Aam admi Party or famous as 'AAP'.The abridged version was a hit! It's translation as 'common man' or 'you' resonated grandly amongst not only the 175million middle-class, but people from virtualy all walks of life.It sent people in a frenzy; promising a new dawn of clean and representative politics.The constant tussle and 'dirt slinging' between the national parties had left little hopes whatsoever among the 'unaffiliated' voters.To top it all was the exaggerated hammering of the media.Amidst all the chaos of accusations and counter-accusations,it rose like a phoenix from ashes -nothing.Constant cases of corruption, security lapses, nepotism, appeasement policies with very little progress and conviction rates had turned the general mood into anti-incumbency.Added to that a bad economy and lack of modesty had ruled the INC out of equation.The media bias against BJP as communal led it to be striked out even without retrospect.The other countless regional parties have vested interests with worser political trackrecords. Coupled to it was the fact that most of these were identity based parties, yet self-proclaimed champions of secularism, controlled as family businesses.The final blow came in the form of Anna Hazare's satyagraha.The string of protests against women's rape delt a trump card moment to AAP. Kejriwal & Co. saw the best possible opportunity that destiny could shove up, and it did'nt waste a breath in encashing it.It was a double strike both to the congress and BJP.The INC had in the initial phases largely ignored the waiving it off as 'headache' or 'A mango party of a banana republic'.The BJP that had always categorically supported the movement and all actions to curb corruption were baffled.In it's scheme of scoring nibble points over INC, it had spearheaded the agitation, making sure the flames of displeasure reached the parliament.BJP had explicitely maintained that they would be more than willing to consider civil society representation in enabling a strong lokpal bill. When UPA rejected the whole idea, Kejriwal jumped into the fray stating that they had been compelled so, since externally they were seen as as 'powerless'.The advent of social media enabled millions to register as volunteers of party in it's drive up.Perceived as a party run by common man - Muffler Kejru ,hence genuinley attached to the society with no scope 'regular' politics,it received an overhauling support and fanfare.With media and NGO's backing, it had hit bulls eye.Educated elite went nuts and ecstatic, many quitting high profile corporate jobs, in the hopes of creating the change dreamed of.(It should be noted that the middle class votes of Delhi had favoured BJP over AAP, and the latter thumped the former in the upper and lower class votes.)The constant media attention and AAP's acts of modesty did'nt go unnoticed to the public.As usual of it, mainstream media began speculating about this 'new kid' in the block, giving more an more airtime, adding to ire, frustration of years long wait of BJP as opposition.It was dismissed as 'spoilsport' by many parties.Everyone considered AAP to be the winner, although it was second in number of seats.
Barely few months since it's incarnation, it came second on close heels behind BJP, in the three legged race.BJP had tried to defuse the hype through it's notorious social media propaganda, that just boomeranged.It's labeling of AAP as 'the B-team of Congress' went unbought.Opinion polls had certainly taken the 'wave' under consideration, but it turned out to be a 'tsunami'.With no conventional voters, grass-root workers and amiss of rigid organisational structure, psephologists and election pundits were stumped by the results.It had eaten into the vote-banks of both the naational parties.Perhaps the best explanation was provided by AAP convenor Yogendra yadav, a former psephologist - "Throughout history new political parties have always been underestimated".Even without winking an eyelid, mobs rallied behind the new party's leaders, buying the mammoth illusion created.BJP after winning Delhi's first state assembly polls in 1994 under Sushma Swaraj could'nt take it into the next time, even after showing exemplory governance in the capital.Metro and polio drive was gaining momentum.High onion prices was a sole ammunation with Dikshit, who had roamed all over Delhi wearing garlands of onions.This one flaw was potrayed well enough to get Mrs. Dikshit the coveted prize - Chief Minister's chair.After a gap of 15 years, BJP's failure to taste revenge had, only luck to blame, as usual.It lost many a seats within 5% margin.An article in The Indian Republic even compared Arvind Kejriwal to modern-day Brutus.
The rise of the Aam Admi Party in Delhi was definitely a meteoric one. There have been similar instances before.The parallel that comes to mind is the Telegu Desam Party led by N.T. Rama Rao in Andhra Pradesh in 1983.A first-timer, NTR romped home with a sweeping majority in the 1983 Vidhan Sabha polls and formed the first non-Congress government in Andhra Pradesh. It came to power within barely nine months of its formation. It was also the first regional party in independent India to have formed the opposition in the 8th Lok Sabha (1984).Leaving behind the BJP which won a meagre two seats in Parliament, the TDP won an impressive 33 seats in the Lok Sabha, amidst the backdrop of 'Wave of sympathy' towards congress, that swallowed stalwarts such as Atalji.
