POLITIcS
In the midst of all this, the AAP’s internal organisational transition has been complicated by the timing of the 2014 elections. The party has only five months left to decide upon a vision and strategy reflecting the national interests. Viewed from these angles, Modi has a clear first-mover advantage
Let the kid gloves come off. The AAP is an adjunct of the Congress and we’ve to fight it the same way we fight the corrupt Congress. I don’t think it is going to have any repercussions for the BJP in the 2014 polls. Rather, people of this country would give a clear mandate for the BJP and Modi to form the next government (at the Centre). It is another matter though that a group that started out as an anti-corruption crusade against the litany of scams by the Congress is today coming full circle to partner with the same corrupt party.” Vishal Duggal, Consulting Director (Content), Egovin. com, says, “I don’t think Kejriwal can drive the national electorate that easily like he did it in Delhi. The AAP is a roaring success in Delhi because of the imbalance in regional political climate. I know many people who would vote for the AAP in the state election and the BJP in the General Elections. The new murky deal between the AAP and the Congress would play spoilsport for the AAP’s future triumphs.” Pankaj Gupta, Member, National Executive, AAP, isn’t worried by negative speculation. “These kind of baseless stories about the AAP’s poor election performance and further extinction have been doing rounds since its formation. The reason why we decided to form the government is that we do not shy away from responsibilities. Our decision to form the government with the Congress support will not stop us from undertaking our mission of transforming India as a corruption-free nation. We have already begun working for the 2014 polls. I don’t
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MONEY INDICES January 2014
see any Modi wave anywhere. We will field candidates in all constituencies in Gujarat and in other identified states. The AAP is poised to be the real game-changer in India’s national politics. You will see it in May 2014.” Modi doesn’t seem to be perturbed by the AAP as much as he is by the Congress. He continues to make critical remarks against the Congress rule at all of his public rallies. “People are waiting to remove the Congress government at the Centre. This time, elections will not be fought by political parties or any individual, people will fight the election. We have to move towards making the country rid of the Congress,” Modi said at a public meeting in Varanasi. On the other hand, the Congress has been on the defensive following its defeat in four states. Ahmed Patel, Political Secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, says, “I don’t understand why the media is in a hurry to close the Congress chapter. Winning and losing are part and parcel of the electioneering process. It is not the first time that the Congress is losing an election. While we accept our defeat, we are keenly looking forward to take all corrective measures to improve the performance of our government as well as the party. The Congress is neither bothered about Modi nor Kejriwal. We have been working for the betterment of India and will continue to do so. Our strategy going forward would be to make sure that the people of this country are the biggest beneficiary and the successful implementation of the Lokpal Bill is aimed in that direction. The people of this country understand the Congress and would definitely give us clear mandate in the