Prashant Kishor Lists Reasons Why Kejriwal & AAP Lost in Delhi Elections
The recent Delhi Assembly elections saw the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suffer a surprise defeat, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as the clear winner. The loss has led to much speculation and analysis about what went wrong for the AAP, and one person who has been vocal about the reasons behind the defeat is Prashant Kishor, a politician and former political strategist.
In a recent interview, Kishor pointed out that Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to resign as Delhi Chief Minister after being granted bail in the liquor policy case was a “big strategic mistake”. According to Kishor, this move not only hurt Kejriwal’s credibility but also gave the BJP an opportunity to gain an upper hand in the elections.
In his interview with News18, Kishor said, “The moment Kejriwal resigned, the narrative changed. The opposition got a chance to say that he was being inconsistent, that he was trying to save his skin. It was a big strategic mistake. He should have resigned after his arrest, not after his bail.”
But Kishor was not the only reason why the AAP lost the elections. He also highlighted the 10-year anti-incumbency factor, which he believed worked against the AAP. “The people of Delhi have a tendency to vote out the incumbent government after 10 years,” he explained. “This is a known phenomenon in Delhi politics. The Congress, for instance, was defeated in 2013, and the AAP was defeated this year. This is a natural cycle.”
Another factor that hurt the AAP’s chances was Kejriwal’s fluctuating stance on the INDI Alliance, a coalition of opposition parties. According to Kishor, Kejriwal’s decision to join the alliance and then exit it just a few days later damaged his credibility and made him look indecisive. “Kejriwal’s stance on the INDI Alliance was a big issue,” Kishor said. “He joined it, and then he exited it. This gave the impression that he was trying to be in two places at once. It hurt his credibility and made him look indecisive.”
Kishor also pointed out that the AAP’s campaign was not well-organized, and the party failed to connect with the people of Delhi on a personal level. “The AAP’s campaign was not well-planned, and they failed to connect with the people,” he said. “They were too focused on their own internal politics and forgot about the people of Delhi. This is a mistake that they will have to correct if they want to come back to power.”
Another factor that contributed to the AAP’s loss was the party’s inability to address the issue of corruption. According to Kishor, the AAP’s campaign was based on the idea that they were the only ones who could fight against corruption, but they failed to deliver on this promise. “The AAP’s campaign was all about fighting against corruption, but they failed to deliver on this promise,” he said. “They were unable to take any concrete steps to address the issue of corruption, and this hurt their credibility.”
Finally, Kishor pointed out that the AAP’s hubris and complacency also played a role in their loss. According to him, the party had become complacent after winning two consecutive elections, and they failed to work on their weaknesses and improve their campaign strategy. “The AAP had become complacent after winning two consecutive elections,” he said. “They failed to work on their weaknesses and improve their campaign strategy. This is a mistake that they will have to correct if they want to come back to power.”
In conclusion, Prashant Kishor’s reasons for the AAP’s loss in the Delhi elections provide a comprehensive analysis of what went wrong for the party. From Kejriwal’s resignation after being granted bail in the liquor policy case to the 10-year anti-incumbency factor, the AAP’s inability to address the issue of corruption, and their hubris and complacency, there were several factors that contributed to their defeat. As the party looks to regroup and come back to power, they will have to take these factors into account and work on improving their campaign strategy and addressing the weaknesses that led to their loss.
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