The emergence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on national scene, installation of a Government in National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi led by Arvind Kejriwal and AAP’s decision to contest ensuing General elections has shaken the entire political landscape.
It is being widely perceived that AAP poses a serious threat to both the national parties viz., Congress and BJP besides carrying with it a distinct possibility of running down in fact, submerging in the Tsunami a plethora of regional outfits like BSP and SP.
The fuel for this wave in favour of AAP comes from a huge sense of disgruntlement of public cutting across all sections of society with the extant political establishment that gets identified with inefficiency, nepotism, corruption indeed, total mis-governance.
AAP has promised to change all that, re-write rules of the game and bring about a paradigm shift in the way politics is done. Its overwhelming focus on ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’ in governance and its demonstration during first few days of running Delhi has captivated people’s mind.
Clearly, there is an air of exuberance and expectancy all over India and people at large have a feeling that with AAP catapulted to the centre-stage, 2014 marks the beginning of an end to decades of mis-governance and corruption leading to better days ahead.
A few nagging questions come to mind. Is the entire political establishment corrupt? Is it fair to paint both BJP and Congress with same brush? Will AAP stop Modi’s juggernaut? Will the elections throw up a fractured mandate?
A perception that entire political landscape is corrupt is a ‘myth’. An extraordinary performance of all BJP ruled states viz., Gujarat, MP, Chhattisgarh and Bihar [jointly run by BJP & JD (U)] consistently during last decade or so, both on economic front as also delivery of essential services vindicates that people therein, have got clean governance free from corruption.
Yet, the perception (that reverberates in public discourses of AAP leaders every now and then), stems largely from deeply entrenched corruption in all wheeling dealings of Congress which has ruled India for more than 5 decades. Therefore, it is only logical that all institutions of governance have been afflicted by this malady.
The alternative political dispensations to Congress say, Janata Party Government under Morarji Desai (1977-79); Janata Dal led by V.P. Singh (1989-91); United Front (UF) (1996-98) government under Deve Gowda & Gujral; National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under Vajpayee (1999-2003) were in the saddle for too short a period to have made any impact. Amongst them, NDA had longest stint.
Mr Vajpayee spent much of time in resurrecting economy that was left in shambles with low growth of around 4.5% in 1998-99. Government also initiated path-breaking reforms like dismantling of administered price regime (APR) for petroleum products, reform of fertilizer subsidies, power reforms besides measures to boost infrastructure. The decision for ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ project was also taken during NDA regime.
The task of cleaning up the system and reforming institutions of governance is time consuming. By the time, NDA Government settled down to take this bigger challenge, it was un-settled even as UPA (United Progressive Alliance) led by Congress re-gained power in 2004 and has since, been in drivers seat for the last decade.
With this, there was further deterioration in standards of governance that reached a crescendo during the last 5 years of UPA. The entire period was flooded with a series of scams involving corruption of an un-imaginable magnitude never seen before. A prominent leader likened these scams to capture all the 26 alphabets from A to Z!
Unambiguously, corruption gets identified with Congress. While, no political party is completely free from this menace, it would be highly inappropriate to bracket others with Congress. That would be travesty of the truth. We may run the risk of creating a political vacuum whereby no party is perceived to be fit to govern.
By clubbing BJP with Congress, AAP is indeed committing a serious blunder. BJP through its clean record of governance in several states ruled by it, has already demonstrated its credentials. This is also vindicated by AAP’s own revelations that are replete with instances of large scale corruption in Congress but none in BJP.
[In an isolated case concerning an ex-President of BJP where Mr Kejriwal held a press conference – after days of speculation and guess work – to reveal ‘alleged’ financial irregularities in a company owned by him (this was not a case of alleged misuse of official position either), these could not be corroborated by evidence].During the last one-and-a-half decade of his stint in Gujarat, Mr Modi had an impeccable record of clean and decisive administration working energetically to make great strides in development. He has delivered within the existing structure and institutions. This is true of other BJP ruled states as well.
As BJP prime ministerial candidate, Mr Modi has addressed more than 125 rallies all over the country – since his anointment. His approach to governance and ideas on development and major policy issues has found widespread acceptance among masses.
Mr Modi and CMs of other BJP ruled states have already delivered what AAP promises to do. This is also vindicated by massive mandate given by people of Gujarat, MP and Chhattisgarh in 2012/2013 assembly elections to re-govern. Even in Delhi, it emerged as the single largest party.
AAP having transited from movement to a political outfit and starting on a clean slate has naturally caught the imagination of people especially the middle-class. BJP being an old and established party and often in thick of controversy (courtesy, un-interrupted witch hunt by Congress) has been at a disadvantage.
Yet, its ability to sustain its credibility in the eyes of public and continued advance of Mr Modi’s juggernaut – despite adversities all around (look at usual refrain from all quarters, that he is ‘polarizing’ figure) – shows that AAP does not pose much of challenge to BJP. Even surveys have shown that Mr Modi gets the highest rating as PM much ahead of Mr Kejriwal.
People of India are yearning for a change to have a ‘decisive’, ‘clean’ and ‘stable’ leadership. The best bet is NDA regime under Mr Modi. People need to be careful to ensure that elections do not throw up a fractured mandate. That scenario might arise if there is perceptible swing in favour of AAP.
Even 50 seats for AAP – though a good show by itself to represent a good cause – could upset apple cart and jettison formation of a stable government under NDA!
For this very reason, the excitement of 2014 General election would be palpable.