AMRITSAR: Punjab has become a political lesson in the national politics as it sets to become another AAP-ruled state outside Delhi. All the big trees have fallen apart.

As the BJP is advancing in four other states, AAP has emerged victorious by ousting the BJP, Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal. It is also a reality that the BJP had never considered Punjab as a big power. It had allied with Shiromani Akali Dal for the current polls in the state.

In Punjab, where there is strong anti-BJP sentiment, the AAP has won by defeating several strong leaders including Congress’ Charanjt Singh Channi and BJP’s Amarinder Singh.

In the 2017 assembly polls, Congress had won majority by winning 77 seats in the 117-member assembly. From that state, the Congress has now gone far behind owing to the internal problems within the party.

The inability to persuade Amarinder Singh, a popular leader in the state, will be evaluated as a failure of the state and national leadership of the Congress.

All the ruling MLAs of the state are also going behind. The fact that Channi did well within a short span of time was what prompted the Congress to field him as the chief ministerial candidate.

The BJP and Congress had no doubt that AAP will showcase a tough competition in the assembly polls in Punjab. The Congress must have evaluated that Channi could have prevented it. However, the AAP has put an end to all their hopes.

The AAP had promised Delhi model development in the state. Anti-corruption governance, better education, low-cost electricity and Rs 1,000 per month for women were among the prominent promises made by the party. As per reports, it has to be estimated that these election promises were able to influence the common people.