Delhi CM falters on Mission India

Projection of Arvind Kejirwal as the David, who will slay the Goliath, fell flat as he not only lost in Punjab but failed to open an account in Goa. Mr Kejriwal, who tried to expand his footprints outside Delhi, is now all set for an introspection after the dismal performance of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Political observers believe that the party’s national dreams have been stalled, for now. After an unimpressive performance in Punjab and Goa, AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the party accepts people’s verdict and will continue with its “struggle”. “We accept people’s mandate. All volunteers worked hard. Our struggle will continue,” Kejriwal tweeted. The party had put all its might and resources in Punjab and Goa. Kejriwal had himself addressed over 95 rallies in Punjab over the past few month. The AAP bagged 20 seats in Punjab, a state which gave it four MPs in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, but the party lost all seats in Goa with its chief ministerial candidate Elvis Gomes coming fourth from Cuncolim.

During his poll campaign and rallies, Kejriwal claimed that the AAP, in its maiden foray in assembly polls outside Delhi, would sweep Punjab and Goa. He had said that AAP will repeat its Delhi performance where it won 67 out of 70 seats in 2015. Its vote share in Goa was six per cent as compared to 32 and 28 per cent of the BJP and Congress respectively. Even the independents’ 10 per cent vote share in the state.

AAP leader Kumar Vishwas, when asked whether the failure reflected on Kejriwal, said, “All elections are fought in his name, this doesn’t mean anything on him personally”. The party said Punjab and Goa would be a “great learning experience.”