With the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal still in jail in connection with the Liquor scam, reports are surfacing which indicate that all was not well within the Aam Aadmi Party.
These unconfirmed reports suggest that despite the sympathy factor working at the grass-roots level in favour of the organization, there were some leaders who seem to have become ambitious, and perhaps see an opportunity waiting for them. The BJP on its part would always be interested that the AAP gets weakened, and Kejriwal’s hold over his outfit is reduced to some degree. The first indicator of the insecurity in the top echelons was when Sunita Kejriwal, the Chief Minister’s wife contacted some INDIA bloc leaders. She is understood to have informed one former CM that if he ever had the need to know something about her party, he should only contact her and nobody else, and after she speaks to her husband, she would let him know how to go about it.
This sense of insecurity stems from the fact that several AAP leaders seem to be nursing ideas on how things would be unfolding if Kejriwal remains in prison, and does not get any reprieve from the court of law. The Lt. Governor has already made it clear that he shall not allow the government to be run from the jail, and there is pressure on the leadership to take a call on whether someone else should be made the CM, in case, Kejriwal is compelled to resign. Earlier reports had suggested that Sunita Kejriwal could take her husband’s place, but the BJP could pre-empt this by sacking the government or creating a split in the party. If the elected government is dismissed, it would suit the Delhi Chief Minister, who would then try to exploit the development to his advantage.
However, the BJP has been in touch with several AAP leaders, and is trying to assess the ground situation to ascertain if the party can be divided, and some leaders can be weaned away on the promise of being given positions and posts. Unfortunately, for the Kejriwals, though Arvind was always the face of the party and was immensely popular amongst the people, his MLAs and other elected representatives were controlled, not by him, but by other functionaries. For instance, Sanjay Singh, Rajya Sabha MP, who was released recently, has been the nuts and bolts man, and has a lot of influence over the MLAs and party workers.
He has so far not shown any inclination to fulfill his greater ambitions and has been completely loyal to his Boss. But certain activists close to the CM continue to view him as a possible threat in the future. What they need to understand is that they have no option but to trust Sanjay Singh, who after coming out has energized the cadres. There is also a minister, who nurses ambitions but is perhaps pondering over the feelers he has received from the Saffron Brigade. He is still unsure that if he gravitates towards the BJP, how many MLAs would agree to accompany him to his new party.
It should be recalled here that in both 2015 and 2020, the AAP had won the Delhi Assembly polls with an overwhelming majority and the vote each time was for Arvind Kejriwal, who was projected for the position of Chief Minister. Therefore, if anyone attempts to break the party or go elsewhere, he would be acting against the mandate of the people. But then politics is a strange game, where ambition often overrules, the ethical correctness. Such things have happened in the past and can happen in the future in the political sphere. The famous dialogue from “The Godfather’’ is very relevant which states that the saddest thing of betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies. The good news for the AAP is that along with its alliance partner, the Congress, it is doing quite well in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections.
Yes, it is true that perception wise the BJP is ahead but it does not take time for the perception to alter, if the ground reality starts experiencing a change. That is why the BJP is keen to somehow, split the party as early as possible. Within the AAP also several battles are being fought and the discord is reflected in the delay in finalizing the municipal corporation placements. Many in the party are wondering why Raghav Chadha, Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab and a close confidant of the Chief Minister is missing from action when his presence was needed. He is reportedly abroad in connection with his eye surgery and may return only after that.
In political circles, it is being said that his ailment was curable but his absence was perhaps because of other reasons. This is a matter which he alone or the party can officially clarify.
Similarly, Swati Maliwal, who was sent to the upper House recently and heads the Delhi Commission for Women, is keeping a low profile. There were reports that she too was abroad and was now every much in the city but is maintaining silence. In fact, Kejriwal being in jail has certainly affected his party even though Sanjay Singh and some others are trying to keep the flag flying. It is extremely important that the AAP maintains unity since its chances both in Delhi and Punjab remain alive, and it could bag some seats. Moreover, the true character of its leaders would be tested during these difficult times.
Pankaj Vohra