The name of Beppe Grillo, leader of Movimento 5 Stelle in Italy also comes to mind.Grillo formed his party in October 2009, and by mastering significant votes became a force in five regions where it ran a candidate for president in the 2010 regional elections.By Grillo's own admission, it is a populist, anti-corruption party like the Aam Admi Party, and believes in direct and participatory democracy.In the 2013 election to the Chamber of Deputies, M5S obtained about 26 per cent of the votes and became the second largest party. The rise of Movimento 5 Stelle was partly a reaction to the reported corruption and mis-governance in Italy, particularly under the rule of Silvio Berlusconi, including his alleged bunga bunga parties.
On being asked about his stand on foreign policy, Kejriwal was heared answering "Hum toh chote log hain, hamein toh in sab mein diljasbe nahin'.On another occasion(India Today's conclave) he tried to be more assertive replying "Our stand shall be that all countries should be treated as equals in the spirit of humankind, be it an enemy or a friend."This reply shed a cloud of doubt over the rigorous UPSC examination in my mind.It was soothed only after I could muster recalling other highly intelligent persons cracking this exam such as Natwar Singh, Jaswant Singh etc.
Abiding to people's mandate both INC and BJP reached out to AAP as outside support to form the government in the midst of hung assembly.Eventhough short by a meagre 3 seats for majority,keeping the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in mind, BJP refrained from 'horse trading'.At this point, the lights were on, stage was set, ball in the newbie's court.Wanting to be viewed as facile, AAP decided to ask the 'junta' it's opinion.Decidedly they claimed that the respone was a thumping 'yes'.Of course, many journalists began questioning the authenticity of the poll and lack of 'external vigilance'. The principle they themself were advocating for.In a master stroke, keeping the Lok Sabha elections in mind, AAP formed the government amidst great ostentation with INC's outside support, although the latter had a bad history in that aspect having withdrawn support at 'ripe moments'. Moreover, support from BJP would have given a stable -government. Kejriwal justified it on moral grounds.Although many other of their previous accomplacies such as Kiran Bedi had already guven warnings of this new party. This action rings similar bells in the justification of imperialiam by a dominant belief among British colonial officials that "land occupied by native people was not being used efficiently and productively" and the classical ""Take up the White Man's burden,of bringing European civilization to other peoples of the world In patience to abide, To veil the threat of terror, And check the show of pride." During subsequent interviews, Kejriwal was often heared saying "The only fear we apprehend is that of failure to live upto everyone's expectation." and "Running Govt. is no big deal". Woefully he disproved both these statements.
Finally after all the speculation and hype, the day of delivery arrived.Instead of going on a cleaning process that the party's symbol stands for, Kejriwal & co. kept delivering gimmicks and tamasha.Janata Darbar disaster was defended by AAP supporters."Atleast he makes efforts to reach out" they retorted, without knowing Modi's unique online Janata Darbar.Of course, Janata Darbars are nothing new in this country.Almost every CM has held it.But never had it witnessed such anarchy and mayhem.
