Should BJP worry about AAP’s development?

It was earlier thought that Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) popularity would hurt the ruling Congress Party more than the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), however, Delhi election’s stunning results completely changed the whole political picture. Even senior party leader like Arun Jaitely claims that his party is unconcerned of AAP’s growth but there are many reasons that BJP needs to worry of AAP’s development, especially after the emergence of this new kid in the political block on the national. Whether acknowledge or not BJP is getting sleepless nights because former Indian Revenue Services officer and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has equally clean and non-corrupt political image like BJP’s prime ministerial favorite Narendra Modi. Both the political figures also have a huge fan following on social media networks. The Delhi elections showed that the AAP’s anti-corruption movement touched the heart of country’s middle class, which has always been BJP’s stronghold. In almost no time, feisty leader Kejriwal’s party has gained electrifying popularity across the nation, targeting middle class, that they are now even receiving volunteer applications and donations from across India, affecting Modi’s campaign tremendously.

BJP, therefore, needs to ensure that it harvests most of the anti-incumbency votes in 2014 elections since AAP also has urban voters’ support similar to Modi’s party. The 201 urban and semi urban seats are likely to decide fortunes of Modi’s party in the upcoming polls. If BJP’s loyalists change their sides now, the party will be in trouble, since even a single vote would matter now. Regarding economic ideology, Modi campaigned about market-led development, while AAP talked about government-led growth.

While Modi has been seen as an effective leader, Kejriwal’s popularity is no less. Both leaders appeal to the youth and have the ability to take quick decisions, only time will tell who will overpower other - autocratic Modi or feisty Kejriwal.