WITH an impressive win in the civic elections in Punjab, Arvind Kejriwal’s besieged Aam Aadmi Party has just had a reprieve – and this also signifies a morale boost to the national opposition that’s facing odds for quite some time. The BJP, on a victory march, failed to make a mark in this poll, winning decisively only one municipal corporation, while the AAP won five of the total eight and the Congress one. The BJP has been relegated to the fifth position overall, against the AAP’s win of some 958 of the total 1977 wards. That the AAP established its hold over 40 of the 75 municipal councils reinforces the feeling that the ruling party in the state enjoys the confidence of the people.
Considering that this electoral verdict comes against the backdrop of the approaching assembly polls in the state next year, the civic poll results need not necessarily be replicated in the assembly hustings, as was evident in Punjab in the past as well. But the AAP’s good performance in Punjab, outwitting the two national parties and the once-powerful regional entity, the Shiromani Akali Dal, amply demonstrates the popular mood. The AAP, formed in 2012 under the leadership of anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal, has been having troubled times of late. The BJP used all the resources at its command to defame and drive out the AAP government in Delhi in the last state polls. This was followed by the defections in April of several senior AAP leaders including seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha MPs to the BJP. Many thought this was going to be the end of the AAP and its leader, the redoubtable Kejriwal. The Punjab civic poll results give him and the AAP palpable relief. The signals from Punjab also give fresh confidence to the national opposition led by the Congress. The grand old party, which has faced odds since 2014 remains badly mauled across the Hindi belt, and its attempts for a revival in Assam and West Bengal fell flat this time too. Yet, Congress’ electoral victory in Kerala after 10 years of its hibernation under the Left rule reinforced the party’s continued hold in the South. As a minor partner, the Congress is also part of the new TVK-led government in Tamil Nadu. A leadership re-configuration in Karnataka, done deftly by the party high command, has also been a smooth process.
Notably, two stumbling blocks for the national alliance against the ruling BJP had been Arvind Kejriwal of the AAP and Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress. With both these parties now removed from power, Kejriwal and Banerjee are going through difficult times. The physical attacks on TMC’s senior brass are a hint of what’s in store for the regional party there. These, however, should bode well for the opposition unity. Chances are that a chastened Banerjee and Kejriwal would now stop ploughing a lonely furrow and help the INDIA bloc to regroup and reassert itself against the BJP. Divided they stand, united they fall. A strong opposition is a must for the proper functioning of the democratic system.
