Debate: Impact of AAP penetrating into Rural Odisha

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Odisha held a mega rally in Cuttack yesterday with senior leaders Ashutosh and Kapil Mishra leading from the front.

The party has been silently penetrating into rural areas of the state instead of focusing more on urban areas. Will it make any impact in the 2019 Assembly Polls? Who will lose if AAP gains some percentage of votes?

Charulata Panigrahi: As it’s said, the APP is penetrating the rural areas, then it’s well and good. If it can convince the people of how much damage the Odisha CM has done by alluring people with freebies, then only it can get votes. Votes for BJD come from villages. So, AAP is adopting a clever strategy here.

Bimal Kumar: Naveen Patnaik has a huge vote bank in Odisha and till he alive, it’s very difficult for any party to bring change in Odisha politics.

Cartoonist Sudam Sekhar: Mostly BJD will lose. The AAP in Odisha is campaigning mostly in the Maoist affected rural areas. These illiterate people are the vote bank of BJD. It’s an alarming situation for the ruling party.

BH V Nageswar Rao: Though AAP is silently spreading its base, it is not strong enough to clinch power in Odisha. It may manage to get a few seats. However, the massive rally sends a clear signal to BJD to shed complacency and tighten its belts.

Devi Prasad Misra: Because of the clean and honest image of the local leaders, AAP had made a definite impact in the initial stages. But, scandals involving senior leaders and poor governance in Delhi have created a doubt in the minds of the people about the capability of the party. So, at this stage AAP making any inroads into Odisha politics does not appear to be good.

Sachida Nanda Swain: The loss will be more to Congress and BJP than BJD as for now nothing will hamper them. These two parties are not that serious about connecting with the people. They are more to making image in media than doing ground work. Being NGO oriented people, AAP leaders know this very well!

Bijoy Rout: BJD, BJP and Congress all will lose their votes. Further By focusing on rural areas, APP wants to create awareness among them and to establish ‘Grama Swarajya’.

Raghunath Panda: It may not be a threat to BJD but definitely a serious threat to BJP (Odisha). It will cut some BJD votes too. If the Congress fields good leaders, situation may improve.