Why AAP decided to dump INDIA bloc

India Today

5 days ago

The Aam Aadmi Party's formal exit from the INDIA bloc marks a big shift ahead of the upcoming monsoon session. The INDIA alliance, formed as a collective front against the ruling NDA, aimed to consolidate Opposition parties to provide a strong alternative during the last Lok Sabha elections.AAP's departure from this coalition signals both strategic recalibration and the changing dynamics within Opposition politics.advertisementThe backdrop to AAP's exit is its recent setback in the Delhi Assembly elections, a political blow that not only dented the party's morale but also stalled its momentum in expanding its footprint beyond Delhi and Punjab.
The loss has prompted the party's leadership, particularly national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, to rethink their political approach.With Punjab remaining AAP's lone ruling state, the party now seems focused on consolidating its power there for the time being.Breaking away from the INDIA bloc allows AAP to pursue an independent agenda, distancing itself from the coalition's diverse and sometimes conflicting political interests. This move may encourage the party to forge issue-based alliances selectively, tailoring its strategy to regional political realities rather than adhering to a national opposition framework. However, the exit also diminishes the Opposition's collective bargaining power, possibly making it easier for the BJP to maintain dominance in key states and at the Centre.'Ekla Cholo Re' is the new revival strategy for AAPAAP was born out of the 2011 Anna Andolan, which was an anti-corruption movement against the then Congress government. It was once symbolised as a fresh and independent political alternative to the BJP and Congress. Under Arvind Kejriwal's leadership, AAP promised to disrupt the established political order by offering a new kind of governance with a focus on transparency, accountability, and grassroots empowerment. However, the party's recent political moves have stirred backlash and uncertainty about its future.During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, AAP's decision to join the INDIA alliance led by Congress blurred its once-clear, equidistant position from both the BJP and Congress. This strategic compromise proved detrimental to the party's electoral fortunes. The 2024 general elections resulted in setbacks for AAP, but the real blow came in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, AAP's strongest bastion.From securing more than 90 per cent of the seats in both 2015 and 2020, the party managed to win only 22 out of 70 seats this time. More painfully, key leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia lost their own seats, a huge symbolic and morale hit to the party.Facing this crisis, AAP is now adopting the 'Ekla Cholo Re' strategy, inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's famous song that translates to 'walk alone if needed". By walking alone once again, AAP aims to regain voters' trust, reinforce its core values, and revive the energy that once made it a powerful force in Indian politics.advertisementPunjab is the key, and Congress is the main challenge in the stateThe Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for early 2027 will be significant for the Aam Aadmi Party, currently holding power under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. As the party governing the state, AAP faces the challenge of managing anti-incumbency sentiments.The Congress party, as the main opposition, is gearing up to capitalise on this mood and is already vocal in its critique of the Mann government's policies and performance.Punjab's political landscape is poised for a multi-cornered contest, with other regional and national players also expected to participate, but the primary tussle remains between AAP and Congress. For AAP, the stakes are particularly high. Unlike Delhi, Punjab represents a crucial battleground that will determine the future trajectory of the party on the national stage.A loss in Punjab could leave AAP without any state-level governance, a scenario that would be detrimental to its broader ambitions of expanding influence across India. This reality also explains AAP's political strategy of distancing itself from Congress on the national front, despite calls for Opposition unity with the INDIA bloc.advertisementMaintaining a clear identity independent of Congress is essential for AAP to project itself as a viable alternative to established parties. Punjab, thus, is not just a state election but a litmus test for AAP's ability to sustain and grow its political footprint.Victory in two Assembly bypolls in Punjab and Gujarat showed the wayThe Aam Aadmi Party delivered a message by winning two crucial Assembly by-elections in Punjab and Gujarat last month, following its heavy defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections. In Punjab, AAP won the Ludhiana West seat defeating its main rival, the Congress party, while in Gujarat, it scored a remarkable win in the Visavadar constituency by defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power in the state for over two decades.These victories were particularly important as they reflected AAP's strategy of contesting elections independently, outside the INDIA bloc. The party believes that fighting solo has helped consolidate its base and project itself as a credible alternative to both Congress and the BJP in these key states.advertisementBoth Punjab and Gujarat are slated to go for Assembly elections in 2027, and AAP hopes to capitalise on these by-election successes to convert Congress's core vote bank in these regions.In the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, AAP managed to win five seats and significantly weakened Congress's hold, signaling the party's growing influence in the state.The party's leadership feels that an aggressive campaign against Congress is necessary to expand its footprint in Punjab and Gujarat. However, this approach comes with a strategic dilemma: remaining part of the INDIA bloc, dominated by Congress, would dilute AAP's distinct identity and limit its appeal. Therefore, AAP's posturing against Congress is ultimately a survival strategy aimed at crafting an independent political space. - EndsMust Watch