India's Aam Aadmi Party Wins Hearts and Forms Government in Delhi

Arvind Kerjiwal, leader of Aam Aadmi Party addressing  a crowd. Image by Rohit Gautam. Copyright Demotix (10/6/2013)

Arvind Kerjiwal, leader of Aam Aadmi Party, addressing a crowd. Image by Rohit Gautam. Copyright Demotix (10/6/2013)

The hottest new party making waves in India's political scene, Aam Aadmi Party, has secured the crucial support of members of Indian National Congress to form government.

Aam Aadmi Party (Common Man's Party, abbreviated AAP), led by anti-corruption crusader Arvind Kejriwal, emerged as the second largest party in the December 4, 2013 Delhi Assembly election, playing the spoiler to Indian National Congress, who took third and saw an end to their 15-year-rule in Delhi state government. 

After first attempts at forming government failed, Indian National Congress’ support allowed AAP to reach the 36 seats necessary for a majority in the Delhi Assembly. 45-year-old Kejriwal became the seventh Chief Minister of Delhi and has asked for ten days for create a system to resolve people's problems in Delhi.

A vote of confidence on the floor of the Assembly on January 2, 2014, with AAP's 28 members, seven Congress members, one JD(U) MLA member and one independent in favor, sealed the deal for Kejriwal and his party. Before the vote, Kejriwal made the case for AAP and the common man in a speech:

Who is an aam aadmi? AAP believes that the middle class is part of the aam aadmi, anyone who is tired of this corrupt system is aam aadmi.

I was reading two people died of cold in Delhi. Millions have been spent after independence and perhaps this could have been avoided if the money was well-spent. Where did all the money go? The aam aadmi wants to know. We must acknowledge that politics in this country has been criminalised.

The speech generated much buzz on Twitter:

However Shamit Manchanda reminds AAP's declaration on December 10 that it will neither take nor extend support to BJP or Congress as the new party was formed as an alternative to them:

AAP sought public opinion after Congress supported most of its 18 points and offered to provide support to form a government and got a favorable response. “We are not a party, we are representatives of people,” maintains the party. In the past three weeks time, AAP has reportedly gained 500,000 new members and 300 offices around India and is aiming for the nationwide 2014 Lokshava elections.

2 comments

  • e Chunav

    There is no doubt that now more and more people are only talking about politics in India. Whatever decision AAP take is with the consent of general public.

  • Join AAP Odisha

    AAP created a history in the Indian political era. During the short period of time AAP gets so much of popularity which is some how a strange thing. And during it’s 49 days of work AAP has done much work for the Delhi people which leads AAP to the national level politics.

    AAP Odisha

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