For BJP, AAP Is Not A Threat At The National Level.

The Aam Aadmi Party's stunning victory in Punjab does not mean that the party is a "threat to BJP" at the national level, said BJP leaders.

For the AAP to emerge as an alternative to the saffron party, the BJP leaders said, it should win "at least 100 Lok Sabha seats".

At least two leaders have pointed out that the AAP's "strategies and methods" are similar to those of the BJP in its bid to become a "party with a development agenda".

AAP's growing appeal among women and weaker sections, however, could make the party a formidable force if it persists.

"With its governments in Delhi and Punjab, it will try its luck in neighboring Haryana and Himachal Pradesh also," said a party MP.

According to BJP leaders, the AAP needs at least 50 seats to become a viable alternative to the BJP.

"Mamata Banerjee or M K Stalin can emerge because their states have 41 and 39 (Lok Sabha seats respectively). But both Punjab and Delhi put together, there are only 20 seats. It's all arithmetics. At the most, you can be a (former Prime Ministers) H D Deve Gowda or I K Gujral," said Jain.

The BJP leaders also said the emergence of a "new star" in the opposition space would "stabilize" the BJP more as the "anti-BJP votes would have one more claimant and would get divided".