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Punjab is ground to construct Kejriwal as challenger to Modi at national level

 


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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