It is AAP all the way in Delhi

The atmosphere was electric at AAP’s office in central Delhi, where the party’s state election win was appearing more and more decisive by the minute.

The results were trickling in and the cheers grew louder with every new lead announced. Volunteers and supporters were congratulating each other with text messages like, “AAP” or “HUM jeet gaye” (You and me have won).

Sporadically, the roar of “the world is watching…we have won Delhi” could be heard. AAP’s victory was widely expected after exit polls gave them a clear lead – but the staggering size of the victory was not expected even by party members.

Nandu Bhai, from Mumbai, said “the power of vote can send anybody back home” in a veiled reference to the campaign of Hindu groups linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was easily defeated on Tuesday.

The results were a shock for both the national parties, the BJP and the Congress. But was Tuesday’s result a referendum on the central government?

Yes and no, says Raju Santhanam, a senior journalist.

“It’s too short a time for anyone to assess the governance impact, but it does speak a bit about the way BJP was going about it,” Santhanam said.

“There was an impression getting created that Modi has not been able to rein in the hardline elements in his party and that his governance meant more for [corporate business] than for the people.”

Rachit Ranjan, a fellow at Oval Observer Foundation, said this is a vote “for equitable development and a good chance for the current government to correct its course. In a country like India every government will have to look for ways to execute participatory development”.

There has been a definite social shift too, as it appears Muslims have voted for AAP in large numbers.

Muslim support

Saeed Naqvi a veteran journalist and commentator said, “we must note that Muslims have voted for AAP, despite the fact that they rejected the Shahi Imam’s offer of support. This is a clear signal that hardliners whether majority or minority community will not get the popular support because secularism is engrained in the DNA of this country”.

AAP’s leader Arvind Kesriwal in his first acceptance outing from the terrace of his office said, “We must be humble in our victory, arrogance has contributed in decimation of Congress earlier and of BJP in this election.”

It will be some time before we can offer a proper interpretation of the mandate, but it’s AAP all the way in Delhi and as heard at the AAP’s office: “tell it to everyone that who rules Delhi rules India”.

It is a clear message that AAP will not limit itself to the boundaries of national capital.