Journalist Anita Pratap to be AAP candidate from Ernakulam

NEW DELHI: For a party that has been severely critical of the media, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) continues to repose its faith in journalists. AAP is likely to give a ticket to senior journalist Anita Pratap from Ernakulum in Kerala. Pratap will face Union food minister KV Thomas.

While there is no official word yet, AAP sources said an announcement was likely in the next few days. Pratap, who recently joined the party, said, "I have not received any official intimation from the party and would not like to comment." Pratap is just one of several journalists to join the party. Some recent journalists turned politicians include Ashutosh (Chandni Chowk), Ashish Khetan (New Delhi) and Jarnail Singh (West Delhi) among others.

Pratap, however, said it was disillusionment from the profession that made her turn to politics. "I realized you need political authority and power to influence policy. The idea of joining existing parties like Congress and BJP was a non-starter."

Describing AAP as a "people's movement" she said, "I felt it is the responsibility of people like me to join the party to change the perception that it is a north Indian male party."

AAP on Monday announced its third list of 61 candidates including former Infosys CFO V Balakrishnan from Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency and National Law School professor Babu Mathew from Bangalore North constituency. The party has filed K P Singh from Gautam Budh Nagar and Shitla Prasad from Kaushambi in UP.

The list was released after the candidates were approved by the political affairs committee (PAC) in a meeting late on Sunday night. In its fourth list, the party declared candidates for Delhi (2), Haryana (4), Karnataka (13), Punjab (3) and Uttar Pradesh (39).

Journalist Ashish Khetan, who has been associated with the party's different committees, will contest from New Delhi, ending speculation that national convenor Arvind Kejriwal might contest from that seat. In South Delhi, a constituency that has defence pockets, the party has fielded Col Devendra Sehrawat, a former defence personnel.

Candidates for 39 seats have been declared from Uttar Pradesh with prominent being PAC member Illyas Azmi from Lakhmipur. The party has also declared candidates for three seats of Bhiwani, Faridabad and Karnal in Haryana. AAP has till now announced candidates for 131 seats across the country.