Democracy has both procedural and substantive dimensions. It means democracy is not limited to just a process of election but fulfilling social and economic aspirations of the people. India is a big country and in every democratic country there is a need for good governance which includes transparency, accountability, rule of law and public participation in government system. One explanation for India's unimpressive economic record and millions of its citisens living in poverty is the political corruption and instability that can so easily be seen at all levels of government. Unfortunately, there are very few means for the citisens to fight the corruption in the current system. A political party like Aam Aadmi Party has displayed an outstanding courage and democratic attitude to confront ills of the polity. The common people want to fight the corrupt system and have found the party as an empowering device. The party came into being in the last quarter of 2012. Its genesis lies in the India Against corruption (IAC) Campaign of 2011, which had pushed for stringent anti-corruption laws and the establishment of an independent Ombudsman (Jan Lokpal Bill) to monitor possible corruption of public servants and politicians. It was essentially a civil society movement paving way for the formation of a political party by some public spirited people. AAP's remarkable success and soaring popularity have shaken Indian politics because they have highlighted a powerful anti-corruption sentiment across the country. AAP's vision of a corruption-free India requires going after petty policeman and government officials, high-ranking bureaucrats and politicians, and businesses big and small. At the same time, if AAP picks its targets strategically, it will fall afoul of its own absolutist anti-corruption manifesto. AAP has done a remarkable job tapping into India's anti-corruption sentiment. It continues to enjoy tremendous support across the country and is growing beyond Delhi. The paper will try to outline the transition that Aam Aadmi Party made from anti-corruption movement to power politics. To examine AAP's role in combating corruption and outline necessary challenges. Finally an attempt will be made to understand the future prospectus of Aam Aadmi party in India.
Corruption, Anti-Corruption Movement, Aam Aadmi Party, Transparency, Lokpal
