The election campaigning for Delhi Assembly elections ended a few hours back today (Dec 2,2013). As per model code of conduct, the campaigning came to a halt at 5 PM today,ie, 48 hours before the end of polling.

I salute to hundreds of thousands of  volunteers who have  put in their time for varying length for the Aam Aadmi Party since inception. In last 1 year, Delhi has been witness to these self-effacing, committed party members or non-members from the city and all across India and abroad. Males and females, young and old, students and professionals, highly educated to ones with lesser academic certifications: Indians of all hue and color have marched to Delhi to give time to the party on their own with just one Mission: To help bring clean politics to Delhi (and hence, country).  I have worked at the Volunteer Engagement Cell of the party for a considerable time and therefore am witness to a wide spectrum of talent offering its services just because they sensed that yes, this is an opportunity to bring a  change in the political culture of India!

It is unprecedented in Indian political movement that an entire gamut of skills is filled in largely by volunteer force only. What initially started with India Against Corruption (IAC) volunteers joining the party (AAP), soon people of different ideologies and political affiliations started joining the work-force. Be it working on the ground or social media enthusiasts propagating the cause or phone calling to email responses to IT operations-  all is being handled by volunteers. The movement in last one year has shown some remarkable characteristics of a true peoples’ movement. One peculiar feature that I would like to highlight is the self-initiative-  Volunteers felt the need to do something and they initiated it. That is why, AAP is witness to so many blogs, Facebook groups, Twitter trends, WhatsApp groups, Google groups and websites created by patriots to strengthen the movement. And characteristically, volunteers across the globe did it. It was not merely restricted to a few regions. Enthusiastic volunteers have on their own organized Google hangouts, conferences and seminars to delve upon this emerging movement whose sole agenda is to change the way politics is done in India.

The journey is not over yet. But with the campaigning ending today, it is an occasion to remember the one year journey that volunteers of AAP have made it unforgettable with their love, affinity, hard work and zeal for the nation. Who says politics is something to be despised? Ask these freedom fighters who  jumped in with the motto: We have come NOT to do politics, but to CHANGE it!