Arvind Kejriwal ...He came..He saw..He won...What next?

R.K. Shivachandra *

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Leader Arvind Kejriwal :: Pix - Wikipedia/TY(ThinkingYouth)

As expected Arvind Kejerewal triggered his first salvo against Indian National Congress just in less than one month after the happy matrimonial knot of Congress and Aam Aadmi Party. Not long ago Arvind sworn in as the 7th Chief Ministers of the Capital State of India in presence of a mammoth crowd with the support of Congress . However the ties do not go long.

In a recent TV interview, Chief Minister Arvind revealed that he would initiate probe against the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats of the previous governments and as a result of it congress would soon regret to support his party, he said. The CM further reiterated that he does not mind if Congress withdraws support from him. Bluntly he said 'if my Government has to go tomorrow, let it go today'.

A protagonist with a difference indeed. It could perhaps be coincidental but credit is definitely with the new Hero of the city that in Lucknow, Ahilesh Yadav the young Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh has started cutting off his official cavalcades and so also the newly elected Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of Rajasthan had declined to move into the official bungalow. In Raipur, Chief Minister Raman Singh has said in the same chord that he does not need a customary gun salute.

All these mental attitude of the big shots in politics seemed to have exorcised by the same ghost that exorcised Arvind Kejerewal, the muffler draped hero of New Delhi. It all happened when Mr. Kejerewal simply shunned the official bungalow of Chief Minister allotted to him including the cars, elaborate security arrangement and many other comforts that other politicians embraced as a materialistic gift over the years. Interestingly all have become a 'common man' overnight.

Describing himself a hurry man in the hot seat of CM, Arvind Kejerewal acted close to the Bollywood star Anil Kapoor in the film 'Nayak', which manifest what a real CM can do if he really intends to accomplish certain achievements. No doubt Mr. Kejerewal is a reformist that he believed the malpractice that is eroding the society should be healed through an electoral process and by way of democratic means. But it is also equally understandable that real life and film never goes together.

Mr. Kejerewal' s formation of government with congress support was indeed a controversial move which was much against the desire of the middle class voters with whose support he won 26 seats in the 70 members seat in Delhi. Some political analysts opined the view that if Arvind Kejerewal ever respected the people's mandate and by circumstances he had to form the government he should have opted BJP instead of congress as BJP had 34 MLAs as a part of mandate given by the delhilites.

Is formation of government a mandatory if it had to go away even before completion of a month?

The political forecast said it would crumble sooner than later. If Arvind really wanted to bring about a 'paribartan' in Delhi as he often refers to, he could have walked along hand in hand with BJP and give a showdown that he didn't do. The recent development of mudslinging political repartee reduced him to common politicians who are endowed with such skills of habitual liars.

There had been only two ways for him earlier either he formed with BJP or simply quits and waiting his turn for a clear majority. Forming government with a party on whose throat he is sharpening his knife doesn't make a sense at all. This creates confusion and public chaos.

We may also recall some of his political agenda that he professed like the Lokpal bill aimed at battling corruption and covering all employees will be passed within 15 days of coming to power. Two lakh community and public toilets promised to be built. Families which limit their monthly water consumption to 700 liters promised not be billed.

Domestic water consumers who have got inflated bills up to November 2013 will not be liable to pay these bills. Delhi Police, the Delhi Development Authority and the Municipal Corporations of Delhi will be brought under the control of the Delhi government. Minorities will be protected and "fake encounters and false cases against Muslim youth shall end". Any public official found guilty of corruption would be sacked, jailed and his/her property confiscated. A Citizens Security Force would be formed in each ward to provide security to anyone in distress. No court case would be adjourned if the Delhi government is a litigant etc.

All these promises are yet to fulfill as of now. Now the question is whether Arvind will busy fulfilling these promises or combating the political nuisance that befalls on his path ? These all could have been avoided had he not stepped up on the hot seat of Chief Minister with the support of his future rival that he knew already.

Anyway he is doing still great? He cannot simply be ignored whatever reasons it may be. He had made his much publicised 'paribartan' in many ways. It is not known whether he would be able to replicate the Delhi model in the rest of the Indian states but definitely a beginning towards a change indeed. His new phenomenon of politics definitely heralds a massage to all the political parties in India.

The fundamental essence and ethics of politics had started picking up bit by bit by leaders and political workers as an ideal example of moral standard across the country now. It may be a treacherous political gimmick or a real show, the time will tell. Coming to Manipur it would be wiser to comment that it wouldn't change. The morning Sun beamed the land one hour before Delhi but development and change towards betterment will take light year to reach here.

There is no more armed escort to Nagaland VIPs, Akhilesh Yadav cuts down his cavalcade, Mayawadi is now shying away from her 35 car processions, Jarkhaland Chief Minister Hemant Soren discarded his siren and many changes have now taken place. Manipur still remain blind. All the non-elected congress candidates are now roaming with full escort facilities giving a lame excuse of safety concern while candidates of other parties are just left at the mercy of the God. I don't think Kejerewal magic will work in Manipur.

R.K. Shivachandra

* R.K. Shivachandra contributes regularly to e-pao.net
The writer is President, Indo Myanmar Fraternal Alliance
He can be contacted at nongpokharam(at)gmail(dot)com


This article was posted on January 20, 2014 .