The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), meaning "Common Man's Party," is a political party in India that was officially granted National Party status by the Election Commission of India on April 10, 2023. The party was founded by Arvind Kejriwal and his allies on November 26, 2012, coinciding with the anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution. Its formation was a direct political outcome of the 2011 India Against Corruption (IAC) movement, which had demanded the passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill to create an independent ombudsman to investigate corruption. The party's symbol, the broom, signifies its intent to "sweep away" corruption, which is its core ideological principle.
The AAP's mechanism of governance, often termed the "Delhi Model," centers on welfarism and improving public services. Key provisions include the establishment of Mohalla Clinics for accessible primary healthcare, significant reforms in government schools, and providing subsidized utilities like free water and electricity. The party also emphasizes transparent electoral funding, reporting the identity of every donor to the Election Commission.
The AAP's rise is connected to the concept of 'Swaraj' or self-rule, and it challenged the traditional dominance of the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A major recent change was its expansion beyond Delhi, notably winning the 2022 Punjab Assembly election with 92 out of 117 seats. However, its decade-long dominance in the national capital territory of Delhi ended in the 2025 Legislative Assembly election, where the party was reduced to 22 seats. This followed the 2024 arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, who subsequently resigned as Chief Minister, with Atishi replacing him until the election.