Due to lack of strong local leadership and absence of a robust organisational structure in Haryana state, it is not so easy for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to win the race, form majority in the state in coming Vidhan Sabha polls now to be held on October 5. Despite electoral successes in Delhi and border state Punjab where AAP ruling, also has been struggling to breach the Haryana borders. Unlike Punjab, where AAP projected a local leadership that resonated with the public, Haryana lacks a charismatic leader with strong regional ties, despite AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal claiming himself hailing from the state. Moreover, ‘Kejriwal ki 5 Guarantee’ announced by his wife during launch in Haryana state as well as subsequent rallies in Haryana failed to convince voters in Haryana.
According to information, the party plans to contest on all 90 assembly seats in Haryana, whereas AAP is still known to be an urban-centric party centered around Kejriwal, which has not helped people of Haryana in past and voters in the state only prefer strong regional leaders instead of remote-controlled ones. However, the party’s state president Sushil Gupta’s performance in recent Lok Sabha elections in Kurukshetra, where AAP contested as part of its INDIA alliance agreement, he gave a tough fight to BJP candidate Naveen Jindal, a two-time MP from Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency with a massive vote share of 42.6% as against Jindal polled 45% of the votes on this seat, despite Sushil Gupta lost the seat by 29,021 votes.
Information reveals, Kejriwal being in jail his wife Sunita handling poll campaign in Haryana state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Maan, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, Sandeep Pathak General Secretary and several cabinet ministers from Delhi and Punjab have addressed nearay 45 poll promotion rallies in Haryana state in about two weeks. Sunita also announced Kejriwal as ‘Haryana ka Lal’ unveiling ‘Kejriwal ki 5 Guarantee’ for Haryana making large number of promises on health, education, electricity, for women and youths on July 20, aiming to emerge as a third party in Haryana state stating that all regional political parties in Haryana have been collapsed. It is observed that AAP is trying its best to form its governments in Haryana state and win polls in constituencies in the neighbouring districts of Haryana like Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Fatehabad, Sirsa and NCR. According to information, in the 2019 assembly polls, AAP performed poorly when it contested on 46 of 90 seats in Haryana and lost security deposits on almost all seats with overall vote share standing at 0.48%, below the NOTA) option’s 0.53%. According to AAP leaders, the contest this time is bipolar between the BJP and the Congress, but the AAP could emerge as a third party in Haryana.
