By Kartik Lokhande
Kiran
Bedi, Shazia Ilmi, Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Ajit Jha, Anand
Kumar, Medha Patkar... The sequence of names indicates something. All of
these persons have something in common. All of them have either
resigned or were removed from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). They have
another thing in common -- all of them talked of ‘disappointment’ and
‘dictatorial’ attitude of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.
Whatever may be
the reason behind the recent episode of sacking, expulsion, criticism
and allegations and counter-allegations from opponents and supporters of
Kejriwal, one thing is clear that AAP may not ride high on its
popularity as it did after Lok Sabha elections last year. For, the
recent episode and happenings in various states brings to fore that
something is very wrong with AAP. Some say it is ‘hunger for power’,
some blame it on to ‘dictatorial’ attitude of Arvind Kejriwal, some say
transparency has become a casualty in the party that owes its birth to
crusade for transparency, and some others say the party has started
drifting away from its core philosophy that won it massive public
support.
Whose contention holds true, only time will tell. But, for
now, AAP’s image has taken a beating. And, with founding members either
leaving or being sacked, the party may experience erosion in its main
support base in urban educated class.
As everyone knows, AAP was
born when some of the frontline volunteers in noted Gandhian Anna
Hazare’s anti-corruption campaign felt that the country needed a cleaner
and non-corrupt political alternative led by common people. Of course,
there were differences of opinion. Gradually, even Anna Hazare
dissociated with these volunteers. But, the idea caught the imagination
of the country. Many urban elites and educated people, retired
bureaucrats, business executives, non-resident Indians, academicians,
activists joined in the effort with whole-hearted support. Thus, AAP
came into being. Feeding on the conditions prevailing in India then, it
started growing very fast. And, its record debut in Assembly elections
in Delhi, fuelled its growth further.
However, its debut victory in
Assembly elections in Delhi also marked the beginning of an internal
power struggle. Initially, nobody had expected the party to rise so fast
and hence everyone’s goal was to work for making AAP a strong
alternative to prevailing political system. But, when it catapulted to
power with lakhs of people joining it across the country, its members
started revealing their ‘desires’. Countless many joined AAP with
‘intentions’. The result of all this was obvious. In the fit of
enthusiasm, even the fledgling party’s leadership erred and there was a
round of street-protests led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal,
resignation etc. Massive loss in Lok Sabha elections last year had only
one father -- Kejriwal. The newcomers left, crowd started receding, but
those among the founders remained.
Before the fresh elections to
Delhi Assembly, however, the party started recollecting itself. Making
several corrections, accomodating ideas from some fresh faces, and
reiniventing its poster-boy Kejriwal, it started capitalising
successfully on the negative campaign by its nearest rival Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP). While doing so, AAP top leadership and especially
Kejriwal sidelined ‘Left-leaning’ activist elements. This irked many but
nobody spoke about it loudly. There were internal fiery debates,
following which there were exits of some founding members, and there
were allegations of ‘autocratic’ behaviour of Kejriwal. When despite all
these factors, AAP registered a landslide victory in Delhi Assembly
elections, the voices against these activist-elements started growing
louder. The expulsion of Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav, and others is
fallout of this.
The stand taken by Kejriwal, as is revealed in
news-reports, confirmed what several of the founding members who quit
said. Kejriwal making an emotional speech and asking the National
Council members to choose between him or ‘them’, has left many other
members of AAP across the country think that the allegations of
‘autocratic’ behaviour of AAP chief might be true. Further, the manner
in which Admiral (retd) L Ramdass was asked not to attend the National
Council meeting to avoid ‘confrontation’, despite him being the party’s
internal ombudsman (Lokpal), also created doubts in many a mind whether
the party wanted to implement in all earnestness the professed principle
of having a strong ‘Lokpal’. Instead of denting the image of those
sacked, the frequent episodes are harming the image of AAP.
In fact,
in several states including Maharashtra, the party has already lost its
face. It is struggling to make its presence felt even in urban areas.
One reason is increasing inaccessibility of Kejriwal to members. Of
course, there are several other reasons too -- allegedly bureaucratic
mechanism preventing the members to get themselves heard at national
level within the party, eroding faith in internal democracy and
transparency, and a sense that since getting to power in Delhi the party
has become one of those following the ‘mainstream’ line of politics,
etc.
AAP needs to tread cautiously and avoid personality-centric
political framework. Else, it will not only waste the opportunity it has
got in the national capital of the country -- Delhi; but also will lose
whatever the hopes of countless many Indians within the country and
abroad it has gained so far. And, if AAP becomes an apostate, India also
will see death of another could-have-been alternative to a new-age
politics aiming to cleanse the system.
(Filed on March 29, 2015)
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