Shimla7 hours agoAuthor: Devendra Heta
After the historic victory in Punjab, now the Aam Aadmi Party is entering the politics of the neighboring state of Himachal Pradesh. No party has been successful as a third front in the politics of the hill state so far. In such a situation, the Aam Aadmi Party is preparing to play the ‘bet of guarantees’ like Punjab to climb the mountain.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is conducting the first road show in Mandi, the home district of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, for a bang entry in Himachal. Minister in Delhi government Satyendar Jain has been camping in the state for a long time to understand the political mathematics of Himachal. At the same time, there is a BJP government in Himachal, whose term is going to end on January 8, 2023. In such a situation, all the political parties now have only about 6 months left.
Focus on areas adjoining Punjab
The Aam Aadmi Party has announced that it will contest all 68 seats in Himachal. The party’s focus is on Una, Kangra, Bilaspur and Solan districts of Himachal. The reason for this is that all these areas are adjacent to Punjab. At the same time, a government has been formed in Punjab under the leadership of Bhagwant Mann, its effect can be seen in these areas of the neighboring state. On the other hand, Kangra district has the maximum number of 15 assembly seats in the state.
AAP’s focus on tourism-horticulture-education
Aam Aadmi Party had announced 10 guarantees to win the elections in Punjab. In Himachal too, the party is preparing to play a similar bet. AAP minister in Delhi Satyendar Jain has been in Himachal for a long time. In such a situation, the party has also understood those issues very well on which guarantees can be given to the general public. Along with tourism and horticulture, the education sector can remain the main part of the party’s manifesto. The livelihood of most of the people in Himachal depends on horticulture and tourism.
Ridge plain located in Shimla, the capital of Himachal. Tourism and horticulture contribute 12% to the GDP of Himachal. Despite this, it is ironic that no new tourist destination has been developed in the state in the last decade. Nor has the action plan to develop any infrastructure for its development have come to the fore on a large scale.
These may be AAP’s guarantees in Himachal…
- Tourism and horticulture contribute more than 12 per cent to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP). The livelihood of more than 4 lakh families of the state is dependent on both.
- Apple horticulture industry contributes more than Rs 4500 crore to the GDP of Himachal. There is no CA store in the state to store even one percent of apples.
- No new tourist destination has been developed in the state for a decade. There are innumerable tourist places in Himachal like Chanshal, which are compared with Switzerland.
- In order to directly connect the people of the hill state, AAP can announce to develop new tourist places and horticulture under its guarantee.
- An announcement is also possible in Himachal to remove corruption and unemployment, free electricity, better education and health facilities, on the lines of Punjab and Delhi.
- Himachal Pradesh is the largest power generating state in the country due to hydro projects. In such a situation, Kejriwal can make a big announcement regarding free electricity.
- The party can also announce a policy for reforms in the education sector in view of the loot from parents due to the arbitrariness of private school management in Himachal.
- The party will also try to woo the voters by announcing to improve the medical facilities in the state through Mohalla clinics on the lines of Delhi.
Aam Aadmi Party is excited after government formation in Punjab. Therefore, the neighboring state is planning for a bang entry in Himachal.
Discussion of shunning many faces from Congress-BJP
Due to the increasing activities of the Aam Aadmi Party, there has been an internal stir between the Congress and the BJP in Himachal. In view of the rally to be held in Mandi, the home district of the Chief Minister on Wednesday, discussions are on in full swing for many big faces of both the parties. Many big names can join AAP in the presence of party supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann in the roadshow. It is also discussed that a minister from Jairam’s cabinet is also in touch with the Aam Aadmi Party on the condition of being made the CM face. At the same time, the market of discussions about the marginalized mandi’s Anil Sharma is also hot. There is talk of BJP’s Maheshwar Singh and Congress’ Major Vijay Singh Mankotia also joining AAP. The name of Chetan Bragta, who rebelled against the BJP and contested the by-election from Jubbal-Kotkhai as an independent candidate, is also in the list. Many other ticket contenders may also join the Aam Aadmi Party camp.
AAP will definitely spoil the equation of Congress
According to political pundits, if AAP contests on all 68 seats in the state, then it can spoil the political equation. Both the Congress-BJP parties may have to bear the loss. Especially the Congress itself is more cautious about the damage caused by AAP contesting elections. At the same time, most of the people who joined AAP in the last two weeks have been from Congress background.
AAP got power in Punjab due to three reasons
There were many reasons behind the political charisma of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab. First, its guarantees for the general public, which directly benefitted the party. The party was successful in wooing women voters especially with the promise of Rs 1000 per month. Second, AAP had a strong organizational structure. In Punjab, AAP has prepared the organization structure in the last 7-8 years. Due to this, the party secured 23.72 per cent votes in the 2017 assembly elections. At the same time, the vote share of the party increased from 18.30 percent to 42.01 percent in 2022. At the same time, the third reason was the mutual split of Congress. The Aam Aadmi Party also got a direct benefit from the internal disintegration of the Congress. At the same time, after the farmers’ movement, after the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, people voted to try the party as a new alternative.
Political ‘climb’ in the mountain is not easy
It is not easy to get success in Himachal as a new political option for the Aam Aadmi Party. The biggest challenge before the party is the immature organizational structure. The party has only 2.25 lakh members in a state with more than 52 lakh voters. At the same time, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party got only 2.06 percent votes in all four seats.