New Delhi: After surprising political pundits its impressive debut in the Delhi Assembly polls, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has become a reason for the virtual division of the Indian industry.
While companies from the so called new economy, including information technology and telecom are emerging as pro-Kejriwal for his new approach to politics, companies from the traditional sectors such as mining, oil, coal, power, port, oil and cement among others are seen as against the new party.
The old business houses, who have strong deep-rooted connections with the Indian political establishment, are also not too keen to support Kejriwal.
This is contrary to the view till now that industry is backing only the Bharatiya Janata Party and its Prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who has a pro-industry image.
“This is for the first time that the industry is getting divided on supporting a political party,” said industry sources.
As the AAP is planning to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha election in 2014 nationally, these companies are seen as an important source of funding for the party.
Analysts say that as IT and other companies involved in technology innovation are not depended on government patronage, they will be benefited from more transparency in governance. However, mining and other tradition business activities depend more upon close contacts with the government.
“IT companies whose revenue depends on outsourcing can afford to take on the government. But traditional companies depend on patronage from the government in terms of getting favourable licences, which can make or break a business, would like more traditional parties, with whom they had done business in the past,” said sources.
Infosys founder and executive chairman N.R. Narayana Murthy has praised the AAP for its victory in the Delhi Assembly elections.
Non-dependence on government, is seen as one of the reasons for the AAP being popular in cities like Bangalore. Being more aggressive on the social media, employees from technology companies have been seen a strong vote bank for the AAP. The critics see the AAP fighting the coming Lok Sabha election from Bangalore.
