Aam Aadmi Party

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was founded in 2012, emerging from the India Against Corruption movement that called for strong anti-corruption laws and transparent governance. The party’s name translates to “Common Man’s Party”, symbolising its stated commitment to participatory democracy and grassroots empowerment. Within a decade of its creation, AAP evolved from a protest-based reformist platform into a recognised political organisation governing Delhi and the State of Punjab.

Origins and Formation

The genesis of AAP lies in the anti-corruption movement of 2011, spearheaded by Anna Hazare and a group of civil society activists advocating for the Jan Lokpal Bill—legislation designed to establish an independent ombudsman against corruption. Among the prominent figures in this movement was Arvind Kejriwal, a former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award (2006) for public service.
While the movement initially maintained a non-political stance, ideological divisions arose between activists who wanted to engage in politics and those who opposed it. On 26 November 2012, Kejriwal and his supporters formally launched the Aam Aadmi Party, asserting that systemic reform could not be achieved without political participation. The party’s symbol—a broom (jhadu)—was chosen to represent the cleaning of corruption and renewal of governance.

Ideology and Objectives

AAP’s ideology centres on Swaraj (self-governance), transparency, accountability, and citizen participation. Its policy framework promotes:

• Decentralisation of power through local governance and mohalla (neighbourhood) sabhas.
• Zero tolerance towards corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency.
• Improvement in education, health, and public welfare services.
• Social equity, with emphasis on accessible public utilities and affordable living conditions.

The party positions itself as a centrist-progressive movement, combining welfare economics with administrative reform.

Political Rise in Delhi

AAP made its electoral debut in the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election, contesting on a platform of clean politics and governance reform. The party won 28 of 70 seats, emerging as the second-largest after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). With external support from the Indian National Congress (INC), Arvind Kejriwal became Chief Minister of Delhi in December 2013. However, his government resigned after 49 days, citing obstruction in the passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill.
The party’s fortunes dramatically revived in the 2015 Delhi election, where it secured a landslide victory—67 out of 70 seats—the largest mandate in the city’s history. It retained power in 2020, winning 62 seats, consolidating Kejriwal’s leadership and establishing AAP as a significant sub-national political force.

Expansion Beyond Delhi

After its consolidation in Delhi, AAP pursued national expansion through a gradual and region-specific approach.

Punjab

AAP’s most notable success outside Delhi came in Punjab, where it won 92 of 117 seats in the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election, forming its second state government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The victory reflected a strong anti-incumbency sentiment and resonated with AAP’s welfare-oriented model, particularly its emphasis on free electricity, education, and healthcare.

Goa, Gujarat, and Other States

AAP contested elections in Goa, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, positioning itself as a clean-governance alternative. In the 2022 Gujarat Assembly election, it won five seats, gaining recognition as a national party by the Election Commission of India in April 2023.
The party also participated in local body elections in Chandigarh, Surat, and Delhi’s municipal corporation, often gaining modest representation.

Organisation and Leadership

The Aam Aadmi Party’s structure reflects its focus on transparency and decentralisation. Key figures include:

• Arvind Kejriwal – National Convenor and Chief Minister of Delhi.
• Bhagwant Mann – Chief Minister of Punjab and senior AAP leader.
• Atishi Marlena, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Raghav Chadha, Sanjay Singh, and Manish Sisodia (former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister) have been influential in the party’s governance and legislative initiatives.

AAP’s national executive governs internal affairs, and its candidate selection process involves local consultations and public opinion surveys.

Governance Model and Policy Innovations

AAP’s governance in Delhi and Punjab is widely associated with the “Delhi Model of Development”, focusing on efficient service delivery and welfare-driven policies. Notable initiatives include:

• Education Reforms: Modernisation of government schools, establishment of “School Management Committees”, and teacher training programmes abroad.
• Healthcare: Launch of Mohalla Clinics, providing free primary healthcare at the community level, and upgradation of government hospitals.
• Subsidised Utilities: Provision of free water (up to 20,000 litres per household) and subsidised electricity for low consumption users.
• Women’s Safety and Welfare: Introduction of free bus travel for women and enhanced CCTV surveillance networks.
• E-Governance: Digitalisation of administrative services and delivery of public documents to citizens’ homes.

The party’s social welfare measures have received national attention, though critics argue they represent populist economics that may strain state finances.

Controversies and Criticism

AAP has faced multiple political and legal challenges since its formation.

• Central–State Conflict: Frequent jurisdictional disputes between the Delhi government and the Union Government, particularly over control of the Delhi Services Department, have led to prolonged constitutional litigation.
• Corruption Allegations: Several AAP leaders, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, were arrested in 2023–24 over alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy; AAP denied wrongdoing and described the cases as politically motivated.
• Internal Dissent: Early leaders such as Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan were expelled in 2015, leading to criticism of Kejriwal’s centralised leadership style.
• Policy Critiques: Opponents label AAP’s welfare policies as fiscally unsustainable and politically opportunistic.

Despite these controversies, AAP has maintained a reputation for administrative efficiency and voter accessibility.

Electoral Footprint and Current Status

By 2025, AAP governs only Punjab—and is recognised as a national political party.