Arvind Kejriwal Is A New Hope In Indian Politics

The Aam Aadmi Party since it’s inception in 2012, indeed has come a long way. A party of ten years to have two Chief Ministers in a term as short as this should indeed be surprising. Especially in a state like Punjab, where the Akali Dal and Congress had carved out their own comfortable spaces, AAP came as a breath of fresh air defeating big names and veteran politicians.

This will be a first in a long time when no members of the Badal family won a seat. At the same time, sitting Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi lost in the two seats he was contesting in. The difference was as big as almost 30,000 votes. Navjot Singh Sidhu also lost his Amritsar Urban seat.

For a party that contested in the 2017 elections and didn’t fare very well, a clear majority with a mandate as big this was not expected. The AAP clearly won 92 seats of 117 defeating established leaders. This was also because AAP is known to be working on the ground since their loss in 2017. The strategies and campaigns have been well formulated and promoted for the people. It will also not be wrong to say that Congress dug it’s own grave in Punjab with all the controversy around Amarinder Singh resigning and Navjot Singh Sidhu lobbying for the Chief Minister’s chair. Channi was seen as a hope, but the people of Punjab looked forward to replicating the Delhi model, as it appears.

This indeed is a very big hope for Indian politics when the only opposition was considered to be the Congress party and it’s sinking ship has been difficult to save. Arvind Kejriwal has been projecting the Aam Aadmi Party as a national party now after having two Chief Ministers in just over 10 years. The party also managed to get two seats in Goa Assembly elections which is only a positive sign.

Kejriwal supporters also insist he will be a strong Prime Minister contestant in the 2024 elections against Narendra Modi.