Many can be tempted to write the obituary of the AAM AADMI (AAP) party today, but that can be rushed and tragic. The AAP defeat in Delhi is basically a trip from Dreamland to Crashland. Long before the results came out, he had argued that this was the most appropriate time for the Bharatiya Janata (BJP) party to win the elections. The results of the Delhi’s assembly are shocking for both AAP and Arvind Kejriwal, but it is they who must blame for defeat and gracefully accept their mistakes.
Kejriwal had emerged on the national scene as a radical revolutionary who promised to change the country’s policy. Instead, it was the policy that changed Kejriwal. Twelve years of power had made him another politician who lost all his moral brightness and his charisma. Nothing could be more tragic than Kejriwal’s defeat from his own seat, the New Delhi constituency. It is a lesson for all politicians who think they are larger than people’s party and collective wisdom.
Five things went against the AAP in this election.
1. The same as always, the same old man
First, the biggest ruin of the AAP was that it was no longer seen as a party with a difference. Moral capital used to be its unique asset, something that few parties in contemporary politics could claim. But over time, AAP sacrificed its central values; He became vulnerable when his most loyal supporters lost support both in the party and in their leader.
Something similar had happened with the BJP in 1984, when it could only win two seats in the national elections. Yes, the murder of Indira Gandhi was one of the reasons for the unpleasant performance of the BJP, but it was also a fact that the BJP had abandoned its central ideological value of Hindutva and had been trying to be secular. It is true that AAP is not an ideological party, but it had a certain moral virtue and responsibility. It was this moral image that had helped him gain dirt landslides mandates in the 2015 and 2020 assembly elections.
2. Lose the moral edge
Secondly, severe corruption charges the image of Kejriwal abollada. The alleged liquor scam proved to be an albatros around his neck. He took him to jail, along with his colleagues Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and others. However, it was the controversy of ‘Sheesh Mahal’ that turned out to be the drop that filled the glass. Voters could not believe that a leader who criticized all politicians for their richness and elegant bungalows had ironically built a luxurious house for himself. The filtered images of his renewed house did more damage to Kejriwal’s personal image than the liquor scam. He realized this, and tried a control of damage when resigning and leaving the bungalow of the main minister for a much more modest accommodation. But the writing was done. The middle class, which had been the largest pillar of the AAP saga in the national capital, had already been disappointed and ended up abandoning the AAP.
3. Political paralysis
Third, the breach of the AAP government in its third term from 2020 to 2025 contributed to its defeat. In his first complete mandate, it was seen that the AAP government fulfilled its promises. In addition to the provision of electricity and free water, schools in Delhi became better education centers, a step that brought global appreciation for the government. The introduction of Mohalla clinics was also an excellent step to improve primary medical care. It became great success among the great sections of society that could not afford expensive medical attention in private facilities.
In the last period, however, the AAP government suffered from policy and administrative paralysis. He was constantly disputing with the lieutenant governor for power. The fight between the center and the AAP government put the city government at a stop. Broken roads and open sewerage lines were for everyone to see it.
4. When theatricality is not worth it
Fourth, 10 years is a long time for anti -incumbency to face any government. Even the Modi government in the center could not avoid the repercussions of anti -incumbency on the parliamentary elections of 2024. Despite the expectations of the party that would obtain more than 400 seats along with its allies, it could not obtain the majority in the Lok Sabha surveys and had to trust smaller parts to form a government. The AAP government was no exception. His failure was that, instead of trying to arrest and address the disappointment of his voters, he gave himself to theatricality.
5. The volunteers were tired
Finally, in previous elections, the greatest asset of the AAP was its selfless voluntary strength. However, through these years, he did not pay attention to the creation of a party structure throughout the national capital. In contrast, the BJP has always had the advantage of having a robust organization. Kejriwal, by nature, does not believe in that. In the last 10 years, many volunteers felt ignored and exploited. Slow but constantly, they were discouraged and disappointed. Most of them left the party and returned to their usual lives, or joined other parties. In this election, the AAP had to trust paid workers.
Even so, it could be too early to write an obituary for the AAP. The AAP has lost almost 10% of votes compared to its account in the 2020 Assembly elections. But it still has almost 43% of votes. It still controls the municipal body of the capital. In Punjab, he has a government with more than 90 MLA, and has also made his presence feel in Gujarat and Goa. And he still has the state of a national party.
The Kejriwal obituary has often been written in the past, but every time, it has emerged from the ashes as a phoenix. However, the last crisis is different from any other. It is existential. He will take a deeper introspection and great courage to return to the old drawing table if the AAP and his boss, Kejriwal, want to recover the confidence of those who put on his side for 10 long years.
(Ashutosh is the author of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and co -founder of Satyahindi.com)
Discharge of responsibility: These are the author’s personal opinions
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