“Did Delhi CM resign for Lokpal or Lok Sabha?” The question was asked by Kiran Bedi on a popular social networking site. The comment might be short enough to pass it off as a jibe, but it’s deep enough to think over it. Going by the fact on the surface level, the decision of hanging CM’s boots was a direct reaction of the failure to table the Jan Lokpal Bill in Delhi Assembly. Congress and BJP are accused of hatching a conspiracy theory and putting up collective resistance over the issue.
However, those who don’t repose much faith in AAP’s way of functioning have levelled a serious allegation against Team Kejriwal. Their verdict is out – The Party was never serious about governing. It was always looking for an excuse to ‘run away’ and cover up its inability to deliver on pre-poll commitments. As an apolitical individual and a somewhat keen observer, AAP government’s 49-day tenure reminded me mainly of Shakespeare’s words: “Life … is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” This element of nothingness was so overwhelming that it superseded every reform that the party tried to bring in Indian polity.
The party’s journey to political stardom may have ended in a jiffy, but Kejriwal’s resignation doesn’t seem to be the end of the road for AAP. Those who are busy writing the obituary of the party may have to pause and reflect on certain developments.
The party feels cornered after the stepping down of their leader from the helm of power. As per the speculations doing rounds, the party is contemplating on a sequel by launching an anti-corruption campaign across the country. AAP has reportedly planned to organize campaigns and roadshows to sensitize people about corruption. The plot of the upcoming episode is hackneyed, I must say. That’s something overdone, yet the party is at it. The only factor that would make a debut is the agenda of exposing “alliance of the Congress and BJP.” To begin with, the party has chosen Haryana as the venue for launching ‘anti-corruption struggle’ on February 23.
But AAP seems to know it very well that harping on the same tune would not fetch applause from the millions of audience who have shelled out money to fund their show. So what inventiveness can they bring into their mechanism to convince the stakeholders that there are no digressions in their long-term agenda and they are not taking any detours. How about trying hands at contesting elections?
This is precisely what the party is mulling over. In fact, one of the senior leaders has spilled out the truth that AAP members will contest Lok Sabha elections under Kejriwal’s leadership. Since that is no far from reality, one must appreciate Kiran Bedi’s reading into the political turnarounds.
How can AAP regain the lost ground by contesting the general elections? There are two ways to answer it. Firstly, it can be leveraged as an anti-corruption platform that would renew hopes among aam admi. Secondly, it is likely to help AAP restore people’s faith in the party, which is a humongous task that the party leadership can’t put in the backburner.
What’s working for AAP is the moral support it continues to receive from those who have believed in party’s intentions. There has been a dramatic growth in the donation to the party fund, especially after Kejriwal’s resignation. After a brief hiatus, the donors have again started pouring in money and adding to AAP’s coffers. Is that not an inspiration enough for this new party to emerge as a more matured, reasonable and a responsible political entity?
