For Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, the ouster from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wasn’t a dead end – rather, it was the beginning of a new political struggle. Under their new socio-political organisation, Swaraj Abhiyaan, the duo toiled on the streets of Delhi, made several rounds to the Supreme Court for litigation on drought and mobilised the agrarian community under its Jai Kisan Andolan banner.
On October 2, 18 months after being expelled from AAP, they announced their new political party – Swaraj India. With names such as Shanti Bhushan, Professor Anand Kumar and Anil Jha in the founding team, the party looks similar to AAP during its infancy.
“The vision of India is under challenge…and no political force in the country today is willing to take that on,” said Yadav. He further added, “On challenge to democracy, from complete one person rule I would still say Mr Narendra Modi is some steps behind Mr Karunanidhi, Badal, Jayalalithaa… and Kejriwal these days.”
Yadav admits that voters in Delhi and elsewhere might be a “little more cynical” about the fresh promises of ‘alternative politics’. He said, “dudh ka jala chanch bhi fuk fuk kar pita hai [once bitten, twice shy].” Yadav added that he is confident of getting support from the youth, former Indian Against Corruption and AAP volunteers and what he calls, discerning people, who can always see where things are heading.
