New Delhi: The upcoming elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are more likely to play an essential function within the Aam Aadmi Occasion’s (AAP) nationwide enlargement plan. Each the states are at the moment with the Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP).
On paper, the percentages are stacked towards the Arvind Kejriwal-led get together that nonetheless fancies its probabilities within the two states. A win in both of those states might propel the AAP nationally because the BJP’s principal challenger, doubtlessly changing the Congress which has ceded a lot floor following a string of electoral defeats over the previous eight years.
Realistically talking, the AAP will probably be in search of a good present in these states for its bigger aim of getting recognition as a ‘nationwide get together’.
Whereas the AAP has governments in Delhi and Punjab, it has additionally obtained the tag of a ‘state get together’ in Goa the place it received two meeting constituencies in March. One other such recognition from the Election Fee will qualify the AAP as a ‘nationwide get together’, which, based on senior AAP leaders, will set the stage for the 2024 normal elections and enhance Kejriwal’s picture as a political chief on a nationwide canvas.
The AAP is, subsequently, placing its greatest foot ahead within the upcoming meeting elections, entrusting particular duties to its lieutenants for these two states.
These are the AAP’s 5 key folks spearheading its ballot marketing campaign:
Raghav Chadha: ‘The important thing aide’
An in depth aide of Arvind Kejriwal, Chadha performed an essential function in spearheading the get together’s Punjab marketing campaign following which the 34-year-old chartered accountant grew to become a Rajya Sabha member from the state. Chadha additionally heads an advisory committee to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The AAP chief has been related to Kejriwal because the Anna Hazare-led India Towards Corruption Motion in 2011.
In Gujarat, Chadha is concerned in chalking out marketing campaign technique, media methods and distribution of tickets — a set of duties that has hanging similarities with the function he essayed in Punjab the place the AAP wrested 92 out of 117 seats in March.
Sandeep Pathak: ‘Growth strategist’
A former professor in IIT-Delhi, Pathak is one other Kejriwal aide spearheading the marketing campaign in Gujarat and overseeing preparations in Himachal Pradesh. Pathak, who has been with the AAP since its formation in 2012, was extra of a back-end strategist working carefully with Kejriwal. Pathak shot to fame after he was appointed as a Rajya Sabha member from Punjab — which, based on a number of AAP functionaries, was a reward for the work he had completed within the state forward of the polls.
A key strategist in AAP’s bigger nationwide enlargement plan, 43-year-old Pathak is primarily in control of surveys in addition to increasing the get together’s help base in Gujarat. The Rajya Sabha MP is additionally concerned in chalking out marketing campaign technique and media technique in Himachal Pradesh the place polling will happen on 12 November.
Gopal Italia: ‘Gujarat level man’
Previous to his foray into politics, Italia used to work as a constable and later as a clerk in Gujarat’s income division. In 2015, he caught the attention of Kejriwal for his function within the Hardik Patel-led Patidar agitation. Italia was already a preferred political activist in Gujarat when he joined the AAP in 2020.
At present, the 33-year-old is Kejriwal’s factors individual in Gujarat. He now oversees the important thing function of fundraising, organising public conferences and increasing the volunteer base of the get together. Italia is the one that makes positive that the methods accepted by the get together’s excessive command in Delhi are applied on the bottom in Gujarat.
Underneath Italia’s management, the AAP received 27 seats within the Surat municipal polls final 12 months.
Italia is at the moment on the centre of an issue after two undated movies of him surfaced final week. In a single, he’s allegedly heard making remarks about Modi that the Nationwide Fee for Ladies (NCW) chief dubbed “gender-biased, misogynist and condemnable”. Within the different video, Italia purportedly appeals to Hindu ladies to not go to temples, terming them “locations of exploitation”.
Isudan Gadhvi: ‘The advisor’
In Gujarat, 40-year-old Gadhvi was a preferred face on tv information in his function because the editor of VTV Information, anchoring a preferred present Mahamanthan. He joined the AAP in June 2021 and was quickly appointed because the get together’s nationwide joint-general secretary and ultimately given a publish in its nationwide government — the AAP’s second highest decision-making physique after the 11-member political affairs committee.
In keeping with AAP sources, Gadhvi’s induction in AAP forward of the Gujarat polls wasn’t a lot of a shock for many get together functionaries. “With regards to Gujarat, Mr Gadhvi is the chief’s [Kejriwal] closest adviser. Being a journalist, he is aware of the heartbeat of the state and its politics,” mentioned a senior AAP functionary.
Surjeet Thakur: ‘One man military within the hills’
Although Thakur joined the AAP in 2012, he was by no means within the shut circles of its high management. His inventory rose when the AAP was having bother to regular the ship in Himachal Pradesh the place the get together was jolted twice in as many months.
The get together acquired a setback when its key leaders, who had been related to the AAP for about eight years and have been getting ready for marketing campaign, joined the BJP in April.
The complete Himachal mission fell on Delhi Well being Minister Satyendar Jain and Durgesh Pathak, one in all Kejriwal’s shut aides. However Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in Might in a cash laundering case. He’s nonetheless in jail.
In June, Pathak grew to become MLA from Delhi’s Rajendra Nagar constituency, which was left vacant after Raghav Chadha entered the Rajya Sabha. These developments left the Himachal unit nearly leader-less.
“Selecting a degree man in Himachal Pradesh grew to become an enormous problem and the Punjab unit needed to be given cost of the state for a while. That’s when Surjeet Thakur’s identify was shortlisted,” mentioned a senior AAP chief.
Thakur is a sociology graduate and holds a lodge administration diploma. Over the previous few years, he was working with farmers in Himachal. “The get together wanted somebody who might attraction to the youth in addition to rural plenty. Thakur fitted the function that method,” the AAP chief mentioned.
In Himachal, Thakur has been appearing as a “one man military”, spearheading the AAP marketing campaign for round three months now. Final week, Punjab minister Harjot Singh Bains was appointed as state in cost to supervise affairs on behalf of the AAP central management.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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