During elections,Kejriwal supported the agitation by Delhi auto rickshaw drivers, who were protesting the ban on advertisements on auto rickshaws. Kejriwal claimed the government's ban was because the drivers supported his party and carried AAP's advertisements on their vehicles. He said that the AAP would put 10,000 advertisements on auto rickshaws as a protest.In retrospect, after Kejriwal had been elected and then resigned his position, a union representing the drivers expressed dissatisfaction saying "Arvind Kejriwal, who had won the elections because of the support of the auto drivers, has betrayed them by not fulfilling any of the promises made before the elections".In another controversy,a sting operation conducted by Media Sarkar, alleged that several leaders of AAP, including Kumar Vishwas and Shazia Ilmi had agreed to extend their support to some people seeking assistance with land deals and other financial arrangements in return for donations in cash to AAP.Financial support for the party from non-resident Indians have halved while it has been in government, possibly reflecting disenchantment. It has also admitted that its systems may have significantly overstated members introduced through a nationwide recruitment campaign that was affected by hoaxers.Threatening to hinder R-day parade, Kejriwal said that Rajpath on 26th January, will be thronged by lakhs of people, and not the tableau if his demands not me.He said: “We will continue to sit here and this will be the best Republic Day. People will come from different parts of the country and this Republic Day there won’t be processions but government will find people on the streets.”Kejriwal & Co. unilaterally decide what would be the best way to celebrate the Republic Day—and they thrust that decision on the nation. And why should the day be celebrated in a new way? Because the AAP bosses wanted a few police officers suspended!Nonetheless Kejriwal&Co. appeared as guests at the parade, in a turn of events.But watched the parade from spectators stand and not from VIP stand, as is customary for the CM of Delhi.Ah! that explains a lot.President Pranab Mukherjee took a jibe at them, at the republic day by saying“populist anarchy cannot be a substitute for governance.” During it's tenure in Delhi, in an overhaul to attract voters Kejriwal first paid Tata and Reliance it's dues from Delhi government coffins and then without suggesting alternative means of recovery, waived off pending bills.It even promised free water supply, without explaining the means of achievent. Even during power,it campaigned against an alleged nexus between government and private corporations.Eventhough Gas deal, 3G and coalgate controversies had been exposed by BJP members, Kejriwal sought full credit to himself, gloating everywhere.
AAP should reflect on recent events.
->Vinod Kumar Binny, the AAP MLA from Laxmi Nagar created controversy after expressing his displeasure of not obtainiing a obtaining a cabinet post.He even accused it of deviating from it's ideology, after allegedly being denied a Lok Sabha ticket.Mallika Sarabhai, a prominent leader was denied Lok Sabha ticket.Many newly joined personalities have in a short span quit the party.It's members constantly squable and bicker in media.One leader in the party even accused AAP of giving tickets to tainted individuals.AAP, the youngest party, has been bitten by the oldest political bug.
->A map on the website of the Aam Aadmi Party showed parts of Kashmir as a part of Pakistan. AAP leader Prashant Bhushan had said, “For external defence, certainly the government of India can decide where to deploy Army. However, if it is supposed to be used for internal security of the people, then should you not have the consent of the people?”
-> Arvind Kejriwal met the controversial cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, who had issued a fatwa against Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, earning accusations of 'playing communal card' ahead of the assembly elections.
->In power, the AAP decided to reward those consumers who had refused to pay power bills on its request during its agitation against alleged inflated electricity and water bills.Under the plan, consumers, who refused payments from October 2012 and May 2013 — the period of the agitation,basically it's supporters — would shell out only 50% of the pending amounts and also not be penalised, the then Kejriwal government announced.
-> The recent spate of feuds over ticket allocation and allegations of 'ticket buying' is making rounds like no other times. An alternative Party! My A** !
-> Embarrassed by Bharti's remarks against advocate Harish Salve and BJP leader Arun Jaitley, the AAP ordered him to mind his language. Bharti kicked up a storm by saying he wanted to spit on the faces of Jaitley and Salve after they criticised his Khriki Extension midnight raid.Indian foreign ministry had to apologise to African embassy after the incident.
-> In a sting operation, senior AAP leader, Somnath Bharti was accused of corruption charges.Instead of asking him to step down and order an inquiry, Kejriwal replied "We have asked him about the allegations.He has sincerly denied any role whatsoever". On further probe by India Today group exposed the serousness of charges.This clearly demonstrates the naivity of so called 'future PM'.
-> During Womens day celebration, an AAP supporter blackened AAP leader Yogendra Yadav with ink.In a show of strength, his supporters thrashed him 'blue',till police interferred.
-> In a bid to maintain the attention momentum, AAP leaders stormed BJP Lucknow office and sought a confrontation.After being beaten back, AAP tried playing victim.
-> The biggest among all, a Youtube video surfaced which features the editorial cuts in the breaks between a recent interview given by Arvind Kejriwal to Aaj Tak.In the video, Kejriwal and the interviewer both discuss issues and questions before-hand, in an aim to woo voters and attract traction. Kejriwal is heard assuring the interviewer that 'Bhagat Singh comment would do wonders among voters'.It exposed the true nature of AAP leaders - no different from power hungry politicians. Its nationalist agenda has raised serious questions after this.
