A big Kudos to Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party for winning Delhi elections with a comfortable margin and for becoming CM for the 3rd time. Despite of all criticisms levelled against him by his political adversaries, Arvind Kejriwal raised hopes for a maverick political practice and re-energizing of the weary Indian politics. His effort to make government corruption free have made the rich, poor, underdog and the privileged to respond in equal measure for a much-needed change in political system. One thing is clear that Kejriwal had not spoken directly about Shaheen Bagh and has tried to keep his focus on local issues, notably health, education and transportation. While his party colleagues including Deputy CM Manish Sisodia have spoken in support of the anti-CAA protests, Kejriwal has stuck to the local issues. He knows the fact and wanted to fight the election from a position of strength. Due to improved performance of Delhi government schools and the success of its Mohalla (neighborhood) Clinics, there is considerable support for him and his party. While addressing a press conference Kejriwal said that they would run a “positive campaign.” “Hume gali galoch ki rajneeti nahi aati.” We do not know the politics of being abusive.
Kejriwal is a man of clean character who is committed to moral values in politics. He's known to be a demanding man to work with, more respected than feared. Kejriwal’s populist policies seems to have struck the chord of the people as he has been adjudged the most popular CM of the country. Currently, there's no one in the country who has an image of being against corruption as much as Kejriwal has; though he has tried his best to destroy that image. It is undoubtedly a refreshing change that Kejriwal is so eager to establish a direct connection with the people he is going to serve.
Apparently, Kejriwal had realized his past follies when he tried to fight elections on national issues and bit the dust. He has also seen as to how the BJP has faltered when challenged to fight elections on local issues. Meanwhile, Delhi is not as wide-eyed about politics as other parts of India. It is a city that has seen differently-hued politicians and regimes come and go. It watches the national stampede but, at times, stands on the side and does its own thing. The citizens of Delhi, veterans of being the power centre, have the political confidence to buck the trend.
On one of the TV channel we saw that if anyone is asked on the street 9 times out of 10 will say that Kejriwal is performing well. In a country that is cynical about politicians, the success of Kejriwal’s policies serves to remind us that cynicism isn’t the default position of the Indian voter. Over the last five years, AAP has adopted a welfare-oriented governance model, reducing electricity and water tariffs, setting up mohalla clinics that offer subsidised primary healthcare, building education infrastructure and providing free bus and metro rides to women. One important thing AAP did was they avoided getting drawn into the current contestations over the Citizenship Amendment and the National Register of Citizens. Let us hope that Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party is more successful in the development of Delhi.
Email:---------------------dixitpatrakar@yahoo.in
