2026/03/15 by Adam Burakowski · 1 voice
Environmental Science · Social Sciences · #Environmental law and policy #International Environmental Law and Policies #Legal Language and Interpretation
paper · doi:10.1080/03068374.2026.2636579
openalex publication_date 2026/03/15 · openalex created_date 2026/03/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/13
This article examines the rise and decline of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the political landscape of Delhi, culminating in its electoral defeat in the 2025 Vidhan Sabha election. Founded in 2012 amid anti-corruption mobilizations, AAP initially distinguished itself as a hybrid between a political party and a social movement, embodying a form of ‘unpolitics’ that drew strength from grassroots activism and moral legitimacy. The study traces the party’s trajectory from its early successes in Delhi and Punjab to its attempts at national expansion, highlighting both its achievements in governance – particularly in education and fiscal reforms – and its gradual departure from its founding ideals. By analysing the interplay between external pressures, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the arrest of senior leaders, and an aggressive electoral campaign by BJP, alongside internal shortcomings in leadership and communication, the article argues that AAP’s transformation into a “conventional” political party eroded its symbolic distinctiveness. The electoral outcomes of 2025 revealed the waning of its ‘unpolitics’ appeal and underscore the fragility of movements rooted in moral capital when confronted with the pragmatic realities of power. While AAP remains relevant in Punjab and may still shape future opposition coalitions, its promise of a paradigm shift in Indian politics appears to have reached an endpoint, marking the closure of an era inaugurated by the India Against Corruption movement.