AAP's exit a relief for Congress, but new worries flow in

NEW DELHI: The exit of the AAP government came as a huge relief to the Congress that had never been at ease with supporting a party that relentlessly targeted it for corruption , but the emotion was tinged with apprehension in view of uncertain poll prospects.

Congress leaders began to regret the decision to support AAP almost as soon as the pugnacious debutant unexpectedly accepted the offer that was intended to call the newbie outfit's bluff.

If Congress calculated that AAP's limitations would be rapidly exposed once it assumed office, it was in for a nasty surprise. CM Arvind Kejriwal's populist actions to reduce power tariffs and deliver free water as well as his tough "antirich" rhetoric is seen to have consolidated AAP support in former Congress vote banks in jhuggis and unauthorised colonies.

Congress had hoped that AAP's rise would check BJP and while this has happened to some extent, it had brought almost no joy to Congress that might be completely marginalised in the Lok Sabha polls. To add to the bad news, there are indications that the Muslim vote that had stood by Congress may consider AAP in the next election.

The unease in Congress spilled out with AICC leader Janardan Dwivedi giving voice to teh strong view in the party that it should have contented itself with being in the Opposition and leaving it to BJP and AAP to settle who is to form a government.

On December 4, after being reduced to an insignificant eight MLAs, Congress lost ground in all traditional strongholds of unauthorized colonies, slums, resettlements and marginalized sections to the new entrant Aam Aadmi Party.

The Congress decision to extend "outside support" only helped it stay in limelight but any real gains in terms of public opinion in favour of Congress are not visible. The party is also struggling under the anti-incumbency of the Congress led UPA at the Centre and the many corruption cases and scams.

With the AAP supporters from slums, unauthorized colonies and resettlements still reeling under the impact of widespread corruption and the Congress disconnect with the grassroots far from over, the latter may lose more ground. People have seen AAP in government and many see it to be an alternative to BJP and Congress.