(Inputs from Jayanta Gupta in Kolkata, Hemali Chhapia in Mumbai, Harit Mehta in Ahmedabad, Tenzin, Shivani, Kim Arora in New Delhi, R

Sunitha Rao

in Bangalore, and CDS Mani in Chennai)

NEW DELHI: Seldom, if ever, has a rookie political party’s success in assembly polls become such a talking point and a cause for nationwide euphoria, much like the Men in Blue winning an ODI game. But that’s exactly what activist Arvind Kejriwal ’s Aam Aadmi Party 's stunning show felt across Indias impressive showing -- winning 28 out of 70 seats in the Delhi polls — seems to have done.Speaking to a cross-section across class, region, gender and age, one realises that the anti-graft party has touched a latent chord and sparked off the possibility of a new imagination in national politics. Many such enthusiasts are eager to support the fledgling Delhi-based party. Caveat: a few also said they would wait and watch before taking a final call.Social scientist Ashis Nandy says AAP’s success could spark similar initiatives in other metros and small towns. “People were waiting for something like this to happen,” he says. And social media buzz seems to prove his point. Several tweets urge AAP to contest civic elections in Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata. Support travels beyond the metros. One tweet asks, “When you are going to start campaign in Lucknow ?” Another tweet offers support from Jaipur.AAP’s success has caused a ripple effect. In Rohtak, Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda ’s town, an office of the local AAP unit sprouted overnight. In Kochi, the party is set to launch its Kerala campaign by challenging the controversial Aranmula airport project. Several students in IIM-Calcutta have started campaigning for AAP. And at least one IIT-Kharagpur student, inspired by alumnus Kejriwal, has decided to give up engineering and start voluntary work.Sociologist Dipankar Gupta offers a reason for the zeal. “Even when watching AAP from a distance, everyone felt they were part of the movement. Kejriwal and company have been inspirational nationwide,” he says.In AAP’s success, many have found something personal to rejoice over. That’s why in Mumbai, women on local trains on Monday discussed how prices of essentials could fall, if parties like AAP came to power. A few compartments away, a bunch of kirtan singers were celebrating their triumph. “Yesterday’s powerful Congress party lies shattered today and one among us has now become powerful,” says one of them.An indication of the intense feeling that the party has evoked is evident in the response of Lakshmi Pillai Ratnaparkhe, a 42-year-old Bangalore-based entrepreneur. When asked if he would vote for AAP in the Lok Sabha polls, he says, “I wouldn’t just vote for them; I wish I become one of them, a probable candidate.”Homemaker Sandhya Krishnamurthy, 40, also offers support and explains why. “The major difference is the way they approached people for votes. Their agenda is to root out corruption where as other parties are involved in corruption allegations. It’s a party of youngsters and they assure good governance,” she says.Even Subhas Datta, 64-year-old environment activist from Kolkata feels that the Delhi results show the possibility of a genuine Third Front. “The Aam Aadmi Party is not a traditional political party. It is very relevant for Bengal which voted for change but got something that was merely another face of the same coin. I don't see why AAP can't do well in West Bengal. At least, I will support them if they stick to their cause,” he says.The support cuts across age barriers. Suchandra Ghosh, a 25-year-old schoolteacher, expresses similar views. “The result achieved by AAP is certainly a positive change and very inspiring. It is good for democracy. They have proved something good can be done,” he says.AAP had the least impact, understandably, in Ahmedabad, the ground zero of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Respondents gave a variety of reasons why they would vote elsewhere. Avani Modi, a 28-year-old housewife from Ahmedabad, says, “I would not vote for AAP in 2014. I would vote for Narendra Modi as I have seen his leadership. Performance of AAP candidates is yet to be seen. I would give them a couple of years before choosing them.” Yet, even in Ahmedabad, AAP found supporters like Kamlesh Patel, a 54-year-old businessman who hails Kejriwal. “I am all for AAP, they are among one of us. I'll vote for them. After a long time, India has got an impressive leader in Arvind Kejriwal,” he says.In Chennai, Dr A Thanikodi, professor of political science, Annamalai University, was unimpressed. He says there is no chance in the near future of a movement like AAP. “If AAP comes to TN, it will get what DMDK got in the elections in Delhi,” he says. DMDK scored zero in Delhi.Two auto rickshaw drivers had not heard of AAP, but one driver A Mahalingam, 48, said he grew aware of the party because of Anna Hazare’s meetings in Chennai. “AAP cannot succeed in TN because it will not distribute money and gifts like the main parties . But I will vote for AAP as it seems to be a party of principles wanting to really help people,” he says.