The AAP has come a cropper in Himachal Pradesh but its spirited performance in Gujarat will help it get the “national party” tag, one that will not only increase its standing among the Opposition ranks but also go a long way in building its credentials for taking on the BJP replacing the Congress as the principal challenger.
The AAP bagged 13 per cent of the vote share in Gujarat riding on its showing in the rural and tribal belts of Gujarat.
But then it could not touch even double digit figures in terms of seats in sharp contrast to its convener Arvind Kejriwal’s assertion “in writing” that his party would form the next Government unseating the BJP.
The results clearly suggest that Gujaratis didn’t fall for the AAP’s promises of freebies and sops and that it has a long way to go to win over the people in a State which has always seen a bipolar fight between the BJP and the Congress.
In fact, its Chief Ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi and State chief Gopal Italia themselves lost the polls.
Gadhvi, who had bagged the maximum votes during an opinion poll by his party for CM candidate, lost to BJP’s Ayar Mulubhai Hardasbhai Bera from Khambhalia seat by a margin of over 18,000 votes while Italia lost to BJP’s Vindobhai Moradiya from Katargam seat by a margin of over 64,000 votes. Both the constituencies are in the Surat belt where AAP had expected to perform its best given its performance in the civic polls earlier.
The AAP, which contested the Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh for the first time drew a blank securing just 1.10 per cent of the total votes cast. The poor performance of AAP dashed its hope of emerging as a strong third force in the State to challenge the hegemony of BJP and Congress, which have been alternately ruling the State for almost four decades.
But AAP’s creditable performance in Gujarat will help it become a national party by virtue of getting more than 6 per cent vote share in four States of Delhi, Punjab, Goa, and Gujarat. As per norms prescribed by the Election Commission, to get national status a party requires “State party” status in at least four States. To get “State party” status, a party has to secure 6 per cent votes in Assembly polls or win two seats in a particular State. The AAP has already formed Governments in Delhi and Punjab. It also got 6.77 per cent of the votes and two seats in the Goa Assembly elections earlier this year.
Currently, there are eight recognised national parties in India - BJP, Congress, BSP, CPI, CPM, All India Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and National Peoples Party. A recognised national party enjoys privileges like a reserved party symbol, free broadcast time on State-run television and radio, consultation in the setting of election dates, and offering inputs in setting electoral rules and regulations.
The Election Commission (EC)’s data showed that Chaitarbhai Vasava of the AAP defeated Hitesh Kumar Vasava of BJP by a margin of over 40,000 votes in Dediapada. Sudhirbhai Vaghani of AAP in Gariadhar Assembly seat defeated N Keshubhai Hirjibhai by a margin of 4690 votes. Ahir Hemantbhai Hardasbhai of AAP has defeated BJP’s Chimanbhai Sapariya from Jamjodhpur seat by a margin of 9964 votes. AAP’s Umeshbhai Naranbhai defeated BJP’s Ghanshyambhai Pragirbhai Virani by 2474 votes in Batod seat. Bhupendrabhai Bhayani won the Visavadar seat by a margin of over 6,900 votes. Of the five seats four of them are from rural areas and one is from semi-rural area.
In a video message, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday thanked the people of Gujarat for helping his party breach the BJP’s Gujarat “fortress”, and said that the party has become a “national party” in just 10 years since its formation. Kejriwal said though the AAP has not won many seats in Gujarat the votes it got helped it attain the national party status.