kejriwal and congress

 kejriwal and congress

The new party's success in Delhi, its decision to form government, the speed with which it moved to fulfil its 'bijlee-paani', 'helpline' promises, even as experts quibbled about their pros and cons, has aroused a billion hopes. A growing  urban middle class that had made good during the last two decades since the onset of the liberalisation era, wants now to be a participant in the change they suddenly believe can be possible.

Thousands are thronging AAP's offices to enrol as members, in metros, even in states like UP and Bihar, where the party units have even run out of forms, and receipt books. AAP is already eyeing a state like Haryana, where it will contest all the 90 assembly seats in the state polls are slated year end. The Gujarat unit of AAP is insisting on fighting all 26 Lok Sabha seats and bearding the lion in his den.

UP and Bihar have held the key to Modi's success, as do the urban seats, where many had begun to see the Gujarat strongman as "the" alternative. Many of the floating voters are now looking at AAP as an option.

A breakthrough in a state like UP, still not out of the Mandal-Kamandal woods, is no easy task, and the BJP has been gaining ground after Muzaffarnagar. And yet, there is an enthusiastic response to AAP in the cities, and I was stunned to learn from a Congress worker in Amethi that there was a "craze" building up for AAP among the young!