Aam Aadmi Party takes Delhi

IN what can only be termed as nothing short of phenomenal, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has stemmed the blitzkrieg of the ruling BJP's attempt at winning the New Delhi polls. That the results have shocked not only the ruling house but many political pundits is understandable. For barely a year ago, AAP was being seen as a spent force when Kejriwal had quit as chief minister having lost over a key anti-corruption bill against the then ruling Congress party. This latest upset has come as a surprising message for the Modi-led government that has swept the nation winning several local elections recently.

Campaigns by both sides could not be more in contrast with each other. Whereas BJP concentrated on grilling the AAP leader, Kejriwal focused primarily on building support amongst the working class and underprivileged that makes up about 60 per cent of Delhi's population. Although BJP fielded a tough candidate, the former policewoman Kiran Bedi for the top post, it is perhaps AAP's anti-corruption stance that had the biggest pull on voters. That Kejriwal was a man who would stand up for the dispossessed helped swing massive votes to AAP, rather than the business-savvy BJP. One cannot but feel that somewhere down the line the ruling house lost sight of the common man who as a voter is the primary driver for democratic change. In the final analysis Kejriwal was able to appeal to the bulk of Delhi's voters that AAP and not BJP could deliver more transparent governance that would transform their lives for the better.