“Since they are Indian passport holders, they can apply and go through our screening process,” Ms Ilmi said. “But there are other ways to engage, we need people to contribute their time.”

Local Indian residents also voiced a long-standing wish to cast their vote via postal ballot or through polling arrangements in overseas embassies.

Non-resident Indians were granted the right to vote in India’s elections following a 2010 government notification. But without the provision of online voting, few, apart from staunch party workers, do so since it is expensive to travel home for a few days to vote.

Ms Ilmi said she would raise the issue with AAP.

In any case, the party has re-energised the large expatriate Indian population.

“I will go to vote and we will ask others to join us,” said Sayed Qutbur Rehman, the head of a construction company.

“There is a revolution taking place in India, this is a time of transformation and to miss it would be a big mistake.”

Anis Ahmad, a manager at a car company, said AAP inspired Indians to work for their country.

“People want to contribute in any way they can,” he said. “The party is fighting for justice for the common man and the minorities who are suppressed. We too hope change will come in India. The only way to bring about change is to cast your vote.”

Mansoor Ali, a health-and-safety training manager, said AAP could learn from the UAE.

“If you compare how the UAE has progressed since the federation was formed in 1971, it is because there is no corruption and people are loyal to their country,” he said.

“I too will try to vote along with my family. The other parties just make empty promises, but for things to change we have to be ready to go to India to create that change.”