Col J P Singh, (Retd)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has unleashed a scary tsunami in Delhi. Never before the politics has changed so dramatically. Panch Saal for Kejriwal is now a stern reality. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan of premier Modi may or may not clean India of garbage in times to come but it has out-rightly cleaned Delhi of BJP. The big take away from Delhi verdict is that vibrant democracy is dearer to Indians than clean India. Appreciate the Indian democracy by which just out of his diplomatic highs after a successful summit meeting with Obama, Modi has been brought down to mother earth by the domestic politics and a simpleton mufflerman has been firmly installed in Delhi. Message for Modi is that Delhi already is a world class smart city.
Delhi election has left BJP shocked and Congress paralysed. Voters have shown that accepting a mistake honestly, correcting it sincerely and reaching out to people humbly is something that they will respect. An audacious sense of revenge seems to have surged in Delhi which exhorted people from every caste, creed, religion, age and gender to place their future in the hands of a person whom BJP had sought to finish. Another inference is that mere populism is unacceptable, arrogance despicable and complacency dangerous in present day politics. The causes for BJP defeat being debated are many which include Modi strip suit, Obama admonishment on communal disharmony, parachuting Kiran Bedi, arrogance of leaders, alienation of workers, burning of Churches and Fatwa of Imam. To my mind, revenge vote to save Kejriwal against BJP onslaught against his person is the main cause of his victory. Expression of hatred against him with disrespectful labels was considered insulting by the people which moved masses towards him. Not inviting him for Republic Day Celebration was seen as punitive action. Pitching Kiran Bedi directly against him was a gauntlet thrown at him. Five questions a day was a digression. Seeing the force of central govt and the might of seven ministers and 120 MPs put in the field by BJP in winning Delhi including Kiran Bedi trump card; people saw it end of Kejriwal once and for all. To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The public reaction to save him was equally blunt, revengeful and strong which is obvious from the unprecedented verdict.
Kejriwal would be heading a majority govt had became clear at the hustings but much beyond majority was unthinkable even though poll of polls had given him 42 seats. None of the survey gave him more than 48. But just as amazing as the result is, refusing to take serious note of it would be learning a wrong lesson. To stop the milk from boiling, the flame has to be extinguished. The phenomenal rise (boil) of BJP had to stop somewhere. What needs to be analysed is the mistakes committed by BJP which exhorted people catapult Kejriwal firmly in the hot seat. Delhi is the right place and such verdict is the right opportunity to do so minutely because the random analysis, to my mind, won’t justify such outcome. The more conspicuous thing is that the arena of a duel between the giant national parties and the new entrant was the capital city of India. It mean a lot to be in power in the national capital and hence it means a lot for analytical study. Random guess is ‘Save Kejriwal’ verdict but it needs to be dissected threadbare.
Delhi is a city state like Washington DC or Rome. Yet it is mini India. The very idea of Delhi and concept of city is fast changing. It is no longer a bureaucratic city. It is a city of flocks of migrants from all over India with different perceptions of politics. Its population is over two crore. It is dominated by Bihari migrants. 25 % Delhi residents have no access to clean drinking water, 30 % don’t have assured electricity, 40 % population is not connected to sewerage and more than 10 % residents have no toilets in their home. 9 out of 10 workers in Delhi have no labour law protection and work under unhealthy environments with no job security. Working women are very vulnerable in Delhi.
People saw BJP as an egoist party smarting under arrogance and slow on delivery. It lost public sympathy because of it. Hence they felt that BJP has to be humbled. The popular belief is that people long ago had decided that they would vote for Modi in Lok Sabha election and Kejriwal in the Assembly election. That is how everything changed in eight months. Moreover no BJP govt has been voted in Delhi in the last 21 years.
It was not a referendum for Modi, Rahul or Kejriwal but demonstrates clearly that elections can be won without a glorious surname or title on the strength of dedicated young volunteers by actually reaching out to the people, kindling faith and trust in them rather than taking them for granted. Kejriwal was seen with the people, talking and listening to them whereas Modi and Rahul were seen giving sermons from high pedestals. He directly connected with the masses whereas Modi was heard once a month in ‘man Ki bat’ and Rahul as usual neither seen nor heard. Curiously a young party with hardly two years of existence worked out a strategy of decimating two national giants and remarkably succeeded. That is how AAP has bounced back with a big bang. It has demolished Congress, the grand old party of India and in the same blow knocked BJP form the high pedestals of Modi wave. Why a thrilling victory for AAP and disaster for traditional parties with huge victory margins in seats won should be a topic of research in the Indian sub-continent.
We have seen many mass movements in the past and take pride in the fact that power in India lies with the people. Delhi election was no less than a mass movement. This was that moment in history when public rose against the ruling dispensation, not in small waves of resentment but in a tidal wave of anger. While BJP workers were basking in the glory of Modi-Obama bonhomie and winter sunshine, AAP workers were sweating it out day and night seeking ‘panch saal’ for Kejriwal. The new hands had learnt the old tricks. It was to win completely than incrementally. For this to happen the Mufflerman had to be there. Moreover it was an idea whose time had come.
Wearing an expensive bandgala suit reported to be worth 10 lac with his name monogrammed all over it with golden thread had the touch of aristocracy. 10 lac suit for many in Delhi is 10 years bread and butter. This has angered the poor and middle class. One minister calling non-hindus haramzadas, other asking Hindu women to produce 4 children and above all vandalisation of Churches alienated minorities. SP, JDU, RJD, BSP and TMC voters also flocked to AAP as force multiplier.
While Modi stands for a strong India, both in economic and military might, business and employment, rapid development, strong foreign relations; Kiran Bedi stood for the might of police and administration which the poor fear. Kejriwal was seen dependable in providing bijli, pani, bhrashtachaar mukt sarkaar etc’. Minorities do not fear him because he is not VHP/RSS man. Advice to friends in BJP & Congress is to learn from mistakes and listen to Winston Churchill who said, “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts”.
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