My entire Twitter timeline was bombarded with a similar tweet, "पंजाब के परिणाम चौंका देने वाले होंगे। " for a month. So I was really waiting for the Punjab results 2022. When Captain Amarinder Singh resigned from INC, I strongly thought, Congress is going to lose this election, but not like this complete decimation. The cherry on the cake is, Congress lost in all 5 states that to be with a disgraceful performance.

Aam Aadmi Party with its new fresh approach with a CM face in the state outdid itself. They struck exactly when it was needed and got the desired result. For me what is exciting to look at is, Whenever AAP wins it wins by a massive wave performance or vice versa as it loses royally wherever it loses. They have only experienced extreme results so far. So, their hopes would be high for 2024. Arvind Kejriwal has now proved that he is the only Hindi Speaking Leader in India, who can Stand against Modi in 2024 General election, as he has Governments in two states with full majority. Now the question comes, what is AAP's plan for 2024 and beyond!

But before thinking about 2024, I would like to see some big promises of AAP getting delivered in Punjab. Promises on less Electricity Price, Rs.1000 monthly allowance for all women above 18 years of age, Library in every Ward, CCTVs and increased pensions. This will give AAP an appeal for 2024 and help in forming coalitions. It would also be interesting to see, how Bhagwant Mann, deals with the established system by SAD and INC in decades. What kind of relation he builds with center and his party leadership? There are already rumors on Bhagwant Mann being on the seat with Someone from Delhi AAP controlling the decisions like a super CM. These would be the challenges for AAP in the next one year.

I am very hopeful about seeing a bigger AAP strength in Lok Sabha post-2024.

It would be interesting to see a stronger opposition in the Lok Sabha, with an aggressive leader like Kejriwal. It would be interesting to know that there is a stronger united unit of opposition in the Lok Sabha from 2024-2029. The time when the post Ukraine war era will have big financial and political impact on the world, when blockchain and new technologies would be the next oil for countries, when it would be a Cold-War between the west and Russia. India would be looking towards gaining more investment and bettering relationships with key countries. At that time, we need a stronger opposition, not under a coalition but under a single strong leadership.

For this to happen, the AAP needs to win more than 80 seats, to look convincingly strong enough to challenge the Central Government’s policies in both houses. The current opposition INC is only good enough to get an article published in NY Times or CNN.

To win these 80+ seats, AAP needs to fight in all North Indian states and form some coalitions in southern states. But as for the AAP, the political party, they need to experience real administration in a full state for some time before expanding to other states. If they decide that, they don’t want to risk it all, they might underplay the 2024 General Elections, to gain more states and come back stronger in 2029. But then, by the time of 2029, the fresh appeal would not be there, as they would have some baggage of administration in possibly 3 states by 2029.

AAP is known to be a party that takes risks. So, I am hopeful that they will fight 2024 General Elections with full force. They already have a following in almost all the states, mainly urban areas, with weak but existing organizational structure in few states. The massive win in Punjab will be a booster for their organizational overhaul.

As far as BJP is concerned, they should ready themselves for a strong fight ahead. INC would try to gain some ground, at the same time AAP will be working more aggressively with their soft Hindutva in the Hindi states and regional parties are already a formidable force.

Only time will tell, what the future holds. So far in both Delhi and Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party replaced INC only and have not fought BJP head on, except the Delhi elections, where AAP had a clear edge. The indications surely are pointing towards AAP replacing INC in national politics somewhere in next 3-5 years, provided INC doesn't surprise us all.