Capital won, AAP sees Lok Sabha as next target

AAP sees heading the Delhi government clearly as an opportunity. It knows whatever it does will attract a lot of attention, and apart from the symbolism of shunning red-beacon cars, security and other trappings of office, if it can also take some steps that are seen as different yet effective governance, it can amplify its appeal in the Lok Sabha election.

On its part, AAP seems seized of the fact that it has fired national imagination about it representing an alternative political culture to Congress and BJP.

How far it can live up to expectations, however , is another matter. Congress may not keep up its support if AAP, with has positioned itself as a crusader against corruption , starts to review contracts given by the outgoing government and targets Congress leaders. At the same time, it can ill-afford any perception that it brought down a popular government to shield the “corrupt” among its ranks.

Congress could seek some form or regular consultation and an inkling of the priorities the new AAP government led by Kejriwal is likely to consider in the months ahead. The issue is quite critical in political terms as the Lok Sabha elections is fast approaching. As both sides regard each other warily as partners, expectations are being pitched cautiously with AAP leader Prashant Bhushan pointing to Congress’s poor record in offering outside support and speaking of a two-to-six month tenure for the new government.

Bhushan’s assessment was supported by Yogendra Yadav, who said, “We don’t know how long AAP will be in power. We may last a single day or go on for six months. However, we also have to keep in mind that the model code of conduct will be implemented across the country at the end of February and we will not be able to announce any new schemes after that. This gives us a very small window.”