AAP’s ‘best bet’ may play spoiler for BJP, Cong in Faridabad

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, May 1

Naveen Jaihind, Aam Aadmi Party’s “best bet” and joint JJP-AAP candidate from the Faridabad parliamentary constituency, may play spoilsport for both the BJP and the Congress.

Even as the election campaign is hotting up in this parliamentary segment with the BJP banking on the “Modi wave” and its nationalist narrative in the wake of the Balakot airstrikes and the Congress is pinning its hopes on anti-incumbency against the BJP governments at the Centre and state and minority votes, all eyes are on the performance of the JJP-AAP alliance which could have some bearing on the election results.

“The JJP-AAP is a new political player in Haryana. Both parties have a strong presence on the social media and wield considerable influence over certain sections of society, especially youth. The performance of their candidate could be the deciding factor on the D-day,” said Ram Niwas, a resident of Tigaon in Faridabad.

“Ye (Jaihind) na khele ga, na khelne dega, ya to ghuti mein mutte ga (Jaihind would play a spoilsport in the elections),” quipped Fateh Singh, a roadside worker in Faridabad.

A saving grace for both the BJP and the Congress is the fact that AAP state chief Jaihind is considered an “outsider” (he is based in Rohtak) in Faridabad and did not get much time to prepare the cadre for the electoral battle. However, an aggressive campaign by the alliance on the social media and a joint campaign by AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and senior JJP leader Dushyant Chautala could prove to be a shot in the arm for Jaihind.

Though sitting MP Krishan Pal Gurjar (BJP) is riding high on the “Modi wave”, some anti-incumbency is in play against him for “unkept promises” which is evident in the display of public anger at certain meetings. BJP leaders, however, dismissed reports of anti-incumbency. 

‘Alliance has strong virtual presence’

"The JJP-AAP is a new political player in Haryana. Both parties have a strong presence on the social media and wield considerable influence over certain sections of society, especially youth. The performance of their candidate could be the deciding factor on the D-day." A resident of Tigaon