Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 30
Is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), in its overconfidence, repeating the mistake made in the 2017 Assembly elections by not announcing its Chief Ministerial candidate, or is it a political strategy to avoid going in for a divisive politics?
While these questions are being asked by political observers, the party high command has maintained a stoic silence on the issue. The two-day visit of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal to Ludhiana in the Malwa belt, which has 69 Assembly segments, had all necessary symbolism for a party targeting to capture power. But without a ” Punjabi general” to lead the party in the political battle, that too with just four months to go for the election, the party’s chances could be dented, especially when its vote percentage in Punjab has been sliding – from 20 per cent in 2017 to 7 per cent in the 2019 general election.
CM face: changed equations behind delay
The change in the Congress leadership is bound to create reverse polarisation of votes among Jat Sikhs and Hindus. That is why the party is again assessing the choices it has for a CM face,” says a party MLA.
Senior party leaders in Punjab say that though they feel an undercurrent in favour of the party, especially when the people seem disillusioned with other parties, they are at a serious disadvantage in the wake of vacuum in the leadership for the top post.
“The party leadership is relying only in its own surveys and Delhi-based observers/in-charges. But it is high time the party capitalise on the disillusionment of voters with other players and announce a clear line of leadership,” a senior party leader and sitting MLA told The Tribune.
“By choosing a Dalit as its CM, the Congress is targeting consolidation of the 33 per cent Dalit voters. So far, AAP has announced schemes that are at the heart of every citizen-free power and free healthcare — and does not target a particular section of voters. The party has done well on these issues in Delhi and has the Delhi model to show to Punjab voters,” another sitting party MLA told The Tribune.
Kejriwal chooses to wait and watch
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