Delhi is witnessing an unprecedented scene - well settled, big daddies of Indian politics humbled at the hustings by a less than an year old party that even snatched the catch word of the oldest party in India without as much 'Thank You' with disdain !
With everyone - BJP, Congress & of course, AAP, straining to show off as new paragons of political morality, where do they stand ?
BJP, the largest party in the Assembly shied away from staking claim to form the government finding refuge in newly found moral scruples. Their probable calculation that AAP can not take Congress's support thus leading to President's rule followed by fresh elections along with general elections, obviously discounted AAP's abilities at political management & public perception management. Didn't the position of the first eligible group to power in an unclear mandate bestow on them a responsibility to try to form a government ? Surely, BJP could have made an open offer to all other parties to declare their support or otherwise purely on the basis of their manifesto ? They would have had their own government in Delhi for the coming big battle if things went well. If they were pulled down, they could, surely as they would, have gone to town shouting betrayal ? They are past masters at that - they got their mandate both at centre & in Karnataka only after a prolonged cry of betrayal. If neither AAP nor Congress took the bait, they could have claimed to have carried out their responsibility and charging these two in the same breath with irresponsibility. In that sense, BJP's desperation to claim righteousness also betrays lack of accountability to Delhi's voters - they did not even try to form a government even while being the largest group in the Assembly.
AAP, the 2nd largest, a totally unexpected gatecrasher into power-play, has amply displayed its smartness, strategic depth & even cunning. The election results were clear enough - 3 parties/ groups - one closest to absolute majority, the ruling party loser by a big margin and a new comer with an unexpected good showing, but no way close to majority. Inventing the new concept of taking approval of their voters through public meetings called referendums, they claimed that their voters wanted them to form the government. That it helped the 24/7 channels fill all their slots day upon day created the right ambiance for their claim to be Aam Admi's party just so well. Hello, whatever happened to the election that was conducted at such great cost to the exchequer just a few days ago ? Who validated these supports that they claim they got in their pubic meetings ? Does any one expect any significant nays to Narendra Modi''s claims and charges in any of his public meetings ? Surely, all the votes/ seats AAP won in the elections were on the basis of their trenchant criticism & rubbishing of ruling Congress ? That Kejriwal & company are one hell of a group of smart operators is clear from this fact - they take Congress's support and continue to rubbish Congress wo/men. It is common knowledge that many of the pre-poll promises are impossible to be realised - certainly not in the short term. Most sympathetically, they could possibly move in that direction with sustained & deep changes in the style & form of governance, much of it in the hands of the buraucracy. That is much easier said than done. They would probably create a Lokayukta with a quick legislation & claim redemption. That, at best, can just be a beginning. Karnataka has been having a Lokayukta for a long time, most incumbents being pro-active. That hasn't prevented the state from being amongst the most corrupt in the country. Smart as they are, Kejriwal & friends must be wishing some quick spats with Congress in the next 3 months so that they can get themselves voted out in the Assembly & go for re-election as martyrs when the big battle for Lok Sabha comes up. No wonder we already hear of all approvals & sanctions for public works during the previous regime being scrutinised afresh for corruption & nepotism. That they'll find many worms crawling out of big bowl is no news at all.
With the tin plate in hand, Congress is left with pretty little to lose. Though battered, they still get to hold the veto on the new government. Congress has bravely tried to improve its image by promptly offering support to AAP. While powerful, it comes with responsibility. If they keep quiet for too long, they run the risk of being marginalised in Delhi. If they pull the rug, surely as they'll have to if AAP starts outing the muck on their 10 year old rule, they'll be pushed on the defensive. Not a very comfortable position to be in, but then, they have no other choice, do they ?
That brings me to a curious observation, Congress in Delhi must find itself in a position very similar to what its Chief has been enjoying in the last two terms of UPA rule, power without accountability.
With everyone - BJP, Congress & of course, AAP, straining to show off as new paragons of political morality, where do they stand ?
BJP, the largest party in the Assembly shied away from staking claim to form the government finding refuge in newly found moral scruples. Their probable calculation that AAP can not take Congress's support thus leading to President's rule followed by fresh elections along with general elections, obviously discounted AAP's abilities at political management & public perception management. Didn't the position of the first eligible group to power in an unclear mandate bestow on them a responsibility to try to form a government ? Surely, BJP could have made an open offer to all other parties to declare their support or otherwise purely on the basis of their manifesto ? They would have had their own government in Delhi for the coming big battle if things went well. If they were pulled down, they could, surely as they would, have gone to town shouting betrayal ? They are past masters at that - they got their mandate both at centre & in Karnataka only after a prolonged cry of betrayal. If neither AAP nor Congress took the bait, they could have claimed to have carried out their responsibility and charging these two in the same breath with irresponsibility. In that sense, BJP's desperation to claim righteousness also betrays lack of accountability to Delhi's voters - they did not even try to form a government even while being the largest group in the Assembly.
AAP, the 2nd largest, a totally unexpected gatecrasher into power-play, has amply displayed its smartness, strategic depth & even cunning. The election results were clear enough - 3 parties/ groups - one closest to absolute majority, the ruling party loser by a big margin and a new comer with an unexpected good showing, but no way close to majority. Inventing the new concept of taking approval of their voters through public meetings called referendums, they claimed that their voters wanted them to form the government. That it helped the 24/7 channels fill all their slots day upon day created the right ambiance for their claim to be Aam Admi's party just so well. Hello, whatever happened to the election that was conducted at such great cost to the exchequer just a few days ago ? Who validated these supports that they claim they got in their pubic meetings ? Does any one expect any significant nays to Narendra Modi''s claims and charges in any of his public meetings ? Surely, all the votes/ seats AAP won in the elections were on the basis of their trenchant criticism & rubbishing of ruling Congress ? That Kejriwal & company are one hell of a group of smart operators is clear from this fact - they take Congress's support and continue to rubbish Congress wo/men. It is common knowledge that many of the pre-poll promises are impossible to be realised - certainly not in the short term. Most sympathetically, they could possibly move in that direction with sustained & deep changes in the style & form of governance, much of it in the hands of the buraucracy. That is much easier said than done. They would probably create a Lokayukta with a quick legislation & claim redemption. That, at best, can just be a beginning. Karnataka has been having a Lokayukta for a long time, most incumbents being pro-active. That hasn't prevented the state from being amongst the most corrupt in the country. Smart as they are, Kejriwal & friends must be wishing some quick spats with Congress in the next 3 months so that they can get themselves voted out in the Assembly & go for re-election as martyrs when the big battle for Lok Sabha comes up. No wonder we already hear of all approvals & sanctions for public works during the previous regime being scrutinised afresh for corruption & nepotism. That they'll find many worms crawling out of big bowl is no news at all.
With the tin plate in hand, Congress is left with pretty little to lose. Though battered, they still get to hold the veto on the new government. Congress has bravely tried to improve its image by promptly offering support to AAP. While powerful, it comes with responsibility. If they keep quiet for too long, they run the risk of being marginalised in Delhi. If they pull the rug, surely as they'll have to if AAP starts outing the muck on their 10 year old rule, they'll be pushed on the defensive. Not a very comfortable position to be in, but then, they have no other choice, do they ?
That brings me to a curious observation, Congress in Delhi must find itself in a position very similar to what its Chief has been enjoying in the last two terms of UPA rule, power without accountability.