-> Kejriwal&Co. accuses media of being paid 2 be against them.This is highly vacuous and hubristic ,since it is common knowledge that media speculation and airtime AAP receives is the only significant factor that it garners the present support.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/arvindkejriwalacommonmaninpolitics/aam-aadmi-party-report-card-what-kejriwal-s-govt-achieved-in-its-49-days--in-power/article1-1184165.aspx
AAP has time and again thrown rules and regulations 'in the air'.This has attracted it judicial and police actions.Showing no modesty, in these cases too, AAP has unfairly targeted the police and tried playing the 'victim'.It's leftist appeasement policies are condemnable.Soon realising the heat build upon them, AAP leaders in the pretext of passing Janlokpal Bill, that was unconstitutional in the first place gained sympathy voters. After citing combined opposition by both INC and BJP, AAP MLAs' 'threw their towels' resulting in President's rule in the capital.Although AAP projected the it as an 'act of sacrifice' , the media and opposition lost no time in accising AAP of 'running away from responsiblities' and 'opportunists'. Middle class Indians have a pendulum-like ability to swing from adulation to condemnation, with a few stops in between. Our natural instinct is to judge people, events and occurrences in terms of either black and white and therein seek a miracle after which sab kuchch theek ho jaayegaa. In the process, we often harm those we intend to glorify. Considering our appetite for TV news and our skill at being reservoirs of political wisdom, the evolution into the real McCoy is but natural. In our grateful eyes, they can do no wrong and we shall shield them. Amidst this paranoia even a humble aam cricket ball crashing into a newly appointed Minister's windshield is reported as an attack.
The AAP has to move from almost a single-point negativity of protests to multi-dimensional solution of many-fangled problems.When there is a furore, the AAP just dodges questions, saying that the party does not agree with him. But what, pray, are the party’s views? No answer. Has Bhushan been reprimanded by Delhi’s ruling party for his traitorous opinions? Not at all. He remains a party ideologue.Maybe since he along with his dad are the prominent monetary contributors to the party.Midnight raid in Khirki Extension has already led some people to raise the issue of vigilantism.Although the allegations of racism has earned traction among few 'sympethetic voters'(according to Times Now survey) ,the politics of the street, as witnessed in the dharna outside Rail Bhavan, has not pleased everyone(Funding fell drastically). Remember the street demonstrations after the Mandal Commission declaration by the V.P Singh government in 1990? People even burnt themselves on the streets.In a mature democracy, discussions on controversial topics have to move from the streets to legislative bodies and ultimately through the ballot box.There may even be a difference in attitudes to the politics of the street among different economic classes. For the AAP to blunt the class-contradictions and unite everyone behind its flag will be a major challenge.The contrast between the politics of the BSP and that of the AAP is interesting in this context.The BSP was started in 1983, it became a state party in 1991, and by 1998, it became and has remained ever since as a national party.Its politics is constitutional and parliamentary. There are no street protests and dharnas. Its democratic politics, parliamentary style has endured a journey of over three decades.
Arvind Kejriwal could have been an alternative middle-class favourite, traditional baston of BJP. but he chose to abandon this constituency.Arvind Kejriwal – at first the master of the media-moment – eventually had to confront the innately distracted character of the news industry and join the same political arena that he had played gladiator to from the outside. Now his success will be measured not by how many headlines he can capture but by how many votes his party can claim. Yet, if the middle class has been forced to learn that being apolitical will keep it irrelevant, its forceful, articulate antagonism to the entrenched status quo has also shaken up the system like never before.Rather than protect the constitution,as pledged by him,he openly disregards standard procedures, safety issues like his 'mandatory security' after threats from MIM.The party should have taken baby steps to turn into a major party.Without any experience and previous work, it expects to run this country.Their stint the state capital has already earned their former companions ire.Brand IIT, which played a pivotal role in building Kejriwal's image — he is an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur — and believed that he could bring about a change in the corruption-tainted political landscape of the country, is losing faith in him.Their image keeps on falling in survey as days progress.Kejriwal blames the media for being biased against them, forgetting that it was only due to media attention that they have achieved their limited success.India's problems cannot be solved overnight.Taking baby steps and setting examples was people's expectation.But in their hope of encashing the anti-incumbency votes against congress, AAP has gone nation-wide.Instead of focussing it's attention on developing Delhi, AAP squandered the opportunity in it's Lok Sabha aim. Kejriwal himself has sayed "We must not throw away this opportunity(anti-incumbency), we might never get it".The people of Delhi must surely have been disillusioned by media to have given this new, untested party a chance.
