Anna's political engagement with TMC worries AAP

NEW DELHI: With its one-time mentor now openly backing a political rival, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is 'concerned' over the implication Anna Hazare's support to Trinamool Congress (TMC) could have on its electoral prospects.

Hazare, who spearheaded the India Against Corruption movement in 2011 that eventually morphed into AAP, will share the stage with TMC chief Mamata Banerjee at a rally in Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Wednesday. Given their similarities and connect with the crowd, the Kejriwal-led party is keeping its fingers crossed on the city's response to the rally, senior AAP leaders told ET on the condition of anonymity.

"Frankly, most of us don't know whether this will affect our support base, but yes, we are a little concerned and will keep a close watch (Hazare's campaign for TMC)," said a senior party leader and member of AAP's political advisory committee, who did not wish to be identified.

While Hazare's fasts had been huge crowd-pullers at the Ramlila Maidan in August 2011, Trinamool also banks on packed crowds to populate its rallies in Kolkata. But AAP, bound by Kejriwal's diktat to not criticise Hazare, has little choice but to direct its attack on the TMC, admit party leaders.

"Annaji is free to do whatever he wants and support whoever he wants, but we won't hold back from highlighting the fact that TMC is the same party which has extended support to Jayalalitha and has KD Singh as it member," said Prashant Bhushan referring to Singh, who has been under the scanner as two of his companies are being probed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office for allegedly raising money in violation of rules.

"I, personally find it incongruous that Annaji, who had stayed away from supporting any political party on the ground that they are unconstitutional, is doing just that with his support to TMC," Bhushan added.

This, however, is not the first time that AAP and Hazare have differed over an issue. Last year, AAP had rubbished the government's version of Lokpal as 'weak' and 'ineffective' even as Hazare endorsed the revised anti-graft legislation. Back then, Kejriwal did not take on his mentor directly, but often suggested that maybe he was "misguided".

The party's approach to the latest development will be the same. "We'll make it cear that we do not agree with his (Hazare's) opinion, but that doesn't mean we have to attack him," said Bhushan.