AAP won't impact Maharashtra politics

NAGPUR: The strong performance by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi assembly election has clearly stumped political parties and pundits. While some did expect it to make an impact, others had written it off even before the race started. But the emergence of AAP as a major political force in Delhi is certainly changing the way other parties now look at it.

Jitendra Ahwad, MLA from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said, "In politics, you can never take anyone lightly. I can't say what impact AAP will have in future but political parties will have to be prepared. We (NCP) will also have to work hard and do a lot of ground work for the 2014 elections."

 Devendra Wankhede, AAP coordinator for Nagpur district, said the party is headed for bigger and better things. "This is just a start of a long journey. Our route went from agitation right up to changing the system. AAP is now a force to reckon with and you will certainly see stronger performances in 2014 by our party."


Senior Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gore said AAP has now created a new voting segment altogether. "There was always this non-political force like NGOs and other social organizations who never got a platform to raise their voice. They all identified with AAP and this has created a new political force in our system, hence you will observe that in 2014, AAP will not be eating into others' votes. I can say this at least for Shiv Sena that they won't hurt us politically," said Gore.

Ajay Sanghi, a social activist, however felt that AAP will cut across party lines because it does not bank on 'vote bank politics'. "This is the first time a political party has come in which is talking about integration politics. We have always seen vote bank politics and for a long time there was no alternative. So this AAP performance is not a flash in the pan but a new movement which will find acceptance in other states as well," said Sanghi.

Nitin Sardesai, MLA and spokesperson of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, believes that too much is being read into the AAP victory. "Delhi results were on expected line as they had all their agitations there but I am convinced they will account for nothing in Maharashtra. There is no base for them here and all their activities have always been based out of Delhi," said Sardesai.

Congress MP from city Vilas Muttemwar said, "We must accept the people's mandate and learn from this. But what happens in one state may not apply to the other. Though nothing is impossible but I think it is not easy for AAP to gather momentum across the country for the general elections or even Maharashtra state elections. Delhi is an urban area and the voters have different issues, in the rest of the country this yardstick won't apply."

Senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse agrees saying geographically AAP will not be able to make an impact. "Delhi has a restricted land mass and one agenda can connect with everyone. But let's take the example of Maharashtra and fit AAP into the scheme of things and you will find that everything changes. The issues of Gadchiroli are different from that of Mumbai hence to find a connect is almost impossible. Apart from regional issues, there are caste factors to be looked into, so practically I do not think that AAP will make any impact here," said Khadse.