Kartik Lokhande's blog

By Kartik Lokhande Kiran Bedi, Shazia Ilmi, Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Ajit Jha, Anand Kumar, Medha Patkar... The sequence of names indicates something. All of these persons have something in common. All of them have either resigned or were removed from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). They have another thing in common -- all of them talked of ‘disappointment’ and ‘dictatorial’ attitude of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. Whatever may be the reason behind the recent episode of sacking, expulsion, criticism and allegations and counter-allegations from opponents and supporters of Kejriwal, one thing is clear that AAP may not ride high on its popularity as it did after Lok Sabha elections last year. For, the recent episode and happenings in various states brings to fore that something is very wrong with AAP. Some say it is ‘hunger for power’, some blame it on to ‘dictatorial’ attitude of Arvind Kejriwal, some say transparency has become a casualty in the party that owes its bir...

By Kartik Lokhande The one who draws lessons from a defeat is likely to emerge winner the next time. Precisely, this has proved true in case of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has done a clean sweep in the Legislative Assembly elections in the national capital -- Delhi. Winning as many as 67 out of total 70 seats is, by all standards, a solid historic victory. That, it has been scored against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that has come to power at the Centre with a thumping majority in Lok Sabha elections only a few months ago, makes it even more stupendous. Apart from decimating the presently ruling BJP from 32 to a paltry 3, with which it technically cannot even get the post of Leader of Opposition; AAP’s victory has also left ‘was-ruling-till-recently’ Congress party with a big zero, a loss of eight seats it won in 2013 elections. What caused this landslide win of AAP? There are various reasons. The first and foremost reason is that the BJP resorted to a ‘negative campai...