Reader edit: Arvind Kejriwal is like Toro Bravo; leave him alone

The massive response that Arvind Kejriwal's rally in Surat received must have sent jitters to BJP's national leadership. Gujarat,once considered an impenetrable fort by the BJP and the Hindutva laboratory by Sangh Parivar, has clearly indicated that it is ready to consider the alternative: Aam Aadmi Party. While it is too early to predict the outcome of forthcoming elections, AAP will be a force to reckon with in Gujarat polls.

The rally, despite hurdles has been a big success. The BJP should worry, not only for the possibility of losing power after 18 years but also for skeletons in the cupboard that could tumble if the new government decides to poke around. Moreover, losing the home turf will cause psychological setback to Prime Minister Modi and his band of ardent followers.Unfortunately, BJP hasn't learnt its lesson from 2015 Delhi debacle. Arvind Kejriwal, like Toro Bravo (the Spanish fighting bull), should be left alone to go on his path.

Needle him and you will be sorry. BJP challenged him with all its might in 2015 elections, buoyed by fresh energy from massive victory in 2014 elections, and was utterly humiliated to just 3 out of 70 seats, with its chief ministerial candidate losing her seat. Instead of learning from mistakes, BJP, using Lieutenant Governor of Delhi as proxy, threw every possible roadblock and frustrated Kejriwal.

The results are evident in Gujarat apart from Punjab and Goa. Congress must be worried even more. AAP is fast emerging as the leading challenger to BJP in multiple states and pushing Congress to inconsequential third position. It must badly hurt them as it was hoping to wrest the power from BJP in Punjab and Goa until recently but seems a long-shot now. If it loses its position as the principal challenger in Gujarat as well, it may cause long-term damage to the party.

Hegemonic policy is a slippery slope for the Congress. AAP must see a new dawn through these three states after incessant political hurdles and bickering with LG in Delhi. AAP's strategy of focusing on small states with two national parties as main players seems to be working in its favor. By end of the Gujarat elections, AAP would potentially be ruling over more states. What's more, it may become a national party and will be one of the seven parties amongst more than 900 registered parties in India. Possibly the quickest to do so.

Somu Kumar is a political activist, commentator and RTI enthusiast, currently living on Washington DC