The latest attraction for which spectators are queuing up is the much-talked of Rs 20,000 per plate dinner date on March 15 with Aam Aadmi boss Arvind Kejrival.Anywhere the party leaders go, controversies have followed.The party has given rats ass to public institutions and traffic.
Refer to The Hindu article regarding accusations against the AAP supremo.
Suhel Seth describes Kejriwal as "The Reluctant Fundamentalist",after the award winning movie by Mira Nair. He further writes - "Winning an election is easy. Especially when all you have to do is abuse everyone else; be totally cynical and self-righteous. In urban India, if you wish to be popular, just abuse the politician. Ask me. I do it all the time on national television. But then again I am too much of a coward to jump into frenzied national politics which is why I am happier being a commentator than a doer and at least I am not hypocritical about it.The problem with Arvind Kejriwal has to be analysed in the context of P G Wodehouse. One of his characters, Lord Fauntleroy would erect a statue of himself every time he looked in the mirror because he thought he was perfect. That is the problem with Kejriwal. It was, until some time ago, also a problem with a certain Mr Tejpal. Kejriwal believes he is India’s only honest citizen and possesses the panacea to all our ills. He doesn’t realize, yet, that he is only a human mascot of the cynicism and the distraughtness that has set in thanks to a vacuous Government."
The pointless dharna that Delhi Chief Minister and AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal resorted to should not be dismissed as another instance of the party’s theatrics. For a protagonist who spoke abundantly of rising prices and spiraling costs of living, the post appointment narrative has not once mentioned this concern. Is there a tendency within the AAP to obfuscate issues and create confusion so as to achieve political ends? Is the AAP really anarchic, a bunch of rabble-rousers? Are they resorting to populist vote-bank politics by espousing subsidies and nationalisation, and whipping up anti-FDI and anti- market sentiments? Are the means irrelevant as long as the end is achieved? Kejriwal believes in neither standard political practice politics nor conventional morality. So, he has no compunctions in staging a protest while being a chief minister. Now that may be okay, albeit idiotic, if in the process no law is broken. But he violated the law when he sat on dharna as such gatherings were banned by the local authorities. Second, he asked cops to shed uniform and join the protest.This is nothing different than naxalites.The definition of ‘the aam aadmi’ is very elastic and could encompass all sorts of elements, including those who think it is all right to create chaos.It is turning into a 'party with differences'.For too long, the AAP has evaded questions about its ideology; the media too has exhibited shallowness by excessively highlighting the issues like the size of Kejriwal’s official residence and not properly scrutinizing the contours of its political and economic beliefs.The new party has been deft in ducking uncomfortable queries. “Ideology is one for the pundits and the media to pontificate about,” the party’s website says. AAP is a cruel joke on those who trusted them to offer better and competent governance.It expects us to vote them since they claim to be the only 'true party'(as of now). AAP is venturing on the tested, but failed path of 'people's revolution'.With no credentials of rescue plan, forward policy, ideas&ideologies, experience or anything for that matter, it expects power only on the innumerable utterance of 'People's party' ,'corruption' ,'communalism' and 'the other all India alternative'.But it fails in convincing its stead fast stand on the above issues or why is it the 'other alternative'.The best possible route should have been a slow, organised, well framed,result-oriented approach.Perhaps a few stint in the opposition.But being in the spotlight for too long probably blinded them the realities.It fails to convince voters, sincerly about its stand on various issues.The ship has already sailed for AAP.Just like the Anti-Corruption revolutions of VK Singh and JP, it has just managed to provide lots of fuzz with no real substance.In the avalanche of incidents, AAP has lost its relevance.Unlike the other two revolutions, this one might sustain a bit longer, due to media's scrutinity and the displeasure of peopleof the hornlocked tussle between INC & BJP.But it shall never materialise to big force, people had hoped it to be.The best outcome of it could be the evolution of another smaller force from this, that shall in future rectify it's parent faults and leave its mark, just like BJP- an offshoot from the grand Janata Party.AAP has turned to be a substitute to the word 'Urban Communism'. Even those commie maniaces - Karat and Yechurry have accepted this.
http://www.firstpost.com/politics/no-the-aap-story-isnt-a-triumph-of-indias-middle-class-1326419.html
http://track.rediff.com/click?url=___http%3a%2f%2fwww.rediff.com%2fnews%2finterview%2faaps-beginning-has-been-promising-but-its-struggle-lies-ahead%2f20140121.htm___&service=news&clientip=117.239.240.13&source=alsoread&type=related
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