Dr. Arun K. Mallik Outlines AAP Roadmap for Andaman & Nicobar, Says Health, Education and Local Issues Will Be Priorities

Newly appointed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Andaman & Nicobar State President Dr. Arun K. Mallik addressed the media in Sri Vijaya Puram on Wednesday, outlining his political approach, priorities and proposed roadmap for addressing issues affecting the Islands.

The press briefing was Dr. Mallik's first major media interaction following his appointment as the party's State President.

Thanks AAP leadership for trust

Dr. Mallik began by thanking AAP national leadership for entrusting him with the responsibility. He expressed gratitude to AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Rajya Sabha MP and senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh, AAP's Andaman & Nicobar in-charge Adv. Somnath Bharti, and other senior leaders and party workers.

He said the appointment was an important moment for him and acknowledged the support of people associated with the party during the process leading to his appointment.

Dr. Mallik said he had been interested in reviving AAP's organisational presence in the Islands for several years and stated that he had written to the party's national leadership in 2022 expressing his desire to work towards reviving the party in Andaman & Nicobar.

Health and education among major priorities

Outlining the party's proposed priorities, Dr. Mallik said health and education would receive particular attention, while acknowledging that challenges exist across almost every sector in the Islands.

He also referred to issues concerning employment, roads, shipping, transportation, electricity and water supply.

He described AAP's approach as "alternative politics", saying the party intended to work with the local Administration to pursue solutions to problems faced by ordinary citizens rather than focusing only on protests.

100% job reservation and Ladakh model

Employment for Islanders emerged as another major issue in Dr. Mallik's address.

He supported the demand for 100% job reservation for Islanders, referring to concerns over employment opportunities for local residents. He said the party would seek to raise the issue with the Islands' MPs and senior political leaders and take it up at the Centre.

He also referred to the Ladakh model as something he believed could be examined for implementation in Andaman & Nicobar.

Water, electricity, roads and shipping

Dr. Mallik identified water supply and electricity as long-standing issues in the Islands. He said these were chronic problems that could not necessarily be resolved through a single protest or immediate intervention.

He estimated that addressing such infrastructure issues comprehensively could require a sustained effort over a period of years.

He also criticised what he described as gaps between government plans and their implementation at the local level, citing the condition and execution of the NH-4 road project as an example.

Dweep Tulika asks three questions

During the question-and-answer session, Dweep Tulika News Editor-in-Chief Mr. R. Vineeth asked Dr. Mallik three questions concerning the party's identity, neglected public concerns and his first priority as State President.

1. What differentiates AAP from other political parties in the Islands?

Asked to identify the difference in one word, Dr. Mallik described AAP's approach as:

"Alternative politics."

He explained that the party's focus was on issues affecting ordinary people and said it intended to work with citizens and the local Administration to understand and resolve their problems.

2. What public concern is being neglected?

In response to the second question, Dr. Mallik said he believed people were facing difficulties across different sectors.

He particularly discussed healthcare, arguing that public information about available healthcare facilities was not reaching people adequately. He cited the Sub-District Hospital at Diglipur and said that, in his assessment, it had specialist doctors and available medicines, although shortages and deficiencies remained.

He also identified water and electricity as continuing public concerns, describing them as chronic issues. He said education was another important area requiring attention.

3. What will be his first priority as AAP President?

Asked what he would take up first as the newly appointed State President, Dr. Mallik said his immediate priority would be day-to-day issues and injustices affecting ordinary people.

He said he had already been communicating with government officials and taking up issues with the Administration. He cited matters including alleged illegal construction and other complaints where he said he would seek evidence and raise the issues with the concerned authorities.

He also highlighted healthcare-related emergencies as an area of concern.

Referring to a recent incident involving the deaths of two patients after a ship had departed, Dr. Mallik questioned whether adequate medical and emergency arrangements were available during such transportation. He said he had taken up the matter with the Health Department and called for an appropriate protocol for emergency patient transfers.

He further argued that vessels equipped for healthcare-related services should be appropriately deployed when required and that patients being transferred by ship should have appropriate medical support on board.

"Doctor Mallik will do what is right"

Towards the conclusion of the briefing, Dr. Mallik said his approach would be to take up issues that he believes are in the interest of ordinary Islanders, irrespective of which political party is involved.

He said the party would continue engaging with the Administration and raising issues concerning public welfare.

The briefing therefore provided an early indication of the priorities Dr. Mallik intends to pursue as the newly appointed AAP State President, with healthcare, education, employment, water, electricity, transportation, infrastructure and day-to-day public grievances featuring prominently in his address.