Congress leader and Union minister Jairam Ramesh (File photo)
The emergence of Aam Aadmi Party is a warning for established parties and if they do not listen to people's voice, they will soon become history, Union Minister and senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said today.
"Aam Aadmi Party has redefined the political scenario. It has also altered the political discourse. It was limited to Delhi till now. But if Congress, BJP and regional parties do not listen to people's voice, they will soon become history," Mr Ramesh said here.
After forming its government in Delhi with Congress support, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP today announced a national membership drive to gear up for the national elections, due by May.
"AAP's performance in the Assembly elections in Delhi is a victory of the voice of people. The party's emergence is a warning for all the parties," he said.
Mr Ramesh was in the central Gujarat city of Nadiad to inaugurate a cancer hospital.
On Gujarat government's allegations that the state was being discriminated against in allocation of funds, Ramesh said the Centre studied the demands and representations made by Gujarat and allocated funds accordingly.
"Modi alleges in his public rallies across the country that the Centre does not help Gujarat and that it is discriminating against the state," Mr Ramesh said. "The representations made by Gujarat government are studied thoroughly before being passed and funds are allocated depending on the project," he said.
Mr Ramesh said Gujarat was recently allocated Rs 700 crore for construction of 1,200 km roads in rural areas. The Rs 1200 crores sought by the state government under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or MGNREGA had also been sanctioned, he said.
Union ministers Dinsha Patel and Bharatsinh Solanki were also present at the event.