CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) could win only 20 seats across Punjab in the State Assembly polls despite the heavy campaigning in Doaba region-- the bastion of the Non Resident Indians (NRIs).
Prior to the poll results, the AAP leaders had claimed that NRIs were supporting the party during the elections. However, post-elections, in Doaba region, which has 23 constituencies, AAP could only win two seats-- from Bolath and Garhshanka. Sukhpal Singh Khaira,a second time MLA from Bolath, had won the election in 2007 on a Congress ticket.
The diaspora wing of the party had launched a campaign ‘Chalo Punjab’, for the NRIs who extended their support for AAP, in the State. Despite significant involvement of NRIs in propaganda, publicity, perception-building and raising funds, it turned out to be damp squib for the party.
Institute for Development and Communication (IDC) director and political expert Dr Parmod Kumar told express, “If they (AAP) had NRI support the relevant question arises that why did not it translate into votes? Either NRIs have no influence back home as nobody took them seriously or it was just a hype created by AAP.”
The party had finished second in the State Assembly after the Congress with 20 seats but could only get a vote share of 23.7 per cent less than the Shiromani Akali Dal, which came third with just 15 seats.