AAP like any other political party: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP today said the Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP) turned out to be as good or bad as any other political party even as TMC described it as an experiment and said it was too early to say it has failed.

BJP's Balbir Punj, who was a part of a discussion on dissent within and outside political parties at an event, said the AAP promised a "certain utopia" and a political set minus problems of ordinary political parties.

"This was an impossible promise. Ultimately, AAP has turned out be as good or bad as most of the other political parties," Punj said.

He said the Delhi Assembly election results came as a "shock" to BJP and the migration of voters from Congress to the AAP was a major factor behind it.

"As far as BJP is concerned, Delhi came as a shock to us also. Though our vote share remained as that of last Vidhan Sabha elections. There was no change. But because Congress voters migrated to the AAP, the result came out the way it did," Punj said.

He, however, said the AAP would not be able to replicate its performance in any other state.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O Brien said, "The AAP is an experiment. They have got a huge mandate. They are learning as they go along.

"Their dissent is more on television. The media played a big role in bringing them to power and that is hurting them at present. They need time. They have been in government for a few months. It's too early to say that the experiment failed."

INLD leader Dushyant Chuatala said it was a learning experience for the AAP and they would learn how a government functions in the coming months.