The stupendous victory in Punjab, breaking the stranglehold of the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress, has buoyed the AAP’s aspirations of going national
AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai celebrate their party’s performance in Punjab. Image Courtesy: @AAP/Twitter
“Mujhe rajneeti karna nahin aati hai (I don’t know how to do politics) is something that Arvind Kerjiwal has said time and time again in his addresses.
However, the Punjab result where the Aam Aadmi Party scripted a stellar victory with over a three-fourth majority shows that Arvind Kejriwal knows exactly what he’s doing and his politics is here to stay.
Not happy to just savour the victory in Punjab, leaders from within the party on Thursday announced that this wasn’t just it for the AAP. They were now looking to the future and wanted to expand the party’s political footprint even further.
What’s next for the AAP? Where are they headed next?
Punjab gives ‘Ek Mauka Kejriwal Nu’
The Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal pulled off a spectacular victory in the Punjab Assembly elections. The final numbers from the Election Commission showed that the AAP had won 92 seats, followed by the Congress with 18 seats. The BJP and the Akalis were left in the dust with just two and three seats respectively.
Kejriwal’s win in Punjab is historic as it is the first time that a regional party has won a second state.
Additionally, the AAP has broken the stranglehold that the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress held over the state. The political power has traditionally kept oscillating between the SAD, and the Congress.
Following the victory, party chief and Delhi chief minister Kejriwal called it a “revolution” that will be replicated across the country.
Abhishek Srivastava, who is author of Aam Aadmi Ke Naam Par, an anthology of anti-corruption movement in India in a report to the Outlook attributed the fact that AAP being in direct conflict with the BJP at the Centre played to the party’s benefit. The party had also supported the farmers’ protest at the Delhi borders.
Moreover, the sudden exit of Captain Amarinder Singh backfired on Congress, paving the way for the AAP.
Supporters of Aam Aadmi Party celebrate after their party’s win in the Punjab state Assembly elections in Amritsar. AFP
Gujarat and Himachal on AAP’s radar
The Punjab victory is just one step in the AAP’s path of becoming a national player and for making Arvind Kejriwal the tallest Opposition leader.
Shortly after winning in Punjab, AAP’s Raghav Chadha said, “I see AAP becoming a national force. AAP is going to be the national and natural replacement of the Congress. It is a tremendous day for AAP as a party, because today we have become a national party. We are no longer a regional party. May the almighty bless us and Arvind Kejriwal. May he lead the nation one day.”
He pointed out that the BJP took “much more time” to win two states than AAP, which was founded in 2012.
Party leader Akshay Marathe took this sentiment forward in his interview to NDTV. He was quoted as saying, “Yes, we are definitely going to Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. These are two states on our radar and the party has been sending party workers to these states and we will definitely have a big impact. For decades people of India have had to decide between two parties who did not work for them. For the first time, they are seeing an alternative to both, and people want change,” he said.
In fact, the AAP’s work in Gujarat has already begun, as the elections for the western state will be held around December of this year.
It has been reported that Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab chief minister-designate, Bhagwant Mann will travel to Gujarat and spruce up the party’s campaign in the state.
Since decades, the BJP and Congress have been the dominating political forces in Gujarat, but some political observers say like in Delhi, the AAP now has a good chance to take on the BJP.