Many big leaders in Goa wanted to join AAP: Ashutosh

Panaji: Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday claimed that many big leaders from Goa wanted to join the party but it has said no to them as they did not qualify.

"There are many big leaders in Goa who want to join AAP but the party has shut doors for them. I will not take the names of the leaders and parties but there are many who are big enough knocking the doors of AAP. We have said no to them. We believe they don't qualify," AAP national spokesperson Ashutosh said.

The party's claim comes days after it held a massive rally in Panaji addressed by its national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

AAP has already announced to contest all 40 seats in the forthcoming state Assembly polls next year.

"I can only say that anybody and everybody who is honest and believes in AAP philosophy, our doors are open. Anybody who is a criminal, communal, corrupt or does not have good moral character cannot join AAP," he said.

The journalist-turned-politician is currently camping in the tourist state and has been holding several constituency level meetings.

Elucidating on their plans for the 2017 elections, Aushutosh said the process to identify candidates has begun.

"We have declared campaign committee. Very soon we will declare selection and search committees. The search committee will select few names in a particular constituency. These names will be given to the selection committee which will short list the names. And then the campaign committee will finally decide the candidates," he said.

The party has also decided to start 'Goa Dialogues' wherein it will interact with a cross section of people who will help in drafting the manifesto for Goa Assembly Elections 2017.

"Identification of issues in a particular state and finding their solutions is not the domain of few individuals but of the people. We will be identifying the issues and we will have an expert of that particular issue," he said.

Ashutosh said Kejriwal will visit Goa at least once a month and later more frequently as the election approaches.

"Now, he is planning to devote his time to Punjab and Goa both. He will be spending a lot of time in Goa. He will be meeting different sections of the society," he said.

To a query if Goans will accept AAP's trademark cap, Ashutosh saidif anybody felt the "topi" did not fit or suit him, one could create their own topi.

"One can have a Goan topi," he added.