Anil Anand
Gandhian Anna Hazare mentored Arvind Kejriwal if not to make him a politician but at least to bring him to the limelight as a crusader against corruption. The scheming pupil proved cleverer and hit the political deck despite the guru’s vehement opposition to saddle himself as chief minister of Delhi. Still the guru Anna nursed some feeling in a corner of his heart that Kejriwal would deliver and fulfil at least some of the goals cherished by him (Anna) for decades in quest of clean politics and good governance.
But one year down the line and Aam Aadmi Party and its government in Delhi are mired in controversies one after the other. These are mostly the AAP leadership’s own creation on account of their disastrous policy of confrontation on all fronts and mindless ideas such as instigating the public undertake sting operations to fix those officials not delivering or indulging in corruption. Ostensibly, team Kejriwal thought that creating an atmosphere of terror was an easy way to govern without realising its pitfalls.
There is a serious question mark on the AAP’s model of governance in Delhi and even more serious questions are being raised on the manner in which Kejriwal has attempted to convert the capital city as a springboard to conduct political experiments to spread wings in other states particularly the poll bound Punjab. Every move and controversy which he and his aides sought to rake up has been directed at furthering AAP’s chances in Punjab Assembly elections which is fast becoming an extension of political laboratory that Delhi has been made.
But, what if an exasperated guru throws his hands up in frustration and disowns his disciple. What would one make of the Anna’s terse one-line judgement, “hope with which I was looking at Arvind Kejriwal is over. Saddened to see that some of Delhi Chief Minister’s colleagues have gone to jail while some others are indulging in fraud….”
On a more damaging note Anna went a step ahead and threatened to launch an agitation against Kejriwal and his government if he got concrete evidence against the ministers of his most favoured pupil.
The obvious reference was to half of Kejriwal’s cabinet getting embroiled in cases of corruption, sex escapades and controversies over distribution of party mandate in Punjab on considerations monetary as well as otherwise. The major instigation for the Anna to react was Delhi Minister Sandeep Kumar caught on tapes allegedly exploiting women, journalist turned politician Ashutosh’s deplorable defence of the Minister drawing parallels with Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in their personal lives.
So has the Punjab cookie crumbled even before it could be baked? The AAP boat has certainly been rocked not only by the happenings in Delhi and Anna’s criticism but also by resultant vertical split that stares the party’s state unit in the face. The Kejriwal doctrine of ‘sting operations’ is in full flow which has not only consumed another of his ministers but also the party’s Punjab convenor Sucha Singh Chotepur whose credentials as an upright politician of four decades standing are well known.
The fact that Kejriwal chose to take next available flight to Chandigarh on a four-day tour of Punjab after arriving from Vatican( Rome) where he attended Mother Teresa’s sainthood ceremony, to take stock of things is self-explanatory. His presence in Punjab found precedence over Delhi that does not anymore hold any significance in his scheme of things.
But he chose to spend four days in the poll-bound state on the eve of a throat surgery which he later underwent at Bengluru with a caveat to stay put in Punjab for six months, till the elections are held. It further explains the seriousness of the situation in Punjab from AAP’s angle.
The Chotepur episode came immediately after cricketer cum entertainer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu decided to float his own political front following Kerjriwal’s refusal to accept former’s demand to be nominated as chief ministerial candidate as a pre-condition for joining the AAP. The rejection of demand was obviously under internal pressures with the ilk of Chotepur and advocate H S Phoolka, CM hopefuls themselves, opposing it vigorously on the plea that they had been nursing the party ever since it came into existence.
Ostensibly, Kejriwal had not fathomed that his party’s Punjab convenor would be consumed by his (CM’s) own prescription. The party insiders are of the view that had the Chotepur episode happened little earlier, the Sidhu story would not have ended in this manner. After all he would have been a prized catch for the AAP with his clean image, cricketing background and strong appeal among the youth. The most suited Chief Ministerial candidate.
Sidhu’s apolitical front baptised as ‘Awaaz-e-Punjab’ (Voice of Punjab) already had three top voices which had revolted against the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine. Joining him were former hockey captain and suspended Akali MLA Pragat Singh and Ludhiana based two powerful independent MLAs and brothers Simarjeet and Balwinder Singh Bains. There are strong indications that front would become a parking ground for disgruntled sections of AAP particularly the Chotepur faction which is receiving support from a sizeable section of the party leaders and cadres.
The formation of this front is a significant development on Punjab’s political firmament. Strategically Sidhu has kept it as a non-political entity for the time being to gauge reaction among the public and political circles before converting it into a political party for which he has set a fortnight deadline.
Why a front and not a political party? Sidhu is not only a masterly stroke-player but also knows his politics very well despite having shown hurry in quitting his Rajya Sabha seat on the basis of some initial understanding with the AAP supremo on his projection as chief ministerial candidate. The nomenclature ‘front’ would enable him to keep options open for attracting sundry groups and parties which otherwise could be inimical to joining a new political outfitat the first go and accept Sidhu as their leader. The ilks of Chotepur, who heads a newly formed rebel group, and disgruntled AAP MP from Patiala Dr Dharamvir Gandhi who enjoys considerable support in the area could become part of the front.
The AAP has been caught in a quagmire of its own making at a wrong time. When all other political parties are busy preparing for Assembly elections not only in Punjab but also Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Goa, Kejriwal has undertaken the onerous task of setting his house in order in Punjab while abandoning Delhi. The other two states Gujarat and Goa where AAP intends to contest elections are suddenly out of his focus.
Till the recent days AAP’s popularity graph was on the ascendancy in Punjab and it was being viewed as a strong alternative to both Congress and SAD-BJP combine. But the recent developments have put a question mark though AAP strategists still maintain that the party would form government with thumping majority.
Kejriwal had sought to replicate Delhi model in Punjab as well and, as stated earlier, all his political and administrative moves were aimed at sending strong message to electorates in Punjab. This model in its inverse shape has also started proving destructive for him in the poll bound state. The political rivals are ensuring that the echo of every negative development involving AAP ministers and leaders was heard loud and clear in Punjab to demolish his Delhi model theory.
The AAP has become a theatre of the absurd particularly in Punjab. A civil war like situation is fast emerging in the party where the local leaders are conspiring against each other unless Kejriwal is able to control the rot. The worst is that they have lost faith in their national leaders every now and then trouping from Delhi. Will Kejriwal’s advent on Punjab scene have any salutary effect on warring factions or will he be able to keep the house together? The key to AAP’s success at the hustings would lie in the outcome of these queries.
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