I had in my earlier post acknowledged the impact made by AAP. That was well deserved without doubt, for I was one of those who firmly believed that they would not get even one single seat. Commentators have opined them to be a force to reckon with and perhaps a turning point in Indian politics. It is also believed that they could be a force to reckon with in 2014.
It may not be that easy and straight forward and however staunch a critic I may be of the Indian politicians and the political system, I have not understood AAP and their brand position. And I get confused each time I hear their people speak.
A political party needs to take a distinct position as to what they stand for. AAP has not revealed it’s position, besides portraying itself as a clean-up agent of the existing system. They are an army marching the streets to eradicate corruption. That in itself is perhaps a noble intent; however that is just one dimension of the multifaceted problems that the country faces. Kejriwal speaks about a leader less movement where leaders are expected to emerge. His comments, exaggeratedly sagacious speak of himself and his party members as the “tuchh” without any “aukat”. He probably has the best of intentions; but I do not comprehend the message; is this the second coming of Socialism? Communism? A peoples revolution?
It is an extremely simplistic argument about equating corruption with politicians. The roots of corruption are deep rooted that extend to the administration, the police and the various agencies that make up the government sector. And then there is the corrupt private sector that is accountable to nobody. Is AAP going to take them all on, and focus on this one single dimension, without revealing what their broader manifesto is? What is their stand on private enterprise or FDI in the various sectors of industry? Do they foresee India being a natural ally of the US? Do they stand for privatisation of the utilities sector or food grain distribution? Would they encourage FZEs in the country? What would they do to stimulate economic growth? Is there life beyond Lok Pal for AAP?
In my opinion New Delhi was a very natural home turf for AAP. Anti-incumbency was a huge factor. Delhites had a ring side view to the follies of the central government. The AAP team, by and large Delhi boys, could connect well with the common Delhi folks and appeal to their senses by focusing on problems largely local. (It is ironical that while the common folks in Delhi who voted for AAP said they would vote for the BJP in the general election). They claim to have had youth appeal it is my inference that the political consciousness of youth is in varying degrees in the country. So, while in Delhi, on a scale of 10, it could be 9, the Bombay that I know may not score beyond 6. At the height of the Anna Hazare agitation, Bombay virtually ignored the rally called at BKC grounds. Yes we did see the youth take to the streets taking sides on the Telengana issue.
So, it is not about “one size fits all” and AAP probably has different game plans for different constituencies. These actions are tactical and would bring limited returns in a large country like India. Any marketer would agree that going national in a country like India means huge investment in the brand. Large MNCs have often chosen to launch their products within a limited geography in India and have struggled to gain a foothold. Extending that logic to political parties, it is perhaps only the Congress that has any semblance of a national foot print. BJP for all it’s position as a national party, has never been able to dent the south. Even a party like BSP that could potentially transgress borders concedes space in Maharashtra to RPI, which is in alliance with the Shiv Sena! How AAP would score in the BJD stronghold of Orissa or the AIADMK/DMK bastions of Tamil Nadu remains to be seen. It is positively not about 2014 and perhaps even not 2019.
India (and the state of Delhi) needs governance; what India does not need are regional parties and a fractured mandate hampering governance. The last years of UPA just showed how a fractured mandate and a coalition of convenience are detrimental to the country. AAP may become a spoiler by splitting votes; the current result is going to thrust another election on Delhi. It would be wise for them to offer an issue base support to the party with the largest number of seats; our democracy is not about vote share; it is about seats and it is time that AAP and losers in an election understand that. The country neither needs a fractured mandate nor a re-election in the face of a hung assembly. It needs one solid block that can implement policies that catalyze economic growth. We need a government that can govern in a globalized world and be able to partake the benefits and opportunities of globalization.
AAP at this moment looks more like a NGO or group of activists but certainly not a political party that could form a government and govern.
The-White-Belt 