AAP steps up efforts to rebuild after Delhi poll loss

The Hindu

21 hours ago

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been quietly working behind the scenes to rebuild and reorganise its political machinery over the past four months following its loss in the Delhi Assembly poll, according to multiple party insiders.
With volunteer outreach drives, a restructured Delhi unit, and a rejuvenated students' wing, the party is setting the stage for a political comeback even as its top leadership's gaze shifts to Punjab, Gujarat, and Goa ahead of the 2027 elections.
While AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal keeps a close watch on the party's revival in Delhi, insiders say his primary focus is Punjab, a State seen as critical to the party's long-term future. 'He is monitoring Delhi, but the focus is more on Punjab. Many from the core team, including [former Delhi Deputy CM] Manish Sisodia, have been working from there for a while now,' said a party insider. Mr. Kejriwal is also expected to spend considerable time in Gujarat and Goa in the coming months.
In Delhi, the party's revival strategy begins with listening, not talking. Over the past few months, AAP has conducted about 35 volunteer meetings across Assembly constituencies, with plans to cover all 70. 'It's volunteer-centric, no long speeches from leaders. A microphone is passed around so workers can speak freely. At the end, the MLA or leader sums up in two minutes,' explained a senior functionary. Invitations go out via WhatsApp and Facebook groups, drawing not only active members but also former volunteers and sympathisers. Feedback from these sessions is feeding directly into the reorganisation blueprint.
Three-tier meetings
AAP's Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj told The Hindu that the party is formalising a regular three-tier meeting structure. 'Every first Sunday of the month, workers meet the constituency leadership at 6 p.m. in every Assembly seat. On every second Sunday, each of the 14 districts has meetings, reviewing the previous week's discussions. And on the third Sunday, there is a State-level meeting that I chair in which all district incharges attend,' he said. The Delhi unit is also preparing to appoint new office-bearers and replace booth-level agents (BLAs) across 1,400 booths, Mr. Bharadwaj said.
Beyond internal reorganisation, AAP is consolidating support by wading into grassroots struggles. 'Slum demolitions are on the rise. We stand with affected families, arrange legal help, and fight for relief. When residents of a Karol Bagh slum got an eviction notice, we helped secure a court stay,' said a senior party leader. The party blames its Delhi election loss partly on 'extreme misuse of government machinery' by the BJP, along with shifting middle-class sentiment and voter suppression in slum areas.