Yogendra Yadav says AAP is a pragmatic and problem-solving party

Admits states such as West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu with cadre-based politics difficult to infiltrate

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A day after business leaders raised concerns over the debutant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s polices on economic issues, the party tried to sooth their nerves. Yogendra Yadav, a senior policy-maker and strategist, said AAP neither endorsed socialist nor capitalist ideology. “We are a pragmatic and a problem solving party,” Yadav said, dismissing some industrialists view that AAP was “left to left”.  

Various voices from industry that Business Standard spoke to had raised concerns over AAP’s economic policies.

Yadav said  the industrialists he met during several interactions were more curious about AAP’s policies on education and health. “One should not have ideologies based around things such as direct benefit transfer and subsidies…even large subsidies have been ineffective and would be inappropriate to continue,” the political scientist said, adding his party is more “agnostic and evidence driven.”

Yadav said they were receiving a huge response in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Haryana, however, it was difficult to make a significant mark in parts where cadre-based politics was dominant. “It is tough for a new party to make a presence felt in states such as West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu because of strong cadre-based politics by other parties,” he admitted.

Yadav, one of the three-member National Coordination Committee formulated to plan strategies for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, also dismissed reports about AAP seeking more reservation for lower castes in jobs and education.

“Reservation is necessary but insufficient response to the problems,” Yadav said.

The party said that within next 5-7 weeks the party may come up with their views on various economic issues as it is already consulting several economists and policymakers on various matters.