Pressure on AAP to fulfil promises amid growing public discontent

The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) recent electoral defeat in Delhi has served as a wake-up call for its local leaders, including two Cabinet ministers, to step up their efforts in delivering good governance. The party is under pressure to maintain its popularity and avoid losing key positions.

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In the 2022 elections, AAP secured 9 out of the 11 assembly seats in Amritsar. Ahead of their resounding victory, the party made several promises to voters, pledging to bring about political change.

One such promise was made by AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal during a visit to Amritsar on September 9, 2016. He vowed, if elected, the party would declare Amritsar and Anandpur Sahib as ‘holy cities’. However, three years into governance, there has been little progress, with the streets inside the walled city still suffering from sanitation problems.

Similarly, during a roadshow in Amritsar on March 13, 2022, following AAP’s landslide victory in Punjab, then CM-designate Bhagwant Mann, accompanied by AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, promised government offices would display only pictures of legendary freedom fighters Bhagat Singh and Dr BR Ambedkar. Yet, across the city, the only image visible is that of Mann himself. Local resident Balbir Singh said while Mann’s image is omnipresent, he is rarely seen in person.

Residents and tourists alike continue to face problems, including poor waste management, encroachment, frequent mugging, limited job opportunities and drug addiction. The solid waste management company hired by the Municipal Corporation (MC) has also been criticised for its inefficiency. Despite repeated assurances, no significant improvements have been made in its operations.

Jatinder Singh Moti Bhatia, the newly appointed Mayor of Amritsar, has instructed officials to provide him with details about the 25-year contract signed by the previous Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government with the waste management company. He plans to hold a meeting soon to review garbage collection and processing.

With the AAP set to complete three years in power in the state in March, many of its key promises remain unfulfilled. Despite winning 92 out of 117 seats in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, the party now faces growing pressure to meet public expectations.