AAP's state unit upbeat after Delhi poll verdict

Thiruvananthapuram: After lying dormant since the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the stunning victory of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi polls has given the party's Kerala unit a much needed boost.

Jubilant local AAP supporters sported white caps and brooms - the party's election election - and broke into celebrations late Tuesday after the party's stunning victory in the Delhi polls.

State convenor of AAP, award winning novelist and short story writer Sarah Joseph who contested the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat, said their slogan is 'Now Delhi, Next Kerala' as they have a good support base here.

"In five months time, all our functionaries will be elected in a democratic manner and will pave the way for us to become a full-fledged political party," Joseph told media.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, AAP had contested 15 out of the 20 seats and secured 2.56 lakh votes or 1.43 percent of the total votes polled, with Joseph getting close to 45,000 votes.

"Yes, the Delhi victory has certainly rekindled our hopes," she said.

She said the biggest advantage in Kerala was that the rival fronts are voted to power alternatively here and the BJP is yet to open its account.

"So there's a space to get into the minds of the people," she Joseph said.

"If we are able to work at the grassroots level, then we will be able to first open our account in the local bodies poll to be held later this year," said another AAP activist.

The party unit in Kerala has formed Mission Vistaar Committees in all the 14 districts which will take up the responsibility of strengthening the party at around 25,000 wards in the state.

The new found confidence was also visible on the faces of all the AAP activists who took part in the day long debates on the television.