Election results: AAP’s poor show in Punjab, Goa to deal a blow to Kejriwal
AAP fancied its chances in Goa and Punjab, given the anti-incumbency factor and the relatively small size of the two states, where its campaign was personally led by Kejriwal
New Delhi: Initial trends released by the Election Commission show that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is trailing in Punjab and is yet to open its tally in Goa—a setback in its attempt to widen its electoral footprint.
For Delhi chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, the results of the assembly elections are key for the party’s growth. The party banked on the assembly elections in Goa and Punjab to expand beyond the national capital.
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The party started by Kejriwal is fighting assembly elections in the states of Punjab and Goa for the first time. So far, the party is only in power in Delhi and has four members in the Lok Sabha from Punjab.
The party fancied its chances in Goa and Punjab, given the anti-incumbency factor and the relatively small size of the two states, where its campaign was personally led by Kejriwal. The party used strategies similar to its campaign in Delhi such as crowd funding and releasing a manifesto based on consultations with the voters.
Kejriwal doesn’t come from a political background. After coming to public notice with the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement in 2011-12 led social activist Anna Hazare. Kejriwal entered politics by forming the AAP.
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Born in Haryana on 16 August 1968, he joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur. It was during his civil service training in Mussoorie that he met his wife Sunita. They have two children.
After graduating from IIT, Kejriwal worked in Jamshedpur with Tata Steel Ltd but he quit to study for the civil services exam. During his study break, he became involved with the Ramakrishna Mission and also worked with Mother Teresa.
Kejriwal, a vegetarian, is a practitioner of Vipassana, a form of meditation.
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