If there is one political entity in India that owes its birth, rise, and eventual decline to the power of media, it is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Emerging from the fervor of the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement, AAP was not just a political party but a carefully crafted media spectacle. From Arvind Kejriwal’s street protests to social media blitzkrieg, every move was designed for maximum visibility.
The Rise: A Movement-Turned-Party
The year 2013 was pivotal—not only for Indian politics but also for the way political narratives were shaped through digital platforms. With over 66 million social media users in India at the time, AAP found itself in a perfect storm of activism, frustration with mainstream political parties, and the increasing power of online engagement.
Kejriwal’s strategy was media-savvy. His campaigns of burning electricity bills, climbing poles, and stopping the payment of utility bills weren’t just protests; they were performances staged for television and social media. The party’s election symbol, the humble broom, was a perfect metaphor for its promise to sweep corruption away. This visual and ideological appeal resonated with the masses.
By the time AAP contested the 2013 Delhi elections, the narrative had been set. Social media was flooded with messages of hope and change. One such post read:
"AAP is about hope, AAP is about optimism. AAP is about courage, AAP is about salvation."
This optimism translated into political success. Though Kejriwal’s first stint as Delhi’s Chief Minister lasted only 49 days, his resignation became another dramatic episode in AAP’s carefully curated story. The image of him sleeping on a Delhi street in winter, next to his blue WagonR, went viral—portraying him as the ultimate people’s leader.
AAP’s comeback in 2015 was even stronger. Armed with the slogan “Paach saal, Kejriwal,” the party secured 67 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly. Every attack against Kejriwal—be it from mainstream media or the BJP—was skillfully countered through social media. When Narendra Modi called him an anarchist, Kejriwal embraced the tag. When his muffler was mocked, he turned it into the symbol of the “Mufflerman,” a superhero for the common people.
The Fall: From Revolutionary to Reactionary
AAP’s decline began when its own ideological ambiguity and internal contradictions started surfacing. The first sign of trouble was the expulsion of prominent founding members like Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan in 2015. Once known for transparency and grassroots democracy, AAP started resembling the very political entities it had vowed to fight against.
The pandemic years further exposed the cracks. Grand promises like doorstep ration delivery and a pollution-free Delhi remained unfulfilled, while liquor policy controversies became a major setback. Instead of governance, AAP seemed more focused on self-preservation. Kejriwal’s transformation from a crusader to a politician seeking power at all costs became evident.
His ideological shifts were even more glaring. From questioning the 2016 surgical strike, Kejriwal went to praising the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. After his 2020 election victory, he rebranded himself as a “Hanuman Bhakt,” even reciting the Hanuman Chalisa on television. Such drastic shifts raised questions—was AAP ever a party of principles, or was it always about political opportunism?
Meanwhile, the very media that had once built Kejriwal’s image now played a role in his downfall. Reports of extravagant renovations of his residence, including a luxury jacuzzi, shattered the “aam aadmi” (common man) persona. The blue WagonR that symbolized simplicity was now overshadowed by accusations of lavish spending.
The Legacy of a Media-Engineered Party
AAP’s journey—from an anti-corruption movement to a party that embraced political maneuvering—exemplifies the power and pitfalls of media-driven politics. Its rise was meteoric, but its fall was inevitable once the carefully curated narrative began unraveling.
Today, AAP stands at a crossroads. With legal troubles, infighting, and a diminishing support base, the party is struggling to retain its earlier sheen. Whether it can reinvent itself or fade into political obscurity remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: AAP’s story will always serve as a textbook case of how media can both create and dismantle political movements.
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