AAP tests it's anti-corruption plank in bypolls; bounces back
New Delhi: Four months after a humiliating electoral rout in Delhi, the
Aam Aadmi Party
(
AAP
) bounced back on Monday as it retained both seats in Gujarat and Punjab byelections and improved the victory margin also.
The victory in the
bypolls
is significant as AAP fought on anti-corruption poll plank — considered its "core ideology' and which suffered a jolt after arrest of its top leadership in Delhi liquor case and subsequent defeat in the state assembly elections.
AAP scored a decisive victory in Gujarat's Visvadar assembly byelection where AAP MLA Bhupendrabhai Bhayani had joined the BJP. AAP had fielded former state unit president Gopal Italia, who had lost the assembly election from Katargam in 2022. Italia improved on Bhayani's victory margin of 76,063 and won by 17,554 votes. The party had followed a careful strategy over the last three months. After the Delhi assembly elections, AAP started putting its organisation in place in different states. AAP senior leaders Gopal Rai and Durgesh Pathak were deputed to Gujarat and Manish Sisodia to Punjab for the bypolls.
According to sources, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal had given clear directives that elections would be fought on the party's anti-corruption plank. Speaking to ET, AAP national media coordinator Anurag Dhanda said, 'In Visvadar, there was a lot of anger amongst people against the way BJP poached AAP's sitting MLA. We worked on this message that the government cannot go against the people's wish, which was to vote for AAP in this constituency. It became a people vs government fight here and they voted overwhelmingly for AAP.'
The last time Visvadar voted in favour of BJP was in 2007 assembly elections. 'This seat has always had an anti-BJP sentiment. This helped us but the result has clearly shown that people still believe in AAP,' said Dhanda.
Live Events
AAP retained the Ludhiana (West) assembly seat in Punjab also where the party has been in power since 2022. However, the fine print of election management in the constituency is an interesting case study. The post parliamentary election surveys showed that AAP has lost ground in the border state with several MLAs facing anti-incumbency. After Delhi elections, Kejriwal and Sisodia crafted campaigns for Punjab (including anti-drugs campaign, introduction of land pooling policy, promise of a single window clearance system under the new industrial policy and introduction of online government services) to woo the urban voters. The party's candidate Sanjeev Arora won by 10,637 votes – an improvement over the previous margin of 7,512 votes. 'Though there was an impression created post Delhi results by BJP that probably there may be some truth in corruption charges against AAP leaders. But the party stands vindicated after these byelections,' said Dhanda.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
40 minutes ago
- Indian Express
5 must-read books to understand Iran: Revolution, resistance & rivalries
After Israeli and US warplanes struck deep inside Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, government compounds, and military bases, the Islamic Republic retaliated with missile barrages and drone swarms aimed at Israeli cities. Now, an uneasy ceasefire has been announced. But, how did we get here? These five books unravel Iran's journey from its revolution to becoming a regional powerhouse and how a regime born in 1979 became the architect of an anti-Western 'Axis of Resistance.' With live explosions making headlines, these reads offer what news cycles cannot: the deep history and strategic logic behind the Islamic Republic's defiance. Understand these books, and you'll understand why this fight won't end with one night of airstrikes. Milani's book examines Iran's ascent as a regional power, challenging the US and its allies through proxies and strategic alliances. From Syria to Yemen, Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' has reshaped Middle Eastern geopolitics. Milani, an Iranian-American scholar, traces Tehran's strategy: exploiting power vacuums, backing militant groups, and leveraging Shia ties. He also explores internal tensions (economic woes, protests, and elite infighting) that could undermine its ambitions. The book's key insight? Iran's rise isn't just ideological but tactical, exploiting US missteps in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet overreach risks backlash, as seen in Arab Gulf states' countermoves. Michael Axworthy's Revolutionary Iran is the most comprehensive English-language history of the Islamic Republic, tracing its evolution from the 1979 revolution to today. Axworthy argues that the regime has proven remarkably resilient, surviving war, sanctions, and internal dissent. He examines the Iran-Iraq War's brutal legacy, the ideological battles between reformists and hardliners, and Iran's nuclear ambitions. Axworthy avoids caricature, presenting Iran as neither a rogue state nor a victim but as a complex player with its own strategic logic. The book explores how revolutionary fervor gave way to pragmatic governance, yet how anti-Western rhetoric remains central to Iran's identity. Updated in 2019, it includes the impact of the Trump administration's 'maximum pressure' campaign and Iran's regional proxy wars. How has Iran outlasted decades of isolation and internal turmoil? Amin Saikal's Iran Rising answers this by dissecting the regime's adaptability. Unlike predictions of collapse, Iran has expanded its influence, through proxies such as Hezbollah, nuclear brinkmanship, and shrewd diplomacy. Saikal, a seasoned Iran scholar, explains how the Islamic Republic balances revolutionary ideology with realpolitik. He analyzes key moments: the hostage crisis, the Iran-Iraq War, the nuclear deal, and Syria's civil war. The book also highlights Iran's unique hybrid system, where elected leaders coexist with uneclerical rulers, allowing flexibility in foreign policy while suppressing dissent at home. The book's strength lies in its forward-looking perspective. Can Iran sustain its regional power amid economic distress and youth discontent? Saikal suggests that internal pressures, not external threats, may force change. A must-read for understanding Iran's endurance and what comes next. Ray Takeyh's Hidden Iran dismantles Western misconceptions, arguing that Iran is neither an irrational theocracy nor a monolithic regime. Instead, it's a battleground of competing factions, hardliners, reformists, and pragmatists, each shaping policy in unpredictable ways. Takeyh explores Iran's 'dual containment' strategy: confronting the US while engaging Europe and Asia. He unpacks Tehran's nuclear calculus, showing how domestic politics drive defiance rather than mere ideological zeal. The book also critiques US policy failures, advocating engagement over isolation. Though published in 2006, Hidden Iran remains relevant for its insights into Iran's decision-making. Stephen Kinzer's gripping All the Shah's Men recounts the 1953 CIA-backed coup that ousted Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, a pivotal event poisoning US-Iran relations for decades. Kinzer blends spy thriller pacing with sharp analysis, showing how British oil interests and Cold War paranoia led America to overthrow Mossadegh, reinstating the Shah. The backlash fueled anti-Western resentment, paving the way for the 1979 revolution. More than just history, the book explains why Iran distrusts America, and how blowback shapes today's conflicts. Kinzer's warning about interventionist folly resonates as the US and Iran remain locked in hostility.