5 Things that Indicate AAP’s Punjab Campaign Peaked Too Early

Aam Aadmi Party has not been able to sustain its promising start in Punjab.

Actor-comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi joined the Aam Aadmi Party at a time when their other Punjabi star Bhagwant Mann was in the midst of a controversy for being too ‘spirited’. The party had successfully projected the drug menace as the number one election issue in Punjab and its signature door-to-door campaign appeared to be working as thousands of people signed up to join the party during its membership drive.

The Congress at the time was just getting back on its feet and had just reinstated Captain Amarinder Singh. The Shiromani Akali Dal was still reeling from AAP’s drug attack. But things have gone very wrong very quickly for a party that until three months ago appeared to be a very strong contender for the 2017 Punjab elections. Here’s how.

1. No Clarity on Sidhu

Navjot Singh Sidhu was expected to join Aam Aadmi Party on the Independence Day on 15 August, but could not agree to the terms and conditions. The hype surrounding Sidhu’s resignation from the Rajya Sabha has given way to a more realistic picture of the Sidhu-Kejriwal equation.

Sidhu is known to be an independent thinker, strong-minded and unrelenting. In AAP’s scheme of things, Arvind Kejriwal’s is the last word. Secondly, Sidhu is unlikely to accept AAP membership unless he’s projected as the Chief Ministerial candidate. Unfortunately for the party, projecting Sidhu as chief minister is bound to cause resentment among other leaders like AAP’s Lok Sabha MP Bhagwant Mann.

Delay in announcing a clear chief ministerial candidate is bound to dent AAP’s chances of winning. Losing Sidhu could leave AAP without a credible face to project in Punjab.

2. Tickets: Sold Out?

The divisions became even more evident after AAP’s Punjab convenor Succha Singh Chottepur was removed for alleged financial irregularities. This followed a reported video sting operation purportedly showing Chottepur accepting Rs 2 lakh for granting an election ticket.

3. Disconnect From the Punjabi Way

25 of the 32 candidates whose names had been announced in two separate lists, have reportedly faced opposition from within the party. There also exists a strong resentment against the ‘Delhi style’ of functioning.

The controversy surrounding the burning of the Quran in Punjab’s Malerkotla, and the alleged involvement of AAP’s Delhi MLA Naresh Yadav, has also dented the party’s image. Religious leaders had also taken exception to the party symbol, the broom being printed next to a religious symbol in the election manifesto.

4. The Avengers

In the last one year, as many as six rebel outfits have emerged in Punjab. Rebel MP from Patiala Dharamvira Gandhi recently launched a yet-to-be named political front, Succha Singh Chottepur is expected to launch his own party. Other AAP rebels have also launched lesser known parties like the Swabhiman Party, Apna Punjab and Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Party.

A common agenda to oppose Arvind Kejriwal’s “autocratic leadership” could bring all these small outfits together and merging with either of the three big parties Congress, BJP or the Shiromani Akali Dal could be a bigger blow to the Aam Aadmi Party.

5. AAP is Broke

Arvind Kejriwal has had to appeal to the public for more funds.

“We can get money the wrong way, but that is not who we are. Your Rs 10 will help us pursue honest politics,” said Arvind Kejriwal while asking for funds in July this year.

With the Punjab and Goa election campaign in full swing, the party exchequer is draining quickly. The Punjab elections are likely to be held in early 2017 and the party expenses are expected to rise to ensure the campaign remains on full throttle.