The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided to fight the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections on its own without tying up with any other party. This key announcement was confirmed by Sushil Gupta, the president of AAP’s Haryana state unit on January 26, 2024.
Anmol Gagan Mann, an AAP minister announced no alliance with Congress in the state back in September, 2023.
Past Performance
In the last 2014 and 2019 Vidhan Sabha elections, AAP had failed to open its account or make any impact when it was still finding its feet in the Haryana political arena dominated by national rivals Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and Congress. Later, its pre-poll alliance with Dushyant Chautala’s Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) also did not result in wins despite a fragmented mandate.
Way Forward
Clarifying AAP’s way forward, Gupta revealed the party will soon announce its first list of candidates selected on merit, integrity and winnability. He said the state leadership is also planning large-scale public outreach programs showcasing the famous “Kejriwal model of development” with world-class education, health, water, power and civic amenities, as seen in Delhi.
Expert Opinions
Political experts have different views on AAP going solo. Some think the recent wins make AAP strong on the ground in Haryana too. But others think AAP needs an alliance partner to bring anti-BJP votes together. Political scientist Professor Vijay Kumar noted that while Haryana has historically delivered clear verdicts, the rising public disenchantment towards both Congress and BJP coupled with AAP’s appeal among the youth and marginalized sections does open up possibilities of a mixed result. He stated that, AAP may struggle to match BJP’s money power, panna pramukhs and communal messaging reminding voters of national security and Hindutva issues.
In summary, the October 2024 Haryana verdict will have consequences both at the state level and national stage regardless of which way the election result swings. It remains to be seen how AAP fares as it tries expanding beyond Delhi and Punjab without the cushion of an alliance.
