AAP leaders blame faulty strategy, focus on Varanasi

NEW DELHI: The exit polls indicating a poor show by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has kicked up a debate within the party on its faulty strategies. Sources said the party may have to evaluate the manner in which it ran the Delhi government for 49 days, engaging in "breaking news" rather than taking long-term decisions.

A couple of the party's prominent Lok Sabha candidates TOI spoke to raised questions on AAP's star campaigner Arvind Kejriwal, his lieutenants and scores of supporters camping in Varanasi when most candidates hardly got support from central leaders.

"The Delhi office was almost empty. All top leaders camped in Varanasi to ensure Arvind won. But we did little to help many of the candidates, who put their hard-earned money to fight against established parties. Most of them are now disappointed," one of the candidates said on the condition of anonymity.

By announcing 426 candidates, AAP created a sort of record. While BJP put up 415 candidates, Congress fielded 414.

The AAP candidate said since Kejriwal was the only leader of national stature, he should have covered more constituencies rather than focusing on Varanasi. Others said while a surprise win by the AAP chief may come as a morale booster for the party, his defeat would raise many questions.

On Wednesday, the party's Amethi candidate Kumar Viswas told television channels that AAP was guilty of "political immaturity" and that they must learn.

Pointing to poor political strategy, another AAP candidate said the party was run by four men from Ghaziabad who worked little in their home states. "Leaders like Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh should have spent more time in Uttar Pradesh to prepare the ground and Gopal Rai should have focused on Madhya Pradesh," he added.

Sources said another key party functionary Yogendra Yadav may face several questions in case he does badly in Gurgaon and the party fails to win even a single seat in Haryana, as projected in exit polls.

A Delhi-based leader said, "Haryana was the perfect ground for us to expand and do well. But we have spoilt the chance because of our poor strategy." Word is already out that AAP could project Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate in the assembly elections scheduled in October.

Party leaders now feel how AAP rebounds will depend on what happens in Delhi politics after the Lok Sabha results. Post a comment