The Aam Aadmi Party’s entry into politics in 2012 made it one of the thousands of recognised, registered parties in India. It was on 1st August, 2013 that the party was allotted an election symbol by the Election Commission. After submitting the ‘broom’, ‘candle’ and ‘tap’ as its most preferred symbols from the list of free symbols, the party was granted its first preference of the ‘broom’.

  A statement issued by the party on that day said, “With this, the party has crossed the second milestone (after party’s registration) on its way to cleaning up the polity of the country. With the broom, which symbolises dignity of labour, the party hopes to clean the filth which has permeated our government and our legislature. The country needs a clean sweep of its corrupted mainstream political parties.”

  With the broom, which symbolises the dignity of labour, the party hopes to clean up the filth that has permeated our government and our legislature. The country needs a clean sweep of its corrupted mainstream political parties.

  The AAP broom was officially launched on 3rd August, 2013 by Arvind Kejriwal at the Valmiki Complex in New Delhi. The residential colony is occupied by thousands of sweepers working for the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). While addressing the gathering at the launch, Kejriwal said, “We are starting our journey from this holy ground and I am hopeful with this broom we will be able to cleanse society. With this, the cleansing of the nation and its politics has begun.”

  The broom is not merely an election symbol for party volunteers and supporters, but has become a symbol of the party’s core promise of cleaning up the system – be it from corruption, communalism, criminalisation and other evils of politics. The broom has found it’s place in the public imagination and is considered to be one of the most widely recognised symbols of any party across the country.