Punjab elections: Can Arvind Kejriwal and his party undo the damage?

Only over a month ago, political analysts had been talking of a victory-in-waiting for the Aadmi Aadmi Party in Punjab. Today they are less sure. The party has landed itself in a soup ahead of the Assembly election in the State. Let alone winning, even finishing second will now need a Herculean effort. The AAP’s Delhi leadership is grappling with the crisis of its State unit threatening to fall apart. Watching from the sidelines with glee, at times cheering the party-spoilers, are the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress. If Arvind Kejriwal & company are unable to stem the decline, the Akali Dal-BJP and the Congress can look forward to a traditional two-way contest, with the AAP being reduced to a vote-cutter. The Aam Aadmi Party had been cruising along pretty well in the State. Discontent among the people with the ruling combine was on the rise. The Congress was perceived as a no better alternative. The AAP was particularly well-positioned, with all its four Members of Parliament representing Punjab, to seize the moment. In mid-July, the AAP got a shot in the arm with the exit of Navjot Singh Sidhu from the BJP. From all accounts, he was to join the Aam Aadmi Party. Backroom discussions had begun even before Sidhu quit his nominated seat in the Rajya Sabha and effectively the BJP. The talks intensified thereafter. The buzz was that Sidhu would be named the AAP’s chief ministerial candidate in the State. At the very least, he would he the party’s star campaigner with considerable say in the selection of candidates. AAP leaders even began celebrating his entry in anticipation. That’s when the troubles began. Contrary to expectations, the former BJP leader did not embrace the Aam Aadmi Party. He went incommunicado for a few days after quitting the Rajya Sabha, and when he spoke, he said nothing about joining Kejriwal’s party. Later, following behind-the-doors discussions, the AAP let it be known that Sidhu would come into the fold on August 15. Nothing happened on that day. Kejriwal met Sidhu and said the latter had asked for more time to decide. Clearly, the groundwork for Sidhu’s entry into the AAP had not been adequately prepared. Even in the initial heady days, there had been takers for the propaganda that neither had Sidhu placed conditions nor had the AAP agreed to them. With the passage of time, it became clear that negotiations had hit a roadblock. The episode has seriously dented the AAP’s image in Punjab. Sidhu may yet join the party, but the damage will be difficult to reverse. Both his supporters and the AAP’s workers will now view each other with suspicion, even if he comes on board. The Sidhu ammunition had failed to fire. But another gun went off unexpectedly, nearly reducing the AAP’s Punjab unit to rubble. Senior party leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur was sacked as convenor on the allegation that he had accepted money to distribute tickets. Chhotepur said he took the money on instructions from the AAP’s central leadership. AAP leaders spoke of a sting operation which had exposed the senior leader, but that video is nowhere to be seen. Chhotepur’s supporters are poised to float a new outfit in the coming days to challenge the AAP in Punjab. This is bad news for the party, which is why it has stopped short of expelling the senior politician from the party. It hopes to douse the fire with some face-saver in the coming days. Add to these developments the already existing discontent among its MPs, and the misery is complete for the AAP. A year ago, the party had suspended two of its four MPs, Dharamvira Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa. Gandhi is considered close to expelled AAP leader Yogendra Yadav, and the latter has good equations with the ruling coalition. Of the two MPs the party now has in its kitty, one, Bhagwant Mann, is facing scrutiny for compromising the security of Parliament. Further, Khalsa has accused him of coming drunk to Parliament. These may sound like personal and petty insinuations, but they have played on public perception. Just as the party’s recent blunder did, when it had to apologise for hurting Sikh sentiments. AAP leader Ashish Khaitan had compared his party’s manifesto with the Guru Granth Sahib. Also, the Golden Temple’s image was used on the manifesto — with the broom. Can Arvind Kejriwal and his party undo the damage? It’s difficult to be certain at this stage. What is clear is that the AAP has lost considerable amount of affection it enjoyed in Punjab. (The writer is a senior political commentator and public affairs analyst) Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and views of ABP News Network Pvt Ltd