As elections draw near in Karnataka, media and online platforms are abuzz with an unlikely new entrant. The Aam Aadmi Party is taking Karnataka polls head on, with biting manifestos and an attempt to field candidates in half the 224 constituencies. Experts have decried the party’s efforts, calling it too little too late, but the truth might be that Bengaluru could be ready for the party’s grassroots, issues-based approach. Or are we too accustomed to political sloganeering to embrace people-driven politics? If there’s one thing the BJP’s high-octane campaign proved, it’s that issues persist beyond elections and promises must be kept ask Aksheev Thakur and Aknisree Karthik
Having proved its mettle in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is for the first time trying its luck in the Karnataka assembly polls, hoping to field candidates in at least half the 224 constituencies across the state and offer an alternative to the major players.
But while citizen activists believe the state is craving for a change, they don’t think AAP has yet formed a base strong enough to defeat the Congress, BJP or JD(S). Having garnered only 0.8 per cent of the vote share in the state in the 2014 parliamentary poll , nothing has changed for it since as it has not worked substantially to strengthen its presence either in Karnataka’s rural or urban areas, say political scientists.
Political analyst and professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Narendar Pani says that like in Punjab and Goa, where it faced a drubbing in 2017, the prospects of AAP in Karnataka too are bleak. “Nothing has changed since 2014. There is no discourse around any issue. The Congress, BJP and JD(S) will be the major forces these assembly elections too,” he says.
While the appeal of his promised alternative politics may have got Mr Arvind Kejriwal the Delhi Chief Minister’s gaddi, his initiatives like mohallah clinics and a considerable improvement in government schools in the capital have failed to boost AAP’s political agenda beyond it. A former volunteer of AAP, Narendra Kumar who quit the party along with 200 members to launch Lancha Mukta Karnataka, says it is Delhi- centric and has no place for Kannadigas.
“The people, who stayed with the party, were those wanted plum posts. AAP never encouraged localites but only the chamchas. One needs the courage to take up issues, which this party does not have,” he contends.
B.PAC managing trustee and CEO, Revathy Ashok, who believes people do want a change, however, says AAP has woken up a little too late in Karnataka.
“I have no doubt that AAP will field good candidates, but in politics one must play a long term game and here the party has woken up late. For the past five years it has remained silent,” she observes.
Co-founder of Citizens for Bengaluru, Srinivas Alavilli also notes that AAP is not even seen as a contender in the coming elections. “Education and health need vital attention in the state. Most importantly, rule of law needs to be established, but the AAP, despite performing well in Delhi, is not a force in Karnataka,” he adds.
Four manifestos and a bottom-up approach
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi gives free water and cheap electricity to its people. But what does the AAP, Karnataka have in store for the state and city ?
Its workers reveals that unlike the conservative parties, AAP will release four sets of manifestos and not one. The first will be a state-wide manifesto taking care of the interests of the state as a whole. The second will be specific to Bengaluru, the third to each assembly constituency where the party has candidates and the fourth will address special interest groups like women, farmers and youth.
Its focus will be on five issues with a corruption-free government topping the list. The others will be the distress of farmers in districts like Kolar, Mandya, and Dharwad, unemployment among youth, crumbling city infrastructure and the lack of development in five different regions of Karnataka, where it intends to set up five regional capitals for better administration.
As for its campaign, AAP representatives say it will be entirely funded by well- wishers. "We will not spend huge money on newspaper or television advertisements. Instead our workers will visit each house to campaign. Also, we will not buy votes. Once the party announces candidates, we will mobilise funds and work for its victory," they add.
“It is a misconception that we do not have people who can administer. All you need is a political will and the solution to issues,” they contend. With the party expected to release its first set of candidates on Tuesday, Ms Renuka Vishwanathan, a former IAS officer is expected to take on Shanthinagar MLA, N A Haris in the city.
‘Enough harping on issues, aap to talk solutions’
Is AAP planning to filed candidates in all 224 constituencies of Karnataka?
No, at present we have decided not to field candidates in all the constituencies. But we could field candidates in at least half of them.
People, who voted for AAP in Delhi don’t seem to be very happy with it. What is the guarantee this may not happen in Karnataka too if you do well here?
The issues in Delhi are not the same as in Karnataka. Delhi is a Union territory and the Union government controls things as it wants to with the help of the Lieutenant Governor. The scenario is totally different here.
Tell us about the condition of AAP in Karnataka
According to an internal survey done by our worker, over 83 per cent of people in Karnataka know about AAP and its supremo Kejriwal. When we faced the general elections in 2014 we were just a one-year-old party and managed to get 0.8 percent of the total votes. All these years people were like we have given an opportunity to the BJP , but it has not delivered and so let us give a chance to the Congress. However, the same pattern was seen. But now ours is a five-year-old party with all the resources for being an alternative to the conservative political parties.
Why should people vote for AAP ?
Our motto is to practice 'People's Politics' and not 'Power Politics'. Unlike other parties which copy and paste manifestos, ours will be totally different as our workers have already started to work on those that will be applicable to a specific region at the grassroots. Further we shall not only talk about issues, but explain to people how AAP intends to deal with them. People should vote for those who can deliver and not those who behave like dictators.
If your party manages to win a significant amount of seats will it joins hands with anyone else ?
AAP does not have anything in common with the BJP, Congress or JD(S). The probability of AAP supporting these parties is very slim as they are not like- minded.
Prithvi Reddy, State convenor, AAP
