Punjab: Little Modi, some AAP

Political observers view AAP differently from Manpreet Badal’s PPP that could not make much mark in the Assembly polls in 2012 by polling less than 5 per cent votes.

Written by: Kanchan Vasdev, Chitleen K Sethi

3 min readChandigarhMay 16, 2014 12:05 AM IST

In the green fields of Ferozepur and Faridkot, Modi is being projected not as communal, but “anti-farmer”, by the Congress and AAP. The two parties have raised the issue of the Modi government’s ouster of 400 Punjabis settled in Gujarat for the past four decades. The BJP, on the other hand, has been at pains to explain its position on the issue. Both seats are held by its alliance partner, SAD. In the border seat of Ferozepur, the Congress has also tried to imply that Modi’s “communal” stance could lead to a confrontation with Pakistan and the first to be affected would be Punjab farmers.

The Congress also tried to project Modi as “anti-minorities” in order to antagonise Sikhs but does not seem to have made much impact. However, in Sangrur seat’s Malerkotla assembly segment, Modi’s “communal” image may work, as it has a large Muslim population. The SAD, too, made no mention of Modi in its campaigns in Malerkotla.

On the other hand, in its campaigns in Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, Bathinda, Ludhiana and Jalandhar, the SAD banked on Modi, saying as head of the NDA, his government at the Centre will sanction more funds for Punjab. Despite sitting Congress MP Manish Tewari not contesting from Ludhiana, SAD will not have an easy battle. It’s candidate Manpreet Singh Ayali is facing strong opposition in AAP’s HS Phoolka and Independent Simerjit Singh Bains .

Amid a strong wave of double-anti-incumbency against the SAD-BJP in the state and the UPA at the Centre, AAP can possibly emerge as a strong third alternative. The AAP senior leadership claims to have been surprised at the “tremendous” response received by their candidates.

“AAP was a movement and only now will organise itself as a party in Punjab,” says Dr Pramod Kumar, of Institute of Communication and Development, Chandigarh.

Political observers view AAP differently from Manpreet Badal’s PPP that could not make much mark in the Assembly polls in 2012 by polling less than 5 per cent votes.

The AAP is expected to have polled a sizeable number of votes in Sangrur, Faridkot, Patiala, Gurdaspur and Ludhiana.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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