India, Feb. 9 -- When the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emerged from the cauldron of the anti-corruption movement in 2012, it marked a moment of rupture in Indian politics. The summer of discontent that had swept the Capital bestowed the infant party and its muffler-wrapped technocrat leader with a sheen that differentiated it from every other outfit, old or young. The AAP signified a break with grubby deal-making, and its leaders were seen as transparent, accountable and grounded. Even when the Bharatiya Janata Party's juggernaut appeared to be steamrolling its way through the Indian political landscape, this armour helped the AAP deflect many attacks and keep itself relevant nationally, despite controlling a small city-state. When the party lat...