One mistake politicians repeatedly make is believing that every public movement can eventually be converted into political capital.
We think AAP is making that very mistake today.
If AAP believes that aligning itself with CJP will help revive its political fortunes, it is reading the mood of the country completely wrong. In fact, we believe such an association will hurt CJP far more than it will help AAP. It raises questions about CJP’s independence and risks reducing it to the image of a political extension rather than an independent platform.
More importantly, we do not think the young people who gathered at Jantar Mantar care about any of this.
Those students did not come out for AAP. They did not come out for Congress, CPI, Sena or any other political party. They came out because they wanted a better education system, genuine reforms, and a government that listens. Their movement belongs to them, not to politicians looking for relevance.
Gen Z is not waiting for political parties to tell them what to think. They are informed, connected, and capable of making up their own minds. They may accept support, but they are unlikely to accept ownership. Any party that believes it can simply channel this energy into votes is making a serious strategic mistake.
AAP, in particular, should recognise where its real battle lies. Punjab is the party’s last major political stronghold. If it loses Punjab, its national relevance will shrink dramatically. The answer is not to ride every public movement. The answer is governance, credibility, and performance.
So my unsolicited advice to Arvind Kejriwal is simple.
Stand with the youth. Defend their right to protest. Support their demands if you genuinely believe in them.
But do not try to own them.
Because this generation is not looking for political masters. It is looking for political accountability. And there is a world of difference between the two.
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