The Aam Aadmi Party, or AAP, is a political party founded by Arvind Kejriwal in 2012. It was born out of a civil society movement — Indian Against Corruption — that received massive popular support in 2011-12 after public anger over corruption charges on the then Congress-led UPA government.
It won its first elections in Delhi in 2013, and came to power with outside support from the Congress. But the government lasted only 49 days as Kejriwal resigned since he was unable to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Delhi Assembly. AAP returned to power in 2015, winning an overwhelming 67 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Legislative Assembly. Under Kejriwal’s leadership, the government focused on addressing key urban issues like inflation, water, electricity bills, and public services, with a promise of free water and electricity for residents. AAP’s welfare schemes included initiatives like Mohalla Clinics for healthcare and expanding the Delhi Metro network. These initiatives garnered significant praise and boosted the party’s popularity.
However, AAP’s relationship with the central government, led by the BJP, has been marked by ongoing tensions, especially regarding control over the Delhi Police and other administrative matters. The party has frequently clashed with the Lieutenant Governor (L-G), who is appointed by the central government.
One of the biggest controversies surrounding the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in recent years has been the corruption charges linked to the 2021-22 Delhi excise policy. Several key AAP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, have been accused of irregularities in the policy, which allegedly favored liquor suppliers. The case led to their arrests by central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Convener Arvind Kejriwal was also jailed in connection with the case. After being granted bail, Kejriwal stepped down as Chief Minister, with Atishi taking over the role.
It is not right to say that Kejriwal has no ideology. He focuses on freebies, subsidies, healthcare, and education. Of course, corruption is part and parcel of this type of politics. In my book, he is a staunch leftist. He got two things wrong in his life. First is that he wasted his IIT education. Second is that he chose leftism over free-market liberalism. Socialism is refuge of scoundrels.
In my ledger, on the credit side, CM Arvind Kejriwal ran an obstacle course for a decade, choreographed from Raj Nivas. On the debit side, he let down the city’s Muslims during the riots of 2020.
Whatever damage Mr Arvind Kejriwal has done to the Congress since the IAC days, keeping him inside the INDIA tent was in the party’s abiding interest. What has the Congress gained by facilitating AAP’s loss of home base in Delhi. The opposition space is ruptured. Without the regional parties, the Congress can never return to power at the Centre. And if senior regional leaders like Ms Mamata Banerjee give up their prime ministerial ambitions, why shouldn’t they cut deals with what appears to be an indestructible BJP. Something Mr Naveen Patnaik did for a decade. Mr Rahul Gandhi has a lot to think about when he goes on his morning run.
Mr. Gupta was elated with the 2024 general election results. He genuinely thought that Modi’s era is over and the BJP is past its nadir. Now it will be in free fall and eventually the earlier elite, the Lutyens/Khan Market gang, will be back in power. The golden days of yore would return.
Unfortunately, reality has turned out otherwise.
2024 general elections were an aberration based on two factors – Congress misinformation claiming that the Constitution would be in danger if the BJP crossed 400 and Dalit’s (and other oppressed groups) rights will be snatched away. Secondly, the promise of a plethora of freebies to the population swayed many voters.