Tough challenge for Bhagwant Mann to emerge from his own shadow and revive AAP in Punjab

Tough challenge for Bhagwant Mann to emerge from his own shadow and revive AAP in Punjab

CHANDIGARH : Bhagwant Mann, MP from Sangrur who has been given responsibility of President of Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) in Punjab is expected to face multiple challenges to revive the party in Punjab, particularly after defeat in the 2017 assembly elections and setbacks in the aftermath. The erosion of trust of people in the central leadership of AAP has further complicated the situation for Mann.
Of course AAP has not performed so poorly in the assembly elections and emerged second largest party after Congress with 20 seats in hand. AAP has retained the vote share of 24 percent obtained by it in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The underlined point is that party failed to improve its vote share despite strong anti-incumebncy wave against SAD-BJP government of Parkash Singh Badal.
The AAP has sean many ups and downs before and after the assembly elections and most of the injuries were self inflicted. The removal of Sucha Singh Chhotepur from post of convener, the suspension of two MPs Dharamveer Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa, termination of party candidate from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat Dr. Dalbir Singh, Hockey olympian Rajvir Kaur and resistant to inclusion of leaders like Navjot Singh Sandhu and Pargat Singh are some of the highlighted reasons for party’s decline. The resignation by former convener Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi from the party is the latest blow.
Bhagwant Mann now on saddle was the star campaigner and also chairman of campaign committee of AAP in the Punjab assembly elections. In a way he is partially responsible for AAP’s debacle in the elections though other factors mainly the undue interference by central leaders of party and lack of faith in the state leaders. Bhagwant Mann has not accepted his responsibility for the defeat of party and neither he came forward to explain the factors responsible for poor performance. The lakhs of volunteers of AAP have been left in the lurch and no senior leader turned to them for boosting their moral.
Whereas connecting to party colunteers is mountanious task for Mann, he also faces challenge from party leaders like Sukhpal Khaira and Kanwar Sandhu who have proved their mattle and not feeling comfortable with the decision of appointment of Mann. Ghuggi who is from the same league had listed shortcomings in Mann like his drinking habit and arrogance. Many like Ghuggi felt that appointment of Mann with a rider that he(Mann) would quit drinking, has reflected poor political wisdom of AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal.
Mann has been given the responsibility when main stram parties like SAD,BJP and Congress have teamed up to crush AAP at state and national level. He would have first major challenge to keep the flock of party MLAs together and prevent split in group. The BJP spokesperson Vineet Joshi had publically claimed that 11 MLAs of AAP are in touch with BJP. Only 14 MLAs are required for defection of MLAs to another party. The Congress would not poach for AAP MLAs but it can encourage defection for vested reasons of breaking AAP back in Punjab.
The appointment of Mann is an indication that national leaders of AAP are not keen to win back Gandhi and Khalsa and other leaders who slipped out or pushed out of the party in the past. Mann is good orater and crowd puller but a political mindset would be more important at this stage. He would also remain the focus of target by traditional parties for old habits even if he reforms himself. Mann needed to work hard to change public perception about him.The parliament elections in 2019 are not far away and Mann has little time to showcase his ability to lead the party. In about two months time, Punjab government may hold Municipal Corporation elections and it would be litmus test for Mann. Another major challenge for Mann would be to remove the tag of AAPs inclination wowards radical Sikhs. Visiting radical Sikh groups was blunder on part of Arvind Kejriwal and if such an advice was given by Mann being chairman of campaign committee then it is time to reach out to all communities and revive the true democratic spirit of AAP.

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