AAP struggles to revive wave

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 23

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is in a piquant situation in Punjab, riding a popularity graph just two years ago to now struggling to develop a wave ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Infighting, resignations and expulsions have left a dent in the party. Only one of its six presidents is actively campaigning for the party. Of the 20 MLAs, six are rebels and one has floated a separate party.

Two of the four MPs are no longer with AAP — Dr Dharamvir Gandhi is re-contesting from Patiala seat but from a party he floated, while HS Khalsa has joined the BJP. Nearly 10 other prominent leaders, including Assembly candidates, have joined other parties.

In its bid to reconnect with the masses, Aam Aadmi Party has tried to do a course-correction by choosing 10 of the 13 candidates from among volunteers.

Earlier, it gave ticket to outsiders or “big” leaders within the party. Punjab AAP has also tried to shed the image of a unit remote-controlled from Delhi. It had suffered a lot owing to party leader’s subservience to Delhi leaders. This time, AAP is giving a message the party is of Punjab and for Punjab only.

However, the leaders are trying to garner support, showcasing AAP government’s performance in Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party model has many takers but people are confused over party’s desperation to seek an alliance in Delhi when its model of governance was so successful.

Aam Aadmi Party’s state president Bhagwant Mann is leading the campaign with Sunam MLA Aman Arora. Both leaders are connected to the masses and are trying to drum up support. Mann has tried to make an emotive appeal to the voters through a letter in which he talks about his fight with alcoholism and party’s sacrifices in playing clean politics.

The party has been taking up public issues, especially farmers’ suicide, Bargari killings and unemployment.

“The Akalis and Congress defeated Aam Aadmi Party by hatching conspiracies against us. They are playing friendly matches again. They are together because the party is a formidable force,” says Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema.

Will fare better than last time: balbir

AAP will do far better than the last time when it won four seats. The party has evolved. Volunteers are ready as leaders. The campaign is going fine. People have come to realise that we offer clean politics and not politics of opportunism. We feel there is still a vacuum in the state for AAP. — Dr Balbir Singh, Party’s co-president