New Delhi [India]: In significant decisions that have ramifications for national polity, the Election Commission on Monday recognised Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party.
The EC decision came amid the campaign for Karnataka assembly polls and months before assembly polls in Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh due by the end of this year.
The decision will also have a bearing in terms of opposition efforts to forge a united front to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. While the decision has increased the political heft of AAP, it has seemingly affected NCP and Trinamool Congress in the perception battle.
AAP rules Delhi and Punjab and it got national party status also based on its performance in Gujarat and Goa. It is a recognised state party in Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat and Goa.
AAP has been looking for a national footprint and has contested polls in several states.
AAP leaders including Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party congratulated party workers over the decision.
Kejriwal said the party’s achievement in “such a short time” is “nothing less than a miracle”.
He said that the people of the country have given them a huge responsibility.
“National party in such a short time? This is nothing less than a miracle. Many congratulations to all. Crores of people of the country have taken us here. People expect a lot from us. Today people have given us this huge responsibility. Lord, bless us to fulfill this responsibility well,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said hard work of workers has paid off.
“Congratulations to the dreams of AAP team captain Arvind Kejriwal ji..Congratulations to the crores of team members..Hard work has paid off….Eyewitness of AAP’s revolution… ,” he said in a tweet.
Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said the achievement would not have been possible without people’s support.
“It’s a big thing for us. This wouldn’t have been possible without people’s support. People are with us. We want God to give strength to Arvind Kejriwal to keep on moving forward,” he said.
The good news for AAP came at a time when the party has been battling crisis following arrest of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia over alleged corruption. Another former party minister Satyendar Jain is facing money laundering cases.
AAP was founded in 2012 following India Against Corruption movement. While the party has done very well in Delhi assembly polls, it also won the MCD polls earlier this year. AAP formed the government in Punjab and made its debut in Gujarat assembly last year.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha said the party is India’s fastest-growing political startup.
“Today AAP has been given the status of a national party. I would like to congratulate all AAP volunteers who worked tirelessly to take the party to this milestone.I salute Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership. We’re India’s fastest-growing political startup,” he said.
The national parties now include the Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Communist Party of India (Marxist).
