It is Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's first election rally after the historic Delhi win in 2014 that will set the stage for the 2017 state elections and redefine the political landscape of Punjab. The new entrant is already being perceived as a strong challenger to both the Akalis and the Congress. As AAP makes its big push in Punjab and seeks to strike big beyond Delhi, Ashish Talwar, Political Advisor to Arvind Kejriwal, said, "Akali Dal in Punjab is exactly in the same position that the Congress was in Delhi in 2013." Dismissing any impact of infighting in Punjab's AAP unit on state elections, Talwar added, "AAP thrives on its volunteers and the volunteers of Punjab are firmly behind Arvind Kejriwal and the present Punjab AAP unit." Ashish Talwar was speaking with CNN-IBN's Associate Editor Rupashree Nanda.
CNN-IBN: What is the kind of ground work that you have already done? How many public meetings, fund gathering events have been held so far? And what has been the response to that?
Ashish Talwar: After the Delhi victory of 2015, a crucial section of the organising team in Delhi led by Durgesh Pathak was sent to compliment the work of the State in-charge Sanjay Singh. Both of them have worked very hard and the response to their 39 meetings under Punjab Jodo campaign has set the tone for the Assembly elections. Seeing the crowd in their meetings, we are confident of a historic victory.
CNN-IBN: Do you have an office in every Assembly constituency and what are your plans for the organisational spread of the party? Sukhbir Singh Badal has said that the party has no organisational base.
Ashish Talwar: Of course, we have more than one office in some Assembly constituencies, and the organisational structure is in place till the booth level. Sukhbir Singh Badal should get out of Chandigarh more often, the ground is slipping from under the SAD's feet and they don't even know it. Akali Dal in Punjab is exactly in the same position that the Congress was in Delhi in 2013.
CNN-IBN: What will be the main issues that you will raise in Punjab? Drug Abuse? Farmer suicides? Are we going to see the same kind of manifesto meetings in every constituency as it had happened in Delhi?
Ashish Talwar: All issues of public interest and importance will be raised. Participatory manifesto-making happened at a micro level in 2013 and at a macro level in 2015. It is not decided, but may be you will see both in Punjab.
CNN-IBN: Why did you have to send a team from Delhi for the Punjab chapter of AAP? Is there lack of experience, trust, talent in Punjab?
Ashish Talwar: Let me make it clear, every party has a system of State Prabharis and so do we. The Delhi team has acquired certain skills as it faced three elections in a span of 15 months. So sending them to Punjab is just to train the volunteers there and replicate the best practices that they have learnt in Delhi. AAP Punjab unit has a proper party structure from State Convenor to the booth level and no one from Delhi is part of that.
CNN-IBN: Amarinder Singh has said that AAP is his only challenge in Punjab - Were you surprised by that statement?
Ashish Talwar: Not at all. First they dismissed us and are now realising that we are the largest party in Punjab. The Punjab Congress is behaving exactly like the Delhi Congress was behaving in 2013.
CNN-IBN: Is AAP open to alliances?
Ashish Talwar: No we are not allying with anyone either pre-poll or post-poll. Anyway we are forming the government with a comfortable majority.
CNN-IBN: Who will be your chief ministerial candidate? What would the factors be – caste/religion/gender?
Ashish Talwar: That is yet to be decided but it will not be based on the factors that you cite.
CNN-IBN: By when would candidates be declared for elections? Would you declare a CM candidate also?
Ashish Talwar: We would like to declare candidates early because that gives them more time to campaign. The party's Political Affairs Committee will decide on whether there will be a CM face and who it would be.
CNN-IBN: AAP Punjab chapter has been plagued by infighting. You have suspended two of your MPs. Even SC Chotepur, the present convenor, hasn't had a smooth run so far. What is the reason?
Ashish Talwar: I don't know if any state president of any party anywhere in India has had a smooth run in election season! As for infighting, party fora are active and available for discussion but public pronouncements against the party and conducting parallel programmes cannot be tolerated.
CNN-IBN: The fact that AAP has not been able to put up united face in Punjab could be a disadvantage? Would you agree?
Ashish Talwar: AAP thrives on its volunteers and the volunteers of Punjab are firmly behind Arvind Kejriwal and the present Punjab AAP unit.
CNN-IBN: Will Arvind Kejriwal campaign extensively in Punjab?
Ashish Talwar: He is the symbol of all that we stand for. Naturally, everyone in Punjab would want him to campaign extensively but when and how will be decided by Sanjay Singh and Durgesh.
CNN-IBN: I know AAP sounds confident, but what do you think are the real challenges for it to post an impressive performance?
Ashish Talwar: I see no weaknesses at present but each election brings different challenges.
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