Capital Conquest

Book excerpt: In 2013, Delhi surprisingly voted the AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, into 28 seats out of 70. When Kejriwal resigned as CM 49 days after he was sworn in, the AAP was dismissed as inexperienced and unorganized. After its dismal performance in the 2014 general elections no one believed it had a second chance. Until the 2015 Delhi elections. Winning 67 out of 70 seats, it demonstrated how a party that radically challenges norms of Indian politics can bounce back from defeat. The AAP campaign ticked the right boxes with the promise of populism and a city-wide network of volunteers. In Capital Conquest, political journalist Saba Naqvi details the AAP?s ingenious election campaign, delving into little-known instances of the party?s inner workings, revealing how Kejriwal inspired volunteers and lending fresh insight into the recent sidelining of its members. A sharp account of the first successful experiment in alternative politics, Capital Conquest is the definitive book on the AAP victory.