Discharge in Excise Case Gives AAP Political Lifeline Relief in Delhi Boost in Punjab

The Aam Aadmi Party has received a significant political breather following a special court's decision to discharge national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the alleged liquor excise policy case, even before trial could commence. The verdict comes as a timely boost for the party, particularly in Punjab—the only state where AAP currently holds power.

On Friday, the court ruled that there was "no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the excise policy" in the CBI case, though proceedings in the ED matter remain pending. The ruling effectively dismantles the corruption narrative that opposition parties had weaponized against AAP leadership.

For a party still recovering from its humiliating defeat in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, the verdict is being framed internally as both vindication and revival. Following the loss of Delhi to the BJP after a decade in power, AAP's top brass had pivoted sharply toward Punjab. Kejriwal and Sisodia intensified their presence in Chandigarh, tightening organizational control and recalibrating strategy around Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's government—a shift that sparked unease among some state unit members over "growing centralization."

Party insiders believe the discharge will alter internal dynamics. "Now Kejriwal will go around the state conveying that he is kattar-imaandaar (staunchly honest)—and so is AAP. This is consolidation after vindication," a leader stated.

The anti-corruption plank has deep roots in Punjab. Since AAP's unexpected breakthrough with four Lok Sabha seats in 2014, Kejriwal cultivated an image as an "outsider" challenging Punjab's corruption—an image forged during his India Against Corruption movement days. That perception propelled the party to a sweeping 2022 Assembly victory, securing 92 seats in the 117-member House.

The liquor scam allegations had threatened that narrative. Now, party leadership plans to leverage the court's decision to reclaim its core anti-corruption messaging ahead of early 2027 Assembly elections. Punjab Cabinet minister Harjot Singh Bains hailed the verdict as a "victory for truth" and predicted the party would break its 2022 records in the upcoming polls.

Opposition Reaction:
Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition Partap Bajwa questioned the timing, posting on X: "Punjab excise case of Rs 12,000 crore in cold storage... Now Kejriwal and associates get clean chits. What a friendly match! Velvet glove boxing by BJP and AAP." He alleged a "quid pro quo" deal between the parties.

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring echoed the sentiment: "If there were no serious charges, why were they imprisoned? And if there were, how were they discharged? The BJP and Kejriwal can provide better answers."

For AAP, Punjab represents more than just a state—it is the anchor of national relevance. The party hopes to repeat its 2022 performance and use Punjab as a springboard for revival in Delhi and beyond.