Political Diary

New Delhi, 28 December 2013

Aam Aadmi Government

NEW GRAMMAR OF POLITICS

By Poonam I Kaushish

2013 ends on an euphoric note in our politically depraved times. The year of the aam aadmi. A story about a new India which crossed the Rubicon from being a pictogram of a corrupt and autocratic polity to becoming an embodiment of people’s power. Led by a maverick rookie one-year-old political greenhorn Arvind Kejriwal who rose as a talisman of a different brand of politics. Winning a truly well fought victory of Jan Shakti over State power!

Undeniably, the 45 ex-IITian engineer-turned-income-tax officer, Magsaysay award winner, erstwhile protégée of Gandhian Anna Hazare and Delhi’s youngest Chief Minister has changed the political discourse to steer his Aam Aadmi Party to power. A sweet revenge for the activist's fledgling Party which was branded by Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra as “mango people in a banana republic” for raising the ante on his wealth and receiving undue favours.

For the first time at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan Saturday last people gathered because they felt they belonged, broke caste-creed barriers encompassing the middle-class and disadvantaged and spoke in one voice to end corruption to create a larger ‘apolitical platform’. The finest example of upholding the tenets of democracy, the likes of it never seen before.

Notably, AAP’s USP is its ability to connect with the grassroots and middle class. Towards that end Kejriwal anchored his campaign in an unconventional way to see his Party become the second largest party in the Delhi Assembly elections with a stunning showing of 28 of 70 seats halted Sheila Dikshit’s 15-year Congress rule.

Having raised expectations sky high with his pledges of a corruption-free honest, transparent Government and a new style of governance without the arrogance of power, it is a moot point whether the country's newest star on the political horizon will be able to bring 'Insan Ka Insan Se Ho Bhaichara' in our caste-creed polity. Today he has to articulate to a larger worldview and position itself in the matrix of prevalent political ideas. But a beginning nonetheless has been made.

For starters he is the first aam aadmi neta who dispensed with a caste-communal-religion brand which conotates rajniti at its crassest best and sought votes on core issues of the common man, high electricity bills, water shortage, lousy civic facilities, safety of women and rampant corruption at all levels. 

In a sense the AAP’s win is historic. Either which way, it will change the way politics is done in India. Underscoring that no longer could Parties afford to be complacent or traditional especially against the backdrop that 50 per cent of the electorate between 18-35 voters does not connect with historical baggage nor have the patience for inane diatribe or tu-tu-mein-mein.  What they demand is a better deal for their tomorrow, transparent and honest governance sans corruption.

Undoubtedly, he has not only thrown the rulebook of Indian politics out of the window, (Politics is no rocket science) rewritten the grammar of politics and the way it is done but also is setting a new political agenda which could become a tough act to follow. Successfully tapping and encashing into the new synergies erupting all over the country ---- youth, students, housewives, working class, social activists, et al disillusioned and cynical about the stymied 

Moreover, as the player with the least to lose on the arena, he is likely to carry on in this vein, disregarding the rules of the game and upsetting the equilibrium. While this will win him popular support, it is making the political-bureaucratic spectrum nervous. Till yesterday dismissed a wildcard player, Kejriwal who? Chindi and chiller, a “non-actor or no factor”, today is their boss.

What a boss, who along with his Ministers has decided to dispense with the security paraphernalia, screeching lal batti cars, Chief Minister’s residence and Government bungalows which are part and parcel of the trappings of VVIP culture, instead opting to live in modest flats.

Indeed this might be symbolic but it creates a perception that he is truly aam. After all, the aam aadmi is not a bacteria or virus that a VIP route has to be “sanitized”? Whether he and his Cabinet can continue this for as long as they are in Government remains to seen.

The task is cumbersome and steep. Given that corruption courses through the veins of our decrepit netas who have corroded and vandalized the system to feather their own nest. Add to this a rattled and nervous bureaucracy with Kejriwal taking recourse to mohalla-style governance.

Said he, “This Government will be run by the 1.5 crore people…not by bureaucrats, police or politicians. Making plain he would brook no nonsense, he asked the public to take a vow never give bribe to the police thanedar, patwari, block development officer, Government peon or babu up to his MLA and would set-up a number for corrupt complaints.  Thereby, putting the officials on notice.

At the end the taste of the pudding lies in eating. It is not important where the AAP stands in India's political spectrum, or whether it is strong enough to withstand the next crucial stage. Already he has charted a new course in the way politics is done.  Fought elections honestly and won topped by demolishing egos of the Congress and BJP.

He helped crystallise widespread popular anger against corruption, malfeasance and mis-governance wherein it would be near impossible for our polity to continue with the status quo. He has shown the aam aadmi a ray of hope wherein they no longer have to remain silent.

It would be presumptuous to presume that Kejriwal alone can sound the death-knell of the corrupt. Given that corruption is as old as history in India. Clearly, his biggest achievement is that he has shown to the aam janata the power they have and can wield to make and break our self-serving netas. For the first time the people have experienced the power of being in control, truly the masters and our polity the servants to serve them.

Pertinently, both Modi and Rahul Gandhi have taken a leaf out of the AAP’s nouvelle and transparent way of fighting polls. While Rahul confessed that the AAP’s brand of a movement of the people, by the people and for the people was the way forward, a disconcert Namo has sought donations ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 1000 from the people.

Besides, Kejriwal’s magical win holds out weighty lessons which our polity can ignore only at their peril. Our leaders need to realize that there is a clear shift in the people-politician equation. Words like “we are netas how dare you speak to us like this,” will no longer cut ice.

A lot of hopes rest on Kejriwal’s and his Party’s shoulders. In just one election, it has changed the way politics is done in India. Real democracy: for the people, by the people. Even if Kejriwal & Co falters later, Delhi's aam voters have given India hope for 2014. Ultimately power resides with the people. A shakti that makes and breaks a politician. Alongside Kejriwal needs to remember one home truth: Nothing is permanent but change! ----- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)