SRI VIJAYA PURAM | OCTOBER 23, 2026 | DWEEP TULIKA | LOCAL NEWS
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has opened its state office at Jodakalan in Sri Vijaya Puram, with state president Dr Arun K. Mallik announcing that the party intends to contest the 2027 municipal and Panchayati Raj elections in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The office was inaugurated through a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday in what the party described as a soft opening. Speaking to Dweep Tulika after the event, Mallik said the party had been planning to establish a dedicated office for several months to make itself more accessible to residents seeking assistance with civic grievances and administrative issues.
According to Mallik, AAP has been active in the islands for nearly a decade but had not previously established a dedicated state office. He said the new premises would provide a permanent point of contact for residents and a formal location for party activities.
Office to Serve as Public Contact Point
Mallik said residents would be able to visit the office, meet party representatives and raise concerns affecting their communities.
He stated that the office was intended to remain open daily, generally between 10 am and 1 pm. Residents needing assistance outside those hours could contact the party by telephone, he said.
Mallik added that he regularly received calls from people facing difficulties and attempted to assist by communicating through WhatsApp, writing to relevant authorities and following up on complaints where possible.
He also invited residents and media representatives to visit the premises for discussions and interviews, saying that the dedicated office would provide a formal setting for interactions that had previously taken place at private residences.
The contact number announced during the interview was 9474292704.
AAP Announces Plans for 2027 Local Elections
Outlining the party’s political objectives, Mallik said AAP intended to field candidates in the 2027 local elections in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
He specifically referred to elections involving Panchayati Raj institutions and municipal bodies, including panchayat-level representatives and ward councillors.
Mallik said the party wanted to challenge what he described as corruption among certain local representatives and strengthen accountability in local governance. He argued that improved accountability was necessary to address civic grievances and improve urban administration.
The announcement signals the party’s stated intention to expand its participation in local politics. However, the interview did not identify prospective candidates or provide details of the party’s election strategy.
Mallik Raises Questions Over Enforcement and Alleged Violations
During the interaction, Mallik criticised what he described as inadequate enforcement of existing rules in some cases involving alleged illegal activities and construction-related violations.
He questioned whether complaints and representations submitted to the administration were leading to effective action. He also argued that rules should be enforced consistently, regardless of the political connections or financial standing of those accused of violations.
Mallik said he intended to question alleged wrongdoing irrespective of whether it involved government officials or elected representatives. He referred to construction-related concerns and questioned whether investigations and official proceedings would lead to concrete outcomes.
He also raised wider concerns about alleged illegal activities and the governance and law-and-order situation.
These remarks represent Mallik’s allegations and political criticism. The specific cases referred to during the interview, the status of any investigations and the responses of the authorities concerned have not been independently established for this report.
Senior Leadership Visit Expected Later
Mallik clarified that Friday’s ceremony was a soft opening, with the party expecting senior national leadership to visit for a later programme. No date or visiting leader was confirmed during the interview.
The new office gives AAP a dedicated local address for its activities in the islands. The party says it intends to use the premises for public engagement, assistance with grievances and preparations for the 2027 local elections.
Whether these stated objectives translate into sustained outreach and effective follow-up on residents’ complaints will depend on the office’s accessibility, the issues it takes up and the outcomes achieved with the relevant authorities.
Dweep Tulika News Desk
This report is based on an interview with AAP Andaman and Nicobar state president Dr Arun K. Mallik following the office’s soft opening. Allegations made during the interview have been attributed to him.