Brij Bhardwaj
The story of the rise and fall of the Aam Aadmi Party is like an Indian movie where a hero appears on the scene and sweeps everyone away and promises a new world in which there will be no corruption, the poor will be looked after and women will get special care. It started as a crusade against corruption led by Anna Hazare, a person in a Gandhian mould who sat on a fast against corruption. Around him gathered a large crowd, some belonging to the RSS, and many young men who were motivated to join the fight against corruption.
Among them was an IIT graduate who joined Government service but was keen to do more in public life. To start with, it was declared that they would not take part in electoral politics or seek power. But they influenced public policies from outside and demanded the appointment of a lokayukta at the Centre and in every State to check corruption. This was later changed as they felt that without power they could not implement their agenda.
The group attracted many well meaning persons. A former Law Minister and father of Prashant Bhushan, a lawyer who takes up public causes, donated Rs two crore to fund the new party. Many professionals in India and non-resident Indians also donated money and a new party was formed. In Delhi, it challenged the Congress party, which had ruled the national capital for three terms with Sheela Dikshit as Chief Minister. The young IIT graduate took up the challenge of contesting against her and won. He looked like a well meaning young man driving his old Fiat car, living in a two room flat.
To start with, the Aam Aadmi Party became a hero of the middle class and poor in Delhi. Both established national parties, Congress and BJP, could not stop its march. After assuming power it wooed the poor by providing free power and water. The middle class was impressed by improvements in government-run schools, hospitals, and mohalla clinics. It all happened even though there was a regular conflict with the Lt Governor who wielded a lot of power, Delhi being a union Territory and not a full fledged State.
But soon, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s ambitions rose and he started thinking of building a national party. He wanted to spread his wings. The first target was Punjab where it succeeded because of in-fighting in the Congress party and a split between the Akali Dal and the BJP. He did not stop and went on to fight in far away Gujarat, Goa, and Haryana. A lot of funds and time was spent in spreading wings instead of providing good governance in Delhi or Punjab. AAP also failed to win any seats in the new States.
In Delhi, roads had potholes, the Yamuna, which was to be cleaned, became more polluted, and little was done to improve infrastructure. In the meantime, AAP’s top leaders were caught in the alleged Liquor Scam whose money was alleged to have been used for fighting elections in different States. Top leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party, including Chief Minister and national convener Arvind Kejriwal, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, and the Health Minister of Delhi, were arrested for alleged involvement in the scam.
Being cornered from all sides, the Aam Aadmi party leader decided to go to public in Delhi assembly elections and seek a certificate of honesty. The result shows that this was denied, as the BJP won 48 seats and AAP party only 23 in the 70 member Assembly. The top leaders of the party, including Mr. Kejriwal, were defeated.
AAP is also facing problems in Punjab. It has a large majority, but there are rumours that many members of the Assembly were thinking of joining Congress or BJP. The claims made by Congress and BJP leaders have made AAP leaders nervous and they called Punjab Chief Minister and members of Assembly to Delhi. Later statements were issued denying reports of any desertions but rumours persisted. Punjab is to go for elections early next year.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
