Good guys always win. And I think
Arvind Kejriwal’s innings in the politics reinforced the fact. Last two months
though have saddened the lot of people who believed in the Arvind Kejriwal
Story. I still think over a longer period of time, he might bring about a
change in the political mindset even though he may not remain a major player.
He won people’s hearts with his
actions which were in sync with the way people liked their leaders to be. Simple,
straight-forward and action-oriented. Everything he said after forming his
political outfit, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was in tune with the ground realities. Corruption
has always been an impediment all over the world and it is no different in India.
That does not make us attuned to it and he rightly made it is agenda to root
out corruption. He also understood the people’s problems with the current
political functioning and the disillusionment of the working class who
contribute the majority to the exchequer. Against all odds and disrespect from
the leading political parties and with a lot of trepidation, he fought the
Delhi state elections 2014 and came out the second largest party. As destiny
would have it, he became the Chief Minister of Delhi.
With all due respect, he had the
chance to prove that he walked the talk. Unfortunately, we do not know what
transpired or what was the thought process of him and his team. They went
berserk with announcements which by all counts were populist. A lot of
unconventional methods went into the kind of governance. Austerity drive that
did not materialise, alleged anarchist attitude with the Dharna, vigilantism to
catch corruption through hidden cameras, on-ground mob mobility against alleged
drugs & prostitution. All the actions were for the larger good although
they might not be too pleasing to those who follow the rule of the book. It won
him friends and foes as well. Lot of arguments about the process being right or
wrong. And then the Jan Lokpal. Not being allowed to get it through, the
unnecessary accusation of the Lieutenant Governor being ‘partisan’ and the ego
battle to pass the Jan Lokpal finally took out life out of the Arvind Kejriwal
Story with his resignation as New Delhi Chief Minister.
It is a case of missed
opportunities. He could have been slow with the announcements and could have
had a measured approach to governance. He though thought otherwise. Wanting to
go for the big-bang statements and have an immediate impact. I think he has over-estimated the success
story of AAP far too much. I hope I am proved wrong. There is a theory going
around that they are looking at the bigger battle now i.e. the Lok Sabha
elections 2014 in May by contesting 350-400 seats out of 544. Apart from the
resources required for such a large scale elections, they do not have the
individuals who have a mass acceptance. Merely fielding social activists or corporates
will not guarantee success. It worries me that in case the results do not come
out as expected, the whole movement might fizzle out. Thus I hope better sense
prevails and Arvind Kejriwal takes a long-position rather than go for instant gratification.
You should not try your luck too far. But then Arvind Kejriwal has being
unconventional and might make a lot of us ‘eat crow’ with its success going
forward.
Bottomline is- goods intentions do not necessarily translate
into actions. And altruism isn’t always better for others especially when it comes to being on the administrative and governance side.
