Florine Roche

Mangaluru, Aug 26: Not long ago, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was viewed as a serious threat to BJP’s political hegemony in the country. After a meteoric rise that resulted in catapulting the party to the centre stage of politics, AAP was considered as fitting alternative to the Congress and the BJP. It had announced its arrival on the national centre stage of politics with a bang - by capturing power in Delhi with a thumping win trouncing the Congress and the BJP and raising hopes of millions who wanted to have a political party different from the brand of politics in vogue.

Six years down the line since its formation November 26, 2012, the party is now in tatters suffering a series of blows to its very existence leave alone being a threat to any other party. Political downswings, dismal governance, charges of corruption and nepotism, constant infighting, dissidence, discontent and desertion by some of the bigwigs who were part of the original movement against corruption and the autocratic style of functioning of the main architect of the party Arvind Kejriwal has made AAP a political non-entity even in its own municipality – Delhi, where it is in power.

Beset with multiple problems

As the party is grappling with a heap load of problems comes the resignation of the two most vocal supporters of the party – journalists-turned politicians Ashutosh Gupta and Ashish Khetan. Both these leaders grabbed lot of eyeballs with their high pitched defense of the party as well as their role as peace brokers with dissidents. Though both Ashutosh and Khetan maintain that they quit the party for ‘personal reasons’, the needle of suspicion certainly points to the internal power play or power struggle within the party. These developments give credence to the accusation of the ‘authoritarian style’ of functioning of its chief Aravind Kejriwal who is labeled by many as a ‘dictator’.

Though AAP supporters may claim that the resignations of Ashutosh and Khetan are not accepted by Aravind Kejriwal, it cannot be denied that the dissidence within the party has come out in the open once again clearly indicating that all is not well within AAP. The two close confidants of Kejriwal have joined other bigwigs like founder members Yogendra Yadav, Prashanth Bhushan and Shazia Ilmi who were unceremoniously expelled from the very party they founded and others who left on their own. Another senior founder member Kumar Vishwas who was also shared a close bond of friendship has become a persona non grata for Kejriwal. Kumar Vishwas, who has fallen out of favour with Kejriwal, has been sulking for more than a year now but refused to call it quits. Now Kejriwal has shown him the door in April this year by divesting him from the responsibility as the party’s Rajasthan in-charge. It is just a matter of time before Kumar Vishwas quits the party which may not be far from now. Apart from founder member Ananda Kumar, Kapil Mishra, Mayank Gandhi, Vinod Binny, Ajith Jha and Anjali Damania were some of the party leaders who were close to Kejriwal, but left the party dejected by the shenanigans of Kejriwal and his remaining close aides.

Rumours are doing rounds that both Ashutosh and Khetan were gloomy after AAP leadership ignored their claim for a Rajya Sabha seat which eventually went to businessman Sushil Gupta and chartered accountant N D Gupta. The veracity of these rumours is not known. However, there is every reason to believe this because a close look at Kejriwal’s twitter account clearly show that Khetan and Ashutosh had fallen from his grace almost two months ago. It is believed that Kejriwal ignored both these leaders in his tweets indicating strained relationship. It is also believed that Ashutosh and Khetan were miffed following the party’s failure to consider their names for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Dissidence beyond Delhi

It is not just these leaders in Delhi deserted the party especially at a crucial time when the country is getting ready for the 2019 general elections. In the first week of August this year, the Punjab unit of AAP openly defied the party and proclaimed autonomy saying they will not obey instructions of Kejriwal and other leaders from Delhi. Needless to say it is a big setback to AAP which has exhibited its ambition to expand its base beyond Delhi but has failed miserably so far.

The party has been depleted in strength due to the exodus of many of its top and young leaders in a short period of three years. That apart some of the classic misadventures of the party including contesting elections in Punjab, Goa and Karnataka have cost the party very dearly. As a result of the miscalculated move AAP became shaky in its own citadel – Delhi and is now grappling to come to terms with reality. As a last resort Kejriwal is now giving enough hints that it is ready to join hands with the Congress, the very party he ousted to come to power in Delhi.

These developments clearly mirror that AAP has lost the much hyped alternative politics it has been crying aloud all along. Kejriwal is the perfect example to show that power can corrupt. The events of the last six years show that he is surrounded by sycophants and he views every other person with suspicion. He is an opportunist who has thrown all egalitarian ethoses into the dustbin in his effort to remain unchallenged in his party. And finally, it is true that everyone hankers for power and the so called ideology is only a conduit to attain that power - as is clear from Ashutosh and Khetan’s exit. And finally for all those who believed in the alternative brand of politics of Kejriwal are disheartened and disillusioned to the core. That is a big letdown.