A bare two months old new political party, the Aam Aadmi Party (APP) has ousted 15-year old entrenched Congress from the Government of the State of Delhi. Such stunning change in political environment in a totalitarian state cannot happen without paying a heavy cost. But thanks to democracy, the power of the masses of people that big changes can be brought about smoothly and without grudge. In other words democracy as the philosophy of governing the nation is maturing and strengthening its roots in our country. These are the occasions when we should pay tribute to the wisdom and foresight of our freedom fighting leadership and the constitutional framers that the nation is safe in the hands of a democratic dispensation.
Secondly, emergence and rise of AAP from an indiscreet position to a position of great prominence so as to wrest the governance of the capital city-state of India indicates more than mere voting that won the party 28 out of 70 seats of Delhi Legislative Assembly. It is the loud voice of millions of Indians who would not tolerate the canker of corruption eating into the vitals of this polity. That speaks volumes about the urge of the people for a change for better. The fact is that emergence of AAP is the logical culmination of anti-graft movement launched by the vast Indian civil society under unconventional leadership, a path laid out by the Father of the Nation. The spirit of Gandhi ji’s service to the poor masses of this country was reborn to guide the anti-graft moment of our days. How sad that mainstream political parties in general and the ruling coalition in particular not only trivialized the movement but even tried to undermine it with their patently abrasive mechinations. It is a sad commentary on our mainstream parties’ leadership that it could not build convergence on a subject of immense importance to the nation, a subject that touched at the heart of every Indian. Suppression of vital nationalist interests and promotion of skewed party politics and the avarice of remaining glued to power and authority combined to derail anti-corruption movement. Arrogance of power made the ruling party challenge the upholders and managers of public opinion to jump into the morass of national politics, fight their way to the legislature and bring in reforms to eradicate corruption from public life. The challenge was taken and the battle has been won by the masses of people. While ruminating in retrospect, today we realize what a battle this nation has won. In the words of Anna Hazare, this is our second victory in the war of freedom; freedom from corruption and graft. Emergence of AAP in Delhi has unhinged all mainstream political parties in the country because it is reflective of total shift in the political culture that held its sway over the masses of people for so many decades.
Skeptics and pessimists are speculating the failure of AAP movement and formation of Government by it in Delhi. Initially it had hesitation in forming the government because it had not the majority in the assembly. On second thought after duly evaluating the pros and cons of support from outside offered by Congress with 8 seats in the house, AAP decided to form the Government. Taking into account the background of the rise of this nascent political party and the pattern of its changed status, the Congress will be doing an act of suicide if it decides to withdraw the support to AAP in the legislative assembly. It simply cannot do so notwithstanding the hawks within, who have become immune to the expectations of the people at this critical period of our history. Therefore the question whether AAP Government lasts or not may bring false solace to political spoilers, but to people with deep nationalist concerns this is a step towards the redemption of the beleaguered society. One should not rule out the anti-corruption wave moving southwards and sideways. It has re-kindled hope that everything is not lost. The masses of Indian people have not lost confidence in themselves to change their destiny. Today the demon of corruption is in the stranglehold of these masses gasping for a breath. Those who ardently nurtured it are now in the forefront of bringing in stringent legislation that would be the last nail in the coffin of corruption. This is the hidden power of democracy.
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