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
BJP Hits Back Over 'Narendra Surrender' Jibe, Shares Video Of 'Silent' Congress PMs
Last Updated: The BJP in its attack released a video featuring former Congress Prime Ministers and the silence over several instances in the past. Amid the war of words, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday attacked the Congress party over the row triggered by Rahul Gandhi's 'Narender surrender' jibe. The BJP in its attack released a video featuring former Congress Prime Ministers and the silence over several instances in the past that showed the failure of the grand old party. Releasing a video featuring Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, the BJP on X wrote, ' Congress Ka Surrender Wala Itihaas (The surrendering history of Congress)." The BJP in the video mentioned the silence of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947 in front of Muslim League that resulted in the division of the country into India and Pakistan; in 1948 when the Nehru took the Kashmir conflict to the United Nations Security Council; in 1960 by giving water to Pakistan under Indus Water Treaty; and in 1962 during Indo-China conflict. The video further highlighted Indira Gandhi's 1971 loss of Chhamb sector to Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistan war and slammed Manmohan Singh's silence over 26/11 attack. कांग्रेस का सरेंडर वाला इतिहास… — BJP (@BJP4India) June 24, 2025 BJP Vs Congress The BJP's attack came in response to the Congress's attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after a row triggered by Rahul Gandhi's 'Narender surrender' jibe. The jibe came in the form of a social media post featuring US President Donald Trump's iconic red 'Make America Great Again' cap, with the words 'Narender Surrender' – a pointed reference to Rahul Gandhi's allegation that PM Modi agreed to a ceasefire with Pakistan following a call from Trump. Rahul Gandhi earlier when he was in Bhopal claimed that the PM Modi had succumbed to pressure from the United States. 'Trump made one gesture from there (the US), picked up the call and said 'Modiji, what are you doing? 'Narender surrender'. And Modiji said 'yes sir' and followed Trump's instructions," Gandhi said. First Published: June 24, 2025, 13:34 IST
News18
an hour ago
- News18
‘Unable To Construct…': Karnataka MLA Slams Own Government Over Development Failures
Last Updated: In public outburst, the Molakalmuru MLA expressed deep frustration against Siddaramaiah-led government, citing the lack of basic development in his constituency. In a dramatic escalation of internal dissent, ruling Congress MLA NY Gopalakrishna hit out at his party's own state government over alleged development failures. In public outburst, the Molakalmuru MLA expressed deep frustration against Siddaramaiah-led government, citing the lack of basic development in his constituency. While addressing a gathering, Gopalakrishna said that despite being an MLA, he hasn't been able to get a drainage system built, or construct a road, or even build a good school in his constituency. 'Initially, I thought, what foolishness starting a company in a village like this. Despite being an MLA, I haven't been able to get a drainage system built, or construct a road, or even build a good school in my constituency. In such a situation, I wondered how they could possibly run a company like this successfully in the village," he said. BJP Takes Jibe At Siddaramaiah Govt The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the state government over the MLA's allegations and said that Gopalakrishna's remarks are the clear admission of Congress's failure in the state. 'Yet another clear admission of Congress's failure. If their own MLAs feel this helpless, what hope do the people of Karnataka have? This is not governance. This is pure incompetence," the BJP's state unit said in a post on X. PTI reported. Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, Kage expressed deep frustration over the lack of progress on development projects in his constituency. 'The administration in the entire state has collapsed. I am hurt. I'm seriously considering resigning," he said. 'It won't be surprising if I meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the next two days and submit my resignation." He also threw his weight behind fellow Congress MLA BR Patil of Aland, who recently accused the state government of deep-rooted corruption in public works. 'I stand with BR Patil. Whatever he said is true," Kage said. Additionally, Karnataka Congress MLC Belur Gopalkrishna has called for the resignation of Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan following allegations of irregularities in the Housing Board, levelled by fellow Congress MLA BR Patil. A purported audio clip of Patil has surfaced in which he has accused the officials linked to the state's Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation of large-scale corruption. The clip, reportedly between the Congress legislator and Sarfaraz Khan, the personal assistant to Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, has sparked controversy. In the audio clip, claimed that officials systematically demanded bribes for house allocations. He said that houses under the scheme were allotted only to those who paid bribes, and legitimate recommendations from elected officials like himself were ignored. Patil expressed frustration that his official recommendations for house allotments were consistently bypassed in favor of selections made by Gram Panchayat presidents who allegedly made monetary payments to officials. First Published: June 24, 2025, 13:07 IST
