Punjab is
ground to construct Kejriwal as challenger to Modi at national level
Ground Zero
Jagtar Singh
Aam Aadmi
Party that had had been given historic mandate by the people of Punjab essentially
rooted in anger against degenerated and stinking Congress and the Shiromani
Akali Dal, seems to hit strong turbulence within months for the reasons that
are both extraneous as well as internal. At the same time, the design now seems
to be to construct Arvind Kejriwal as the man who can block Modi at the
national level as the Congress continues to shrink and AAP is the only party
that is expanding.
As some
ministers in Punjab face corruption allegations and some of the AAP MLAs have
landed in unsavoury controversies, the latest to be confronted by this party is
what has come to be known as Operation Lotus, the name that has been given to
the design of the Bharatiya Janata Party to poach MLAs from other parties and
the latest case is that of Goa. It has not happened suddenly in Goa but the
Congress leadership, as usual, failed to initiate preventive measures.
It is AAP in
Punjab that has now charged the BJP with making big monetary offers to its
MLAs.
However,
there are several issues that appear to be incomprehensible at this stage.
These MLAs
have come on record on this issue and finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema
today talked of Supreme Court intervention.
The basic
issue is the Representation of Peoples Act.
Only
two-third members of the legislature party of the particular political party
can defect otherwise they are liable to invite disqualification and unseating.
AAP in
Punjab has 92 MLAs in a House of 117.
Going by the
AAP leaders, so far about 10 of their MLAs have been approached by the BJP with
offers starting from Rs 25 cr.
The BJP has
been implementing this design in other states and Maharashtra and Goa are the
latest examples, although at different levels.
An MLA can
resign from Assembly and then join any other party. There is no bar in
contesting again.
It is very
risky option under normal situation and that too in a state like Punjab where
the BJP is still to emerge as an effective electoral option. The BJP is trying
to find its space in this state whose political dynamics of different from all
other states in the country.
Moreover,
Punjab is perceived as the state that has the capacity to put road block in the
path of Hindutva march, despite that fact that this party with its sectarian
agenda continued to be in alliance with the Akali Dal for more than two decades
beginning 1996.
AAP has
lodged a complaint with the state police chief on the issue. The party can
approach the Supreme Court seeking high level probe in case that option exists.
However,
every political move of the AAP and BJP in Punjab should be assessed in the
context of the forthcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh,
both of which are presently ruled by the BJP. AAP is emerging as the main
challenger replacing the Congress.
At one
level, AAP has been using virtually the same symbolism as that of the BJP but
without overtly subscribing to Hindutva. Tiranga Yatra was earlier the BJP
design. AAP chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal supported abolition of Article 370 and he did
not speak out during the Delhi riots. Such examples are numerous. Of course, he
would not like the politics of his party to appear sectarian.
In Punjab,
the party got initial support 2014 Lok Sabha onwards mainly from the Sikh
support base, including the NRIs. Punjab is a different scenario. This very
Punjab rejected AAP in Sangrur Lok Sabha by-poll within less than four months
and that too in the constituency vacated by chief minister Bhagwant Mann.
Going by the
signals that emanate from the present political strategies adopted by AAP,
Kejriwal is being constructed as the only leader at the national level who can
counter and confront Narendra Modi. What
is happening in Punjab has to be framed in that construct.
That space for
a national leader is vacant and Kejriewal is the man who is placing himself in
that position as Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, after all, is confined to
his own state. AAP is the only party that is expanding to make India Congress
Mukt, the slogan that was given by Modi and is now also being implemented by
his emerging rival. In the process, this party is now pitted against the BJP as
the main rival and Kejriwal as the leader who can contain Modi.
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