New Delhi: Wearing Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) trademark cap and with copies of the party’s five-year report card in hand, Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal on Monday held a massive roadshow ahead of filing his nomination from New Delhi constituency, from where he had emerged as a giant killer to sweep three-time CM Sheila Dikshit out of office in 2013.
However, the paperwork had to be postponed for Tuesday as he failed to reach the office of the sub-divisional magistrate in Jamnagar on time due to delay in his roadshow.
“Today, I had to file the nomination and the office closes at 3pm but I saw so much love from the people (in the roadshow) that I did not want to end this. I was told at 2pm that we are behind the schedule and I should stop here. But I was not able to leave you people alone midway like this. The roadshow is ending now as the police permission is over. Tomorrow morning, I will go with my family to file the nomination. I am thankful to all for giving so much love and support. You have walked a long distance with me,” Kejriwal said.
A candidate has to reach the office of the Election Commissioner to file the paper before 3pm.
This time, with ‘Achhe Beete Paanch Saal, Lage Raho Kejriwal’ (Five good years have gone by, keep it up Kejriwal) tagline, the AAP is attempting to make a comeback after it received a massive drubbing in the 2019 national election. In Delhi, the party was relegated to the third position.
As Delhi goes to the polls on February 8 for a 70-member legislative assembly, the challenges before the AAP include regaining lost ground, reclaiming its popularity with the middle class and the minorities, dealing with factional feud, providing better sanitation, and ensuring security to women.
Test of popularity
AAP faces a stern test of its popularity when it takes on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming single-phase assembly election.
“In 2015 Delhi election, AAP, which was born out of an anti-corruption movement, swept to power winning 67 out of 70 seats. But the party suffered a reverse in municipal elections held of 2017, which saw BJP coming out on top. AAP must regain the ground lost to BJP in order to make a mark in the Delhi assembly election,” political analyst Rajeev Ranjan told Gulf News.
Making the AAP cadre believe in his leadership is also a tough challenge for Kejriwal in the assembly election. The party leadership is worried over dwindling strength of its cadre and volunteers.
The diminishing energy of the cadre reflected in AAP’s vote share. It was 33 per cent in 2014 general election, 54 per cent in 2015 Delhi election and only 18 per cent in 2019 national poll.
Besides, Kejriwal is struggling to contain factional feud brewing within the party. With incessant efforts by BJP and Congress to poach AAP leaders, there is a lot for Kejriwal to do in order to lift the spirit of party leaders and a demoralised cadre.
Disillusioned by AAP leadership, Sant Lal Chawaria has already joined BJP whereas legislator Alka Lamba rejoined Congress.
Fewer advisers
More importantly, earlier, Kejriwal had a battery of advisers having political acumen — Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav, Ashish Khetan and Ashutosh — who contributed to his 2015 electoral success. However, now he is left to fend for himself with the only support of his deputy Manish Sisodia.
Also reports indicate that the middle-class is dismayed with Kejriwal government on the promise of providing corruption-free governance.
The ration card scam of 2017, the CM’s defence of his former Law Minister Jitendra Singh Tomar over allegation of fake degree and his constant grievance against Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi-led government at the centre that ‘it did not let him work’ has further alienated the middle class.
Kejriwal’s failure to take a stand on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has also sent a wrong signal to the Muslim community. Seeing an opportunity in that, Congress sent out a number of its leaders to support protesters at Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Milia Islamia University.
Besides, with December 16, 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case still afresh in the memory of Delhiites, women’s safety is a prime issue in the capital. In 2015, the AAP promised to install CCTV cameras at every nook and corner of the city, but it failed.
“All parties are listing women’s safety as a core issue. It remains to be seen if the commitment will be honoured this time around. Security while moving on city roads is a matter of prime concern, therefore, people need representatives who can assure the same,” political analyst Neelam Sharma told Gulf News.
Lastly, the AAP leadership needs to take a cue from the ‘Swatch Bharat’ (Clean India) campaign and put in place a proper, working garbage collection and disposal system in Delhi. New Delhi is known as one of India’s filthiest cities and does no good to India’s image internationally.
“Delhi may be the capital of a rising economic powerhouse but cleanliness and hygiene levels are poorer here than even third world capitals. A better drainage system would also equip Delhi with the infrastructure to tackle seasonal diseases like dengue and malaria,” adds Sharma.
