Sunday, December 8, 2013

Opinion: AAP has proved that no dream is too big

December 8, 2013 will be inked with a golden stylus in the history of Indian democracy. Arvind Kejriwal's victory against the Delhi Chief Minister will go down as one of the brightest chapter in India’s electoral history especially, in a post-JP era. Aam Aadmi Party's victory, despite them being in number two position in India's capital city, is a victory of masses. It is a victory against the corrupt. It’s vote against the power-hungry Congress. Above all, AAP’s performance gives you a reason to believe that no dream is too big.

Firstly, it makes a common man believe that politics is not just the privilege of elite and the ruling class. For generations, Indian democracy has revolved around the two national parties -the BJP, and the Congress. Formed during the winter of the 2012, Delhi election results is an incredible achievement on the part of the AAP, for, not many gave them a realistic chance in run-up to the election. With no prior experience, AAP has managed to reach out to the common people and not just in the posh up-market areas but also carved a base for itself in the rural areas in Delhi. Ripples of Arvind Kejriwal’s victory are bound to resonate in various parts of the country. Especially, the youth of this nation, who were by and large cynical about the 'Indian political system’, now have something to look forward to. Too all those youth out there in offices, #AAP has given them a viable option apart from the Congress and the BJP. It has installed a feeling of self-belief among entrepreneurs, working class people, start-up hopefuls that India also can change for the better. It can also create a corruption-free environment where hard-work and dedication will be rewarded.

Secondly, the election results showcases that mass uprising can’t be taken for granted and common people can’t be fooled all the time. All these while, Congress party banked on its populist announcements and freebies to hide their miss-governance. The ploy simply didn’t work for the party as an informed public showed them their place. Credit must go to the #AAP for reaching out to public and explain them the intricacies of the decision taken by the government when it came to populist schemes. Occasionally, Indian democracy has thrown some mass leaders, support mainly coming from a particular caste or religion but, never before it has been witnessed that a party without any so called ‘social-formation base’ doing so exceptionally well. Something that JP always wanted to do. AAP’s success will inspire many more to join politics and work towards bringing in the change that was considered impossible.  

Thirdly, the results will help bring a generational shift in the mindset that politics can never get rid of parochial policies. That new ideologies can be carved, and people with cleaner slate can get their long-awaited dues is one of the biggest outcomes of these elections. Pratap Bhanu Mehta, head of the Centre for Policy Research, in his well articulated thoughts published in the Indian Express much before the elections, said: “You may not be the biggest fan of all of Arvind Kejriwal's institutional proposals. But there is no question that he played a significant part in transforming the discourse on corruption. He has empowered many others to say that business as usual cannot continue.” The election result has precisely proved Mehta’s observation.

Finally, and more importantly, 2013 Election results – apart from teaching a lesson to the corrupt and non-functioning government– will help start a new discourse in Indian polity. A discourse which was once started and championed by Jai Prakash Narayan but failed by his followers.

These are extremely early days to ask if AAP can extend this electoral gains all across India or not, but it has definitely succeeded in ushering in Hope - one of the greatest harbinger of Change. 

#Change #electionresults2013 #AAP # Delhidecides

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