by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Kejriwal summons National Council meet tomorrow
Nursing Big ambitions, But cautious to step out again
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Feb 15
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold National Council meeting tomorrow after the swearing-in-ceremony at the Ramlila Grounds to discuss Aam Aadmi Party's expansion plans outside the national Capital.
The Council meeting involving state and district level coordinators will deliberate on expanding AAP's national footprint.
The AAP leadership feels that the Congress is collapsing faster than expected and its voters and cadres are disillusioned. Therefore, its time to seize the opportunity and woo them.
The AAP has considerable presence in Punjab, Maharashtra and couple of other states. But even this base has dwindled during the past couple of years. Kejriwal is also pursuing soft Hindutva and seek votes in the name of governance & development. But lack of unity among the anti-BJP regional parties is boon for PM Modi & BJP.
These regional satraps are unwilling to join hands with the Congress for one reason or the other and the Congress is unwilling to accept the leadership of any of the regional leaders. There was a time when Congress was talking to Nitish Kumar to join hands to fight the BJP. But somehow the plans fell through.
It is in this context that Arvind Kejriwal sees an opportunity to emerge as an acceptable face who is non-controversial, non-corrupt and did not attack Modi or Rahul Gandhi personally. The CBI had even raided his office. But could not make out a case.
Therefore, an astute politician that Kejriwal is, he wants to gauge the mood of national council members tomorrow before taking the next step.
The first focus of the AAP will be Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections due in 2022 which is ruled by the BJP for the past 15 years and Punjab Assembly polls to be held the same year.
Kejriwal is of the considered view that his party is not prepared to play any significant role in Bihar polls due in August 2020 and West Bengal, Assam, Kerala & Tamil Nadu in 2021. However, it may try its hands in Puducherry where Kiran Bedi is Lt. Governor who faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of Kejriwal in 2015 polls.
Ends
