 "Can AAP find a space in political arena by trying the Cong combo?")
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s tactics are clear: Fill the space ceded by India's oldest political party, the Congress. Analysts feel by taking BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi head-on, AAP is trying to wean away the Congress' old combination of voters.
The road show by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in Gujarat is an indication of how the party is challenging Modi. Lambasting those who claim a "Modi wave" and by "inspecting" the Gujarat development model, Kejriwal got the political mileage he sought. Donations to the party soared almost four times. "We realise the Congress has lost its popularity among voters and their only opposition is the BJP. Modi is our real competitor," says Ajit Jha, an AAP strategist. He adds his party will not fight on a communal card, rather it will stick to corruption as the central plank. In the Delhi Assembly elections last year, the party's main issues were water, electricity and corruption.
AAP believes communalism will be addressed once the police, judicial and administrative system is fixed. Jha says all communities ought to be happy with these reforms.
The AAP is seeking its biggest gains from voter disenchantment with traditional parties. "Plans to pit Kejriwal against Modi are designed to target the Congress vote bank of Muslims, scheduled castes and the upper class," says Jai Mrug, a Mumbai-based political analyst. There is no non-BJP choice in Delhi's hinterland and the AAP could come to occupy the space, he adds.
"It is a good sign for Muslims that the AAP has cleared its stance on communalism," says Zafarul Islam Khan, Delhi-based author and editor of The Milli Gazette, a newspaper. He says the party has to still emerge as a strong national alternative. "In the next five years, the party will pose a real threat to the Congress and BJP," Khan adds.
Asad Ashraf, president of the Jamia Student's Solidarity Forum, says "in settings where there is a BJP versus Congress battle, the AAP may be able to cut through the Congress party. However, in states like Uttar Pradesh, they may not be seen as a real alternative yet."
The road show by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in Gujarat is an indication of how the party is challenging Modi. Lambasting those who claim a "Modi wave" and by "inspecting" the Gujarat development model, Kejriwal got the political mileage he sought. Donations to the party soared almost four times. "We realise the Congress has lost its popularity among voters and their only opposition is the BJP. Modi is our real competitor," says Ajit Jha, an AAP strategist. He adds his party will not fight on a communal card, rather it will stick to corruption as the central plank. In the Delhi Assembly elections last year, the party's main issues were water, electricity and corruption.
AAP believes communalism will be addressed once the police, judicial and administrative system is fixed. Jha says all communities ought to be happy with these reforms.
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The party is expected to announce a list of 350 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in a week. It has already named 70. The candidates will reflect India's social diversity and no community will be over-represented, says Jha.
The AAP is seeking its biggest gains from voter disenchantment with traditional parties. "Plans to pit Kejriwal against Modi are designed to target the Congress vote bank of Muslims, scheduled castes and the upper class," says Jai Mrug, a Mumbai-based political analyst. There is no non-BJP choice in Delhi's hinterland and the AAP could come to occupy the space, he adds.
"It is a good sign for Muslims that the AAP has cleared its stance on communalism," says Zafarul Islam Khan, Delhi-based author and editor of The Milli Gazette, a newspaper. He says the party has to still emerge as a strong national alternative. "In the next five years, the party will pose a real threat to the Congress and BJP," Khan adds.
Asad Ashraf, president of the Jamia Student's Solidarity Forum, says "in settings where there is a BJP versus Congress battle, the AAP may be able to cut through the Congress party. However, in states like Uttar Pradesh, they may not be seen as a real alternative yet."