Ex-JNU prof hungry for AAP majority

He lost the Lok Sabha election but he is now gearing up for another battle –  campaigning for his party in the Delhi Assembly polls next year.

Former Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Anand Kumar is clear that his party is no-pushover but agrees that the Aam Aadmi Party may witness a drop in support from middle class voters some of whom may sway towards rivals.

“The AAP is not apprehensive of Bharatiya Janata Party,” says Anand Kumar, who was a competent runners-up in his parliamentary contest in the North East Delhi constituency, where he polled 4.52 lakh votes.

“The capital will stall BJP’s winning horse. Voters will not be wooed by the BJP’s developmental propaganda,” he says, claiming that he has himself rejected the AAP’s offer to fight the Assembly polls.

“Delhi has shown its interest for AAP’s alternative politics previously, and I am confident of similar support from voters in the next Assembly election,” says Kumar.

Talking about the speculation over earlier attempts by the Bharatiya Janata Party to form a government in the now-dissolved Delhi Assembly, he says: “To provide a stable government in the city, a fresh election was the only option left when Arvind Kejriwal’s government stepped down.”

“Exploration of any other option was prone to promoting horse trading and corrupt practices,” he says.

Expecting a slide in the AAP’s middle class base, he says: “I am aware of the attraction of the middle class voters towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the Aam Aadmi Party is confident of getting a wider support from low-income and marginal sections of society which form the bulk  of voters in Delhi.”

He thinks the party’s strength lies in its better organisation set-up since the last elections.

“Formation of student cell, women cell and minority cell will be helpful in connecting the AAP with voters from all these community,” adds Kumar.

The political analysts describes the current political developments by summing up: “The current political scenario is showing a new political trend in which majoritarian democracy based on cultural nationalism is on its peak. The absence of political opposition might lead whimsical style of governance. The AAP is bound to agitate against any such activity.”