AAP candidates might have to face major embarrassment as the party might seal an alliance with Congress. AAP has already announced candidates on 6 out of 7 seven constituencies in Delhi. If reports are to be believed, AAP is set to form an alliance with Congress with both parties fielding three candidates. The seventh seat will go to an independent candidate who might be Yashwant Sinha. Aam Aadmi Party will have to withdraw its candidates from the three seats where Congress will field its leaders.
As per sources, Congress will field candidates from New Delhi, Chandni Chowk and North West Delhi and AAP from North East Delhi, South Delhi, and East Delhi. The city is set to go to polls in second last phase on May 12 and results will be announced on May 23.
Abandoning its core principles on which the party was formed, Arvind Kejriwal has shifted AAP’s focus on caste based vote bank politics much like the traditional parties such as SP, BSP, and others. AAP in trying to emulate politics of SP, BSP, and others through caste politics and minority appeasement, is rapidly losing its voter base. The angry and aspirational middle class which formed the greater part of AAP voter base carried forward from the anti-corruption movement now feels cheated with continuous desecration of values by Arvind Kejriwal for political gains. Leaders leaving AAP citing Arvind’s autocratic behavior substantiate voter’s feelings.
With the dismal performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, AAP with its fractured leadership is on a path to further worsen its electoral position in the upcoming 2019 General elections. As per National Approval Ratings, by C-voter and Republic TV, BJP is on a path to sweep Delhi and AAP is on a path of complete political extinction.
Formed on the basis of its anti-corruption image, sharing the stage with the same leaders whom AAP was formed against has not played well for the cadre or the voter base of AAP.
Impatience and political ambitions have denied AAP of proper political management. Failing to understand and implement the patron-client relationship that parties like SP took decades to cultivate with its support base, AAP went ahead without forging a long-lasting voter base that could sustain them no matter what.
With PM Modi’s clean and corruption-free government, the sole ‘anti-corruption’ agenda which Arvind Kejriwal used for all the prior elections is now rendered useless. Efforts to appease minorities also seem to be going in vain; Muslim voters despite overarching efforts of minority appeasement by Arvind Kejriwal, are not impressed as they do not consider AAP to be a credible and strong political force to protect their interests.
The departure of senior leaders like Yogendra Yadav, Bhagwant Mann and others from the party, has left AAP faceless in other states, therefore, limiting AAP’s presence to Delhi only. The departure of leaders has also caused cadre management issues, ultimately resulting in instability and inefficiency in the party.
Involvement in ambition driven politics has adversely affected Arvind Kejriwal’s’ credibility and analyzing the current political scenario, many experts believe it to be the last election for AAP. Now, with the possible alliance with Congress after so much drama, AAP has sealed its fate.