Aam Aadmi Party at 3

The AAP turned three this month, and its story has come full circle. Maria Akram maps the tumultuous journey of a revolutionary party that forever changed the face of Indian politics

It was three years ago, that the party was formed to have a strong Jan Lokpal in the country. On November 26, 2012 the Congress’ Manish Tewari ridiculed the party and claimed that “the Aam Aadmi (common man) is synonymous with the Congress since 1885 when the party came into existence...Therefore, nobody can either hijack or skyjack or bicycle-jack the intrinsic relationship between the Congress and the people of this country.” Now, the Congress has been wiped out from Delhi after ruling for 15 years and the BJP is reduced to three seats. But the three-year journey of AAP has been a roller coaster ride.

>From activists to lawmakers On Monday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is likely to table the much touted Jan Lokpal Bill in the Delhi assembly. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, after the Delhi Cabinet cleared the Bill last week, recounted his days with ‘Team Anna’ when he had burnt copies of the UPA government’s draft of the Lokpal, terming it ‘jokepal’. “Feel nostalgic when i see this pic. We had burnt govt’s 'jokepal' at that time,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted. > Read More...

>After initial dash, taking things slow On November 23, at the AAP’s National Council meeting, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal categorically said that the party isn’t eyeing the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and will concentrate only on Delhi and Punjab. “We are not in the race for 2019. We need to focus on what we have,” he said while addressing 247 senior members of the party. > Read More...

>Soical media team keeps AAP ahead of the game The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) keeps its social media machinery well-oiled. With a strength of almost 8,000 members, volunteers and party leaders constantly ‘connecting’ with the people, nothing goes unnoticed by the team. > Read More...