AAP Eyes Haryana with New Strategy Post-Kejriwal’s Bail
With Arvind Kejriwal back on bail, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is looking to capitalize on the political momentum as Haryana prepares for its legislative assembly elections in October. The BJP, led by Chief Minister Nayan Singh Saini, aims for a third consecutive term with PM Narendra Modi spearheading an aggressive campaign.
While Kejriwal was in jail, AAP struggled to secure a favorable alliance, initially aiming for just 10 out of the 90 Haryana seats, in partnership with Congress as part of the INDI Alliance. However, after Congress sought only six seats, AAP ended the alliance and decided to field candidates in all 90 constituencies.
This strategic move is seen as an attempt to build a stronger base in Haryana, a state positioned between Punjab and Delhi. AAP’s goal is to extend its governance philosophy—emphasizing health, education, and subsidies for power and water—into Haryana.
Historically, AAP has struggled in Haryana, failing to make an impact in the 2019 Assembly elections and securing less than 10% of the vote share. Despite this, the party’s decision to contest all seats aims to increase its presence and build a foundational support base for future elections.
A major motivation for this expanded presence is AAP’s desire to retain its National Party status, which requires recognition as a state party in at least four states and a minimum of 6% of the vote in those states. Losing this status would impact the party’s ability to maintain its election symbol—the broom—and could diminish its national influence.
The party’s recent success in Punjab, where it won a significant majority in the 2022 Assembly elections, serves as a model for its strategy in Haryana. AAP is hopeful that the success in Punjab will influence Haryana, despite the party’s recent underwhelming performance in Delhi’s Lok Sabha elections in collaboration with Congress.
As AAP gears up for the Haryana elections, the party is focused on revitalizing its local base and expanding its influence, with an eye on future growth and maintaining its national stature.
