Diwakar, Rekha (2016) Local contest, national impact: understanding the success of India’s Aam Aadmi Party in 2015 Delhi assembly election. Representation, 52 (1). pp. 71-80. ISSN 0034-4893

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Abstract

In this paper, I discuss how a relatively new anti-corruption political party in India the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)—was able to achieve an unprecedented electoral victory in the 2015 Delhi assembly election, comprehensively defeating the two national parties—the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress Party. Although Delhi is a small Indian state with limited powers, AAP’s victory provides it with a platform to expand in other parts of the country. However, to do so, it will need to deliver effective governance in Delhi, enunciate a clearer ideology and develop credible regional leaders. As things stand now, the AAP could be characterised as a party whose appeal is more likely to be in the urban,media-thick Indian cities and towns than in the rural areas. If this description of the AAP is correct, then its ability to challenge the larger national and regional parties in the near future may be limited.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Aam Aadmi Party, India, elections
Schools and Departments:	School of Law, Politics and Sociology > Politics
Subjects:	J Political Science > JQ Political institutions and public administration (Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Area, etc.) > JQ0021 Asia > JQ0200 India
Depositing User:	Rekha Diwakar
Date Deposited:	04 Nov 2016 12:05
Last Modified:	27 Apr 2023 09:57
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/65263

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