Despite entering electoral politics only in 2022, Durgesh Pathak has been the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) éminence grise since its formation in 2012, playing an instrumental role in shaping the party’s fortunes and expanding its national footprint.
Starting as an AAP volunteer with no political background, Mr. Pathak quickly rose through the ranks, taking on various key responsibilities within the party. At 35, he is the youngest member of AAP’s Political Affairs Committee, its highest decision-making body, and is seeking re-election from the Rajinder Nagar Assembly constituency.
The incumbent MLA said he knows the constituency inside out from his days as a civil services aspirant and has leveraged this knowledge to focus on enhancing basic amenities and governance in the area.
“I worked on improving drainage, water supply, community centres, roads, and parks. Besides, I am an accountable MLA who meets his people,” he told The Hindu.
To stay connected with his constituents, Mr. Pathak has formed a WhatsApp group called ‘Mohalla Sabha’, where residents can raise grievances. “Through this and other social media platforms, I remain connected to over 18,000 people in the area,” he said.
However, a lot has changed in the constituency following the drowning of three civil services aspirants a year ago in a coaching institute’s basement due to flooding caused by heavy rain, which was exacerbated by a blocked drainage system.
The sitting MLA acknowledges that drainage is a significant concern in the area. “The tragedy could have been averted had the MCD [Municipal Corporation of Delhi] functioned properly. It was unfortunate. Rather than playing the blame game, political parties should work together to find solutions,” he said.
Training his guns at the BJP, Mr. Pathak accused the Opposition party of attempting to dismantle AAP. “Our senior leaders were put in jail [in the excise policy case]. It was a challenging time. We worked unitedly to thwart the BJP’s plan to break the party.”
In the upcoming election, Mr. Pathak will face off against the BJP’s Umang Bajaj, a councillor, and the Congress’s Vineet Yadav, an Indian Youth Congress member.
Journey into politics
After completing his BA and MA from Allahabad University, Mr. Pathak had moved to Delhi in 2010 to prepare for the civil services exam.
However, the turning point was the India Against Corruption movement by activist Anna Hazare.
“That protest changed my life. I went there [protest site] to register my support, but returned as a different person. I realised that for a vibrant democracy, active public participation and independent and stronger institutions are needed,” he said.
Motivated by the movement, he joined AAP as a volunteer in 2013 and started campaigning door to door for the Assembly election that year.
“I realised I had to work for the people,” he said.
Mr. Pathak’s rise to prominence began after the 2015 Assembly election, in which AAP secured a landslide victory, winning 67 out of the 70 seats. He had played a crucial role in this success, leading the party’s campaign in 35 constituencies, of which it won 34.
According to sources, Mr. Pathak was then entrusted with the task of expanding the party’s presence beyond Delhi. He took on this challenge by travelling extensively across various States, gathering valuable ground reports, which he then presented to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal.
He also played a pivotal role in the 2017 Punjab Assembly election, in which the party performed well and emerged as a key Opposition party in the State.
In 2022, Mr. Pathak won the Rajinder Nagar Assembly seat for AAP in a bypoll, which was necessitated by Raghav Chadha’s resignation after his election to the Rajya Sabha.
Published – January 27, 2025 02:08 am IST
