Option Three

More than a decade ago, the Aam Aadmi Party was born in the aftermath of the Indian anti-corruption movement of 2011. The movement, popularly known as ‘Anna Andolan,’ was initiated by social activist Anna Hazare in response to the exposure of massive corruption by the Congress-led UPA government.

Arvind Kejriwal was a civil servant who turned to activism and supported Anna Hazare in his fight against rampant corruption. Subsequently, differences emerged between Kejriwal and Hazare. Kejriwal thought that direct involvement in politics was necessary to achieve the movement’s objective, while Hazare wanted to keep the movement neutral. In 2012, Hazare and Kejriwal announced that they were parting ways since their differences could not be reconciled. The same year, on November 26th, Kejriwal formally established the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with the help of a few other like-minded activists.

AAP and its supporters, from the word go, vowed to cleanse Indian politics of corruption. The party was seen as a movement of the common man and caught the fancy of young Indians striving for change. AAP’s political rise was nothing short of phenomenal. The party made its electoral debut in the 2013 Delhi legislative elections, emerging as the second-largest party. In 2015, AAP won 67 of the 70 seats. Kejriwal became Chief Minister of Delhi for a second time. With this spectacular success, the nascent party carved a unique space within the Indian political sphere, challenging both Gandhi’s socialist populism and the BJP’s Hindu nationalism.

AAP’s defining narrative hinges on anti-corruption, accountability, and transparency. During its short stint in government, the party managed to bring massive improvements in the fields of education and social welfare. It also delivered on its promise of reducing household electricity bills and enacting a free water scheme despite the latter being a subject of widespread criticism. Though AAP could not fulfill all its promises, it was still lauded for its many achievements within a very short period.

AAP swept the Delhi elections again in 2020. Once again, people rejected Modi’s right-wing nationalist narrative and voted for good governance. Moreover, AAP offered an alternative to rigid ideologies that have shackled the Indian political landscape for decades. However, as India goes to polls again in the forthcoming months, can AAP present itself as an alternate political force to the two most entrenched parties: Congress and BJP?

The results of the recent assembly elections have proved that BJP is as strong as ever. In fact, it is evermore closer to its stated objective of erasing the Indian National Congress, the grand old party, from Indian politics. However, the same results have also brought AAP to the fore. Experts wonder if AAP can pose a significant challenge to the BJP in the forthcoming elections, providing a third option to the electorate.

First, AAP has a broader pan-India appeal due to its anti-corruption credentials. Anna Andolan had a country-wide footprint that, at its zenith, managed to attract supporters from every walk of life.

Second, Kejriwal has a very solid background upon which to build. He holds an impeccable record as the chief minister of Delhi, where his administration received public recognition. Over the past few years, Kejriwal has also managed to make inroads into foreign turfs like Punjab, Gujarat, Goa, and Chandigarh. In all these states, AAP is recognized by the electorate as a worthwhile alternative to the BJP.

Yet, it may be too soon to expect a young party like AAP to turn the tide against Narendra Modi. The first factor to measure a government’s performance is the economy. Here, Modi has the upper hand. Political rhetoric aside, it is evident that Modi managed to strengthen India’s economy during his last two tenures.

The second factor is the ability of a government to control corruption. Modi has failed in this arena, and during his rule, the lives of the electorate from the lower and lower-middle class strata have not improved a single notch. Bribery is rampant in today’s India. Government officials do not move until their hands are properly greased. During the BJP’s tenure, Indians saw billionaires leaving the country with their ill-gotten wealth. Modi also stands accused of supporting industrialists who made fortunes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rafale deal still haunts public consciousness.

On the social front, BJP’s track record is even more dismal. Modi is complicit in the crimes of Hindu fanatics running rampant in their genocidal campaign against religious minorities. Especially for Muslims, India is worse off than it was before Modi came to power in 2014. The country is on the verge of a social disaster.

Though AAP has a successful track record of good governance, it lacks the ideological antidote to counter the BJP’s right-wing narrative. Currently, ideology does not seem to be one of Kejriwal’s priorities. Kejriwal has never taken the BJP on the ideological front throughout his political career. His emphasis is always on basic physical necessities rather than spiritual ones.

As the election comes closer, AAP will need to form a vision for the country and share it with its electorate if it seeks to form a central government. Religion and communalism are two sensitive areas where it has as yet managed to tread carefully. However, the time has come when Kejriwal will need to tackle both.

Until now, AAP has managed to stay on the ideological sidelines. It is possible no more.