A sea of people emerged at the Ramlila Maidan, while many more stood outside the gates with posters and placards pledging their support to a team of young leaders who had risen from among them. . It was February 14, 2015, the day when not just Delhi but the entire country saw hope in a rookie political party lead by Arvind Kejriwal.
On Sunday, the party will celebrate its fifth anniversary at the same venue with its local leadership as well as leaders of 22 State units coming together at one place.
- Arvind Kejriwal: The national convenor and the face of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is now the Delhi Chief Minister. His promise of free water and cheap electricity has been popular among the middle class
- Manish Sisodia: The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi also has the charge of the Education Department. He spearheaded several educational policies aiming to improve the infrastructure at government schools and bring them at par with private institutes
- Yogendra Yadav: Expelled from the AAP in April 2015 for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities, gross indiscipline and violation of the party’s code of conduct, he went on to form Swaraj India. The party, which fought the recent municipal elections, has also been leading an all-India farmers’ movement.
- Prashant Bhushan: Also expelled from the party. He co-founded Swaraj India in 2016 with Yadav. He takes up several causes related environment protection, human rights and corruption using public interest litigations.
- Anand Kumar: The retired Professor of sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University was also among the leaders who were expelled in 2015 for anti-party activities. He is now involved in the functioning of Swaraj Abhiyan and also looks over Swaraj India’s party activities.
Five years after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was formed with limited resources and in the living rooms of its leaders, political analysts say the party is moving forward with a heavy load of expectations that the people of Delhi have put on it.
High expectations
Sanjay Kumar, political analyst and director at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, said that the voters have been harsher towards the AAP in the elections this year because of the high hopes that the party came riding on.
“They (AAP) came in with a storm which promised to almost change the face of Delhi’s politics. Every man in the city was hoping that this man (Kejriwal) would transform this city. He was the answer to all the corrupt politics that they have been voting for in the past because they had no one better,” he said.
This high expectation of the people is what led them to judge the AAP government too harshly and too soon, he said.
“The analysis of the AAP’s performance in these two years shows that they have actually not fared too poorly. They had, in fact, fulfilled their promise of free water and cheap electricity within days of coming to power. The developmental work is also not lagging behind as compared to what the city is used to,” he said.
Another reason that may have led to disappointment is how the party over-estimated itself. Ramesh Gunasekharan, a psephologist and a senior professor at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), said that the AAP, being first-timers, did not have an idea of the restrictions they will be working with.
“Delhi is not a perfect place where a government can show its complete prowess. You do not have all the administrative powers in your hand and that is a major limitation. The problem is that the public wants result; they do not care if you have no authority over the police, half the land-owning agencies, or even the civic bodies of the city. You are the government they voted for and you will be held accountable. It might not be fair, but that is how it works,” he said.
Most experts felt that though it may be too soon predict the results of the 2020 elections, the AAP is still a force to reckon with.
“They have managed to create their space in at least the city’s political pitch. It depends on them now how they play their remaining tenure,” Mr. Gunasekharan said.
After a string of defeats in Punjab and Goa, and in the municipal elections this year, the party is trying to regroup itself. It has taken several initiatives such as Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot and the restructuring of its women’s wing to strengthen the party at the ground level.
