AAP’s Political Journey: Rise, Fall, and the Lessons Learned

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has experienced a dramatic shift in its political fortunes over the past decade. From a remarkable rise that saw it govern in both Delhi and Punjab, the party is now grappling with significant challenges, particularly in its home territory of Delhi. In the newly released book, The Aam Aadmi Party: The Untold Story of a Political Uprising and Its Undoing by Sayantan Ghosh, the author, a journalist-turned-academic, explores these dynamics through a blend of insider and outsider perspectives.

The book is structured into six parts and contains 29 chapters, addressing critical issues such as the party’s ideological foundations and the role of key figures, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his wife, Sunita Kejriwal. Ghosh draws on a range of primary and secondary data to provide a comprehensive analysis of AAP’s trajectory.

In one of the more striking observations, Ghosh notes in Chapter 18 that “the AAP, a party that stormed into power with promises of clean politics and a fresh approach, seems to have betrayed its foundational ideals.” This sentiment captures the essence of the party’s current predicament. The author highlights the controversial engagement with Vijay Nair, described as “the blue-eyed boy of Arvind ji,” as indicative of the party’s shift towards political pragmatism, despite well-documented accusations against him.

AAP’s recent electoral setbacks, particularly in Delhi, underscore the failure of Kejriwal’s strategy of adopting elements of soft Hindutva. Ghosh points out that despite efforts to appeal to the Hindu vote bank, AAP could not penetrate the longstanding ideological stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the capital. The author notes that the party’s attempts to employ religious symbolism and its silence on issues surrounding anti-Muslim sentiments further complicated its position.

While the book primarily focuses on Delhi, it also touches on AAP’s rise and ongoing challenges in Punjab. Ghosh asserts that for AAP to solidify its presence in Punjab, it must decentralize its decision-making process and grant greater autonomy to local leaders. He emphasizes that previous successes in Delhi stemmed from a model focused on local governance and leadership, a strategy that must be adapted to address Punjab’s unique challenges.

The insights presented in Ghosh’s work shed light on the broader implications for political parties striving to maintain relevance in an evolving landscape. As the AAP navigates its way through these turbulent waters, the reflections within this book may serve as a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of modern Indian politics.

The Aam Aadmi Party: The Untold Story of a Political Uprising and Its Undoing is available for purchase at a price of Rs 499.