The unrevealing of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had perhaps the most specular rise as a political party in India. The party was formed by a break away fraction of 2011-12 Aana Movement. These people were well known social activists but they took Indian politics by storm. AAP performed extremely well in 2013 Delhi Assembly election and in 2015 Delhi Assembly election AAP won an unprecedented 67 seats out of 70 seats. This was pinnacle moment of the party. Here was a party which has caught imagination of many Indians and its leader Arvind Kejriwal was seen as a potential challenger for PM Narendra Modi in 2019 election. AAP was given disproportionate coverage on Social & main stream media.

These days AAP is always in the news for wrong reasons. AAP’s performance in Punjab & Goa assembly election was poor and it was humiliated in recently concluded Delhi Municipal corporation election. It is natural for any party to retrospect its loss and in many cases dissidents arises against the current leadership in a democratic party. The same has happened in AAP. Many leaders allegedly under Kumar Viswas demanded change in leadership. There were also reports that Kumar Viswas was ready to quit the party and an AAP MLA had alleged that Kumar Viswas was acting on behest of BJP. Somehow AAP leadership managed to make a truce with Mr. Viswas. But the worst was yet to come for AAP. Yesterday Kejriwal dropped Water Management Minister Kapil Mishra from his Cabinet and it was clear that Mishra is not willing to toe the party line. Today Kapil Mishra told that he saw an AAP minister Satyendra Jain giving 2 cr money in cash to Arvind Kejriwal day before yesterday (5^th May 2017).

There have been many allegations on AAP leaders about corruption & wrong doings but this time Arvind Kejriwal is directly in line of fire. Even Kejriwal’s guru Anna Hazare expressed his displeasure on this allegation. AAP was formed to fight corruption & now its supreme leaders is in the mist of corruption allegations. Those who live by the sword die by the sword. Mishra’s allegation may not be true but remember Kejriwal has used similar allegations against many political leaders. Kejriwal had gained fame on basis of such allegation like once he showed the list of 20 most corrupt politicians etc. But just imagine for a second what if the allegations are true. It will be an end to a political experiment in India. I was never supporter of Anna movement or AAP but I have respected them as a new/refreshing political experiment. The problem with the civil society is that they are not very open for criticism. The same is true with AAP. They easily get rattled with personal allegations. They will have to learn accepting criticism if they want to be remain in politics. It is true that Kapil Mishra’s mother is a BJP member and an ex-Mayor of Delhi. And this was a well-known fact for AAP leaders when Mishra was given AAP ticket and made minister. Mishra may be making allegations because he has lost his ministry but he is willing to fight till the bitter end.

It is a critical time for Kejriwal & AAP. They must come out and rebut the allegations. If they don’t come clean on this allegation then AAP credibility may take a permanent hit. Kejriwal must prove that he is not Vinod Kambli of India politics. The clock is ticking and unless something is done, Kejriwal may be forced to resign as CM.