Political parties agree AAP a force to reckon with; BJP still apprehensive

New Delhi: A day after its dream poll debut in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) was on Monday variedly praised by some political parties as a force good for the health for democracy and one that could provide a "credible alternative".

But some parties like NCP also took a dig at Arvind Kejriwal's nascent party describing them as "pseudo activists" who are not connected with the ground reality.

Congress stalwart and outgoing Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who was felled at the hustings by Kejriwal, was of the view that AAP just sold "dreams".

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Sheila Dikshit does not know what explains the AAP phenomenon which won it 28 seats to Congress' eight in 70-member Delhi Assembly where BJP emerged as the single largest party with 31 seats but five short of required majority.

Perhaps on second thoughts, the Congress veteran went on to remark, "I think it is just the dreams that they spun." She had seen governance for 15 long years as Chief Minister. "You cannot make dreams. You cannot sell dreams. But they have".

Would the AAP phenomenon last? "No, they might once. But it does not mean it is going to be there for ever. The dream has to be also tested," she told PTI.

AAP MLAs choose Kejriwal as leader in Assembly

CPI(M) said AAP has emerged as a credible alternative to Congress.

Its leader Sitaram Yechury said more than the anger against the policies of Congress what had helped AAP in the elections was they were seen as a possibility that can offer an alternative.

Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar congratulated AAP and said "it reaped the benefit of anti-corruption agitation of Gandhian Anna Hazare." Praising Kejriwal, Shiv Sena said the keys of forming government in Delhi are with Kejriwal.

"A young person like Kejriwal wards off the challenge of Narendra Modi and massive Congress," the Sena said in its party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar said weak leadership in Congress had given rise to "pseudo activists" who are not connected with the ground reality, in an apparent dig at emergence of AAP in Delhi Assembly polls.

"We also need to think about the class of people trying to influence and change public opinion through their impractical ideas. The youth has clearly shown its anger in these elections and we need to find why they are angry," he said adding that people want "result-oriented leaders".

BJP Vice-President Smriti Irani said she saw little possibility of its emerging as an alternative to her party in the next Lok Sabha polls, despite its spectacular debut.

"I think AAP is limited to only New Delhi. We have given stress to increasing our strength at the booth level and we are confident of winning majority single-handedly," Irani said when asked if AAP would eat into BJP's share of votes in the next Lok Sabha polls.

"I don't forsee it," was her curt reply when asked if AAP could become an alternative to both the Congress and BJP. Irani, however, welcomed the rise of a new party as good for the health of democracy.

"If you look at them (AAP), they started off by saying all politicians are bad and now they themselves have turned into politicians. The contradictions in their journey have been quite evident. Now they shall be truly measured as how they serve the people after getting into office," she told newsmen here on the sidelines of a programme.

She denied AAP allegations that BJP was trying to poach on its MLAs. "I understand that there are certain political entities which thrive on sensationalism. When an editor asked AAP to present proof they evaded the question."