Since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured a landslide victory in Punjab in 2022, questions have been raised about whether the party’s governance model, which proved successful in Delhi, would be equally effective in Punjab. The “Delhi Model,” championed by AAP’s national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, focuses on improving education, healthcare, and public welfare while maintaining fiscal prudence. However, Punjab presents a unique set of challenges, prompting speculation on whether Kejriwal will make a course correction and adopt a “New Model” better suited to the state’s realities.

The Delhi Model: A Proven Formula?

Arvind Kejriwal’s governance in Delhi has been defined by a few key pillars: improved public education, accessible healthcare through mohalla clinics, subsidized electricity and water, and a crackdown on corruption. These policies contributed to AAP’s rise as a formidable political force and provided the foundation for its electoral campaign in Punjab.

AAP leaders in Punjab touted the success of the Delhi Model during the 2022 assembly elections, promising to replicate its effectiveness. The party committed to revitalizing government schools, reducing electricity bills, and providing free healthcare. Kejriwal’s focus on governance over politics struck a chord with voters, leading to a decisive mandate for AAP in Punjab.

However, critics argue that Punjab’s political and economic landscape differs significantly from Delhi’s, raising doubts about the feasibility of transplanting the same governance model without necessary modifications.

Punjab’s Unique Challenges

While Delhi is a largely urban and service-driven economy with a budget surplus, Punjab faces deep-rooted economic and social issues, including:

1. High Debt Burden: Punjab is one of India’s most indebted states, with a debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 45%. Unlike Delhi, which enjoys significant central government funding and revenue from service industries, Punjab’s economy heavily depends on agriculture, a sector that has been struggling due to low crop prices and depleting groundwater levels.
2. Agrarian Distress: The 2020–21 farmers’ protests underscored the deep discontent among Punjab’s farming community. Issues like minimum support prices (MSP), increasing mechanization costs, and environmental concerns related to stubble burning require a different approach than urban policy reforms.
3. Law and Order Concerns: Punjab has witnessed a rise in gang violence, drug-related crimes, and separatist sentiments. Effective policing and legal reforms are crucial to ensuring public safety, areas where the Delhi Model may not provide direct solutions.
4. Bureaucratic and Political Resistance: Punjab has a deeply entrenched political and administrative structure. Unlike in Delhi, where AAP had a clean slate upon gaining power, Punjab’s governance system is influenced by decades of Congress and Akali Dal rule. Implementing reforms requires navigating bureaucratic inertia and political opposition.

Given these factors, the question remains: Can Kejriwal and AAP adapt their governance strategy to Punjab’s unique challenges, or will they insist on the unaltered replication of the Delhi Model?

Signs of Course Correction

In the months following its Punjab victory, AAP has demonstrated a willingness to modify its approach. Some notable instances of course correction include:

1. Financial Realism Over Freebies

One of the major concerns post-election was whether AAP could sustain its ambitious welfare programs without plunging Punjab further into debt. While AAP had promised free electricity for up to 300 units per household, it has taken a phased approach to implementation, ensuring fiscal responsibility. Unlike in Delhi, where subsidies are funded through surplus revenue, Punjab’s financial constraints have forced AAP to explore alternative revenue generation mechanisms, such as cracking down on tax evasion and improving industrial investment.

2. Focus on Agricultural Reforms

Realizing the limitations of urban-centric policies, the AAP government in Punjab has engaged more actively with farmers. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has sought expert recommendations for crop diversification, groundwater conservation, and direct farmer benefits. Unlike in Delhi, where governance revolves around urban amenities, Punjab requires long-term agrarian policy interventions, which AAP has slowly begun addressing.

3. Strengthening Law and Order

In response to rising crime rates, the AAP government has taken strong measures, including cracking down on gang violence and illegal drug networks. Several high-profile arrests and intelligence-led operations signal a deviation from the Delhi Model’s focus on governance reforms to more stringent law enforcement, necessary to address Punjab’s unique security concerns.

4. Grassroots Governance Over Centralized Control

While Kejriwal’s Delhi Model is known for centralizing decision-making under his leadership, Punjab’s governance approach has relied more on local leadership, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann taking a lead role. This decentralization reflects an understanding that Punjab’s challenges require region-specific solutions, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Challenges to Course Correction

While AAP appears to be making some adjustments, several obstacles remain in the path of a full-fledged course correction:

1. Expectations vs. Reality: Punjab voters expect quick fixes to long-standing issues. Balancing these expectations with the slow pace of governance reform is a challenge AAP must navigate carefully.
2. Political Opposition and Federal Constraints: The opposition—comprising the Congress, Akali Dal, and BJP—remains critical of AAP’s governance approach. Additionally, like in Delhi, AAP’s ability to make unilateral decisions is limited by the central government’s control over certain aspects of state governance.
3. Balancing Welfare with Fiscal Responsibility: While welfare schemes form the backbone of AAP’s governance style, ensuring these programs are financially sustainable remains a long-term challenge.
4. Administrative Resistance: The bureaucratic machinery in Punjab is accustomed to functioning under traditional parties. Implementing reforms requires overcoming resistance from entrenched systems that may not align with AAP’s governance philosophy.

The Road Ahead: A Hybrid Model?

Given the evolving governance scenario, the most likely outcome for Punjab is the development of a “Hybrid Model” that retains the best elements of the Delhi Model while incorporating Punjab-specific adaptations. This could include:

• A targeted welfare approach, ensuring financial sustainability.
• A dual focus on urban development and rural agrarian reforms.
• A balanced law enforcement strategy that addresses both security and governance.
• Increased local leadership involvement rather than centralized decision-making.

Kejriwal’s ability to recognize Punjab’s unique governance challenges and adjust AAP’s strategy accordingly will determine the party’s long-term success in the state. As Punjab’s government continues to evolve under AAP, the question is not just whether Kejriwal will course-correct but how effectively he can strike a balance between the aspirational Delhi Model and the ground realities of Punjab.

Ultimately, AAP’s governance in Punjab will serve as a litmus test for its national ambitions. If it successfully adapts to Punjab’s challenges, it could strengthen AAP’s credibility as a governance-focused party with a replicable model for other states. However, if it fails to make necessary course corrections, the party risks disillusioning voters and eroding the goodwill that propelled it to power.

For now, the journey of AAP in Punjab remains a work in progress—one that requires both patience and pragmatism in the pursuit of lasting governance reforms.