From an anti-corruption crusader to fighting a war against scores of corruption cases. The situation of the Aam Aadmi Party has turned into a nightmare over the past few months. The perseverance by the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership, which continued targeting senior AAP leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and others over alleged corruption cases has immensely helped the saffron front in the forthcoming polls.
AAP first made waves in Delhi in 2013 when it emerged as a strong contender, winning 28 seats in the assembly elections, before forming a short-lived government. The party’s breakthrough came in 2015 when it swept the polls, securing 67 of the 70 seats, largely due to its strong anti-corruption narrative, populist policies, and promises of better governance.
The continued targeting of AAP leadership over alleged liquor scam, money laundering and unauthorised construction of official residence of Chief Minister of Delhi has ensured that big names lost in the Delhi battle. All three leaders , Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, who were sent to prison under these allegations have been rejected by the people of the national capital as they lost their respective seats.
The BJP has been out of power from the Delhi Assembly since December 1998, when the then BJP Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj lost to the Congress, which installed Sheila Dikshit at the helm for three consecutive terms.
Fallout in Punjab
AAP’s troubles will not be confined to the national capital after its massive loss in today’s results. The party’s government in Punjab is likely to become a target of attack by its political opponents soon.
It is believed that the BJP and the Congress want to make gains in the border state and would now attack the Bhagwant Mann government.
Interestingly, the Congress party’s leadership and cadre is desperate to regain the vote bank and lost glory of the party in the national capital. The refrain amongst Delhi Congress leaders is that AAP needs to be finished here to secure the Congress’ political space in Punjab as well.
Over the next few months targeted political attacks on the AAP government in Punjab are expected to intensify. The AAP has itself expressed a fear that attempts may be made at breaking its political unit and weaning away its elected representatives.
