editorial
AAP is a potential BAAP of Indian politics
A
rvind Kejriwal’s move to resign as chief minister of Delhi on 14 Feb. was a calculated and politically correct stroke. He is proving to be a mature player in the political arena and playing his game in his own inimitable style. He seems to be competent enough to think beyond others. His AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) can be a potential BAAP (father) of some national political parties. It has found an attractive slogan—“Shela Dixshit Hari Hai, Ab Modi Ki Bari Hai” in the run up to 2014 general election. Being an impartial media person, you cannot help ignoring AK and his AAP. Their regular adventurism, say drama – as some prefer to name it, enthuse the consumers. It’s affecting day-to-day political transactions of India. Some positive transformation in the present polity of this nation is inevitable. The Indian National Congress did a blunder, on its part, allowing AK’s AAP to form the government in Delhi. And now, freeing AK and company for political martyrdom, the Bharati Janta Party (BJP) has virtually dug a major porthole in Modi’s drive to Prime Ministership. AAP leadership is free to roam around beyond Delhi and NCR, with some governance credits in hand. BJP could barricade AAP’s influence within the capital, at least until the Lok Sabha election, with minimum loss to kitty. But now the AK spirit is out of the bottle it is bound to claim its share nationwide, which would hurt Modi the most. Electors are not fools anymore, thanks to this age of 50 EASTERN CRESCENT | MARCH 2014
information bonanza. The moment one compares AK’s governance, amidst this extraordinary hue and cry, with just common sense, the fact becomes obvious. He performed better than rationally expected in this short period of just 49 days. The last argument can be, his being a minority government, he tried best to deliver the promises he made. His political shenanigans are being copied by other. It is evident now that a government can act swiftly and smoothly without corruption or communalism. And that is what India has been looking for. AK has inflamed some of the political fancies that a common youth nourishes within. If you are in a classroom of a peer or teen group, you are bound to encounter some astonishing questions or arguments about AK and AAP’s activism. This simply indicates that AK could appeal even far beyond present voters. The AAP just needs to remain as it is today- resolute, unbowed and stick to the principles. A corruption free nation must remain the sole agenda. AK must invest his special care in his lieutenants. Yogendra Yadav, Manish Sisodia and Prashant Bhushan can be the horses for a long race. But Kumar Vishwas, Somnath Bharti and likes may put him in deep water. Ashutosh Gupta, Shazia Ilmi and likes are just in the ‘business’ and AAP is simply another opportune stage for them. AK needs to walk straight, to his aim, through all of them. People such as Anna Hazare, Medha Patkar and former president
APJ Abdul Kalam will always remain useful for this nation – AK needs to keep his door ever open to such souls. He himself needs to remain calm, composed and of course, shun unparliamentary language. Delhi’s LG, Najeeb Jung has been simply fulfilling his constitutional duties, as head of the state. He or the elected president of India or for that matter our Supreme Court and High Courts judges are on esteemed positions. They are considered reverential and you cannot disrespect these institutions for petty differences. As a leader you ought to deliver, Mr. Kijriwal. But do it being within the accepted public standard. Functioning as an elected head of a government and agitating about governance are entirely two different things. AAP is yet to implement the former well. There are millions more who just do not vote for one or the other political players in India. They, rather, watch the complete game, judge the players, from out of the ring and then put their hands together to clap – to push the EVM button in this case. AK’s AAP is ready to sail in the gifted narrow space between Congress’s corruption and BJP’s communalism. Its captain must remain ever watchful of his small boat amidst strong winds of BJP and Congress as well as of the danger during the journey ahead of the dark unknown nights – where some of his co- sailors may turn into monster sharks or killer storms may lurk for him and his new party. Let us hope for the best!