Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 14 November 2025
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has reconstituted its Andaman & Nicobar Islands unit, with the revamp being steered by former BSP Lok Sabha candidate (2024) for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Parliamentary Constituency, Dr. Arun Mallik, who formally joined AAP on 9 November 2025.
Addressing his first press briefing in Sri Vijaya Puram on Thursday, Dr. Mallik mentioned he was grateful to AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, AAP’s nationwide organisational in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Sandeep Pathak, and senior chief and authorized advisor Advocate Deepak Vajpayee for reposing religion in him and entrusting him with the accountability of rebuilding the get together from the bottom up. He recalled that Sanjay Singh personally welcomed him into the get together by inserting the AAP cap and scarf on him.
Several native associates have been additionally acknowledged for supporting the efforts to reorganise the get together’s island unit.
Dr. Mallik introduced that AAP will maintain a big public assembly at Tiranga Park in December 2025, which will likely be attended by senior nationwide leaders reminiscent of Sanjay Singh and Advocate Deepak Vajpayee. Major bulletins for the Andaman & Nicobar unit are anticipated at this gathering.
Speaking in regards to the ideological and organisational imaginative and prescient for the reconstituted unit, Dr. Mallik mentioned the get together’s work within the Islands could be guided by AAP’s three pillars of patriotism, honesty and humanity. He set 4 central aims for the unit: establishing and strengthening AAP’s organisational construction in each district, tehsil and village; spreading the get together’s ideology whereas elevating a powerful and constant voice in opposition to corruption and injustice; getting ready candidates for the 2027 native physique elections; and laying down a roadmap for participation within the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. He emphasised that the get together goals to advertise “alternative politics” and adapt the welfare-based governance strategy demonstrated in Delhi and Punjab—significantly at school training and healthcare—to the precise context of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Dr. Mallik laid out an intensive organisational plan for the approaching months. The get together will quickly appoint a full management crew together with a president, vice chairman, secretary, joint secretary and government members. District coordinators for South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman and Nicobar will likely be named, with each female and male coordinators to make sure balanced illustration. AAP additionally plans to create separate cells for media, ladies and youth outreach. The unit will launch a significant membership marketing campaign throughout all 547 villages of the Union Territory, together with a booth-level construction that corresponds to the administration’s 411 Booth Level Officers (BLOs), which Dr. Mallik cited because the organisational foundation. In an try to mobilise younger individuals, the get together will provoke vigorous pupil engagement in increased training institutes reminiscent of DBRAIT, ANIMS and others below a brand new pupil collective “Association for Students for Alternative Politics.” The get together can even open a short lived workplace within the Islands, start fundraising, develop its digital outreach and undertake structured discipline visits to Diglipur, Rangat, Mayabunder, Sri Vijaya Puram, Ferrargunj, Little Andaman, Campbell Bay, Car Nicobar, Katchal, Nancowry and Teressa. Dr. Mallik mentioned the get together can be planning a state-level assembly for late 2026.
A big a part of the press briefing was dedicated to points dealing with the Islands and the areas the place Dr. Mallik mentioned AAP intends to push for reforms. On well being, he acknowledged that whereas there was progress, many systemic weaknesses proceed to have an effect on service supply. As a physician himself, he pressured the significance of bettering infrastructure, staffing, and accessibility however cautioned in opposition to “misinformation-driven criticism” that diverts consideration from long-term planning. He added that the welfare-focused governance mannequin of Delhi and Punjab—particularly in public well being—provides classes that may very well be tailored for the Islands.
In the training sector, Dr. Mallik highlighted critical gaps in increased training and reiterated his opposition to the proposed “Deemed University” idea in its current type, arguing that it doesn’t tackle the structural deficiencies affecting college students. On employment, he argued that though one hundred pc reservation shouldn’t be possible, a 90 p.c reservation coverage for islanders is “possible”, reiterating that such an strategy is important for shielding native alternatives. He additionally pressed for long-pending Other Backward Class (OBC) recognition for traditionally settled communities reminiscent of Chotanagpuri staff, Tamil and Malayali Settlers, and sure long-settled households together with youngsters of lecturers who migrated many years in the past.
Dr. Mallik was additionally sharply vital of the situation of the NH-4 freeway, particularly in North & Middle Andaman, alleging corruption and substandard work by executing companies. Although officers have dedicated to finishing the freeway by June 2026, he mentioned he had little confidence within the declare until transparency and accountability enhance. On transportation and transport, he criticised the shortage of satisfactory inter-island passenger vessels and questioned the logic of prioritising routes catering to tourism when residents proceed to face primary mobility difficulties.
Addressing persistent energy and water shortages, Dr. Mallik described these as long-standing structural challenges that require engineering and planning-based options quite than sit-in protests. He welcomed current administrative motion in opposition to unlawful development and land encroachment in Sri Vijaya Puram, stating that public stress and consciousness campaigns contributed to officers taking these points critically. He inspired the administration to take care of strict vigilance and proceed motion in opposition to unlawful earth-cutting and unauthorised growth.
On tourism, Dr. Mallik mentioned infrastructure has not saved tempo, connectivity, sanitation, transport and water provide stay insufficient. Speaking in regards to the Great Nicobar Project, he mentioned he helps it in precept, however insists that the rights of Nicobarese and significantly susceptible tribal teams (PVTGs) should not be compromised. He referred to as for a clear evaluation of the clearance course of to make sure that ancestral land protections stay intact.
Dr. Mallik additionally raised issues about road distributors, noting that 676 distributors within the Islands are formally recognised and should obtain correct assist. He spoke about unlawful immigration and counseled previous police operations in opposition to fraudulent resident certificates, together with instances involving political figures. He identified that hundreds of staff who migrated many years in the past nonetheless lack everlasting land titles regardless of residing within the Islands for practically 70 years.
He additional alleged irregularities within the 2024 voter record, together with wrongful deletions, impersonation dangers and duplicate registrations. He mentioned he has contacted the Chief Electoral Officer looking for stronger verification, correct EPIC issuance and improved BLO discipline work. He added that AAP volunteers will help in guaranteeing that no eligible voter is excluded from the rolls forward of the 2027 native physique elections.
On legislation and order, Dr. Mallik declared zero tolerance for medication and famous that he’s a member of each the State-level Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan Committee and a city merchandising committee. He mentioned he prefers collaboration with the administration at each degree—secretariat, subdivisions and villages—to attain public outcomes, and asserted that protests would solely be used when obligatory. He additionally pledged to assist pursue justice within the homicide instances of Journalist Shahadev Dey and Anish Toppo, which he mentioned had brought about appreciable concern amongst island communities.
Responding to a query in regards to the 2024 excise case involving Arvind Kejriwal, Dr. Mallik admitted that public notion of AAP was initially affected however mentioned current courtroom proceedings have repeatedly demanded stronger proof from investigative companies. He insisted that AAP’s governance mannequin continues to enchantment to extraordinary residents. He mentioned AAP would counter detrimental impressions by way of sustained grassroots work, problem-solving and direct engagement with residents.
Dr. Mallik concluded by laying out a timeline for AAP’s actions. After his formal induction on 9 November, the December 2025 mass rally at Tiranga Park will function the primary main public milestone. Throughout 2025 and 2026, the unit will deal with membership drives, tehsil-level excursions, BLO coordination, establishing the get together workplace and strengthening administrative engagement. A state-level assembly is deliberate for late 2026, after which the get together goals to contest the 2027 native physique elections throughout all tiers, adopted by implementation of its roadmap for contesting the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
(This story has been compiled utilizing video stories from different native media retailers, as Nicobar Times was not invited to the press convention.)
