The first six to eight months will be crucial for AAP Government; it needs to deliver before impatience creeps in amongst the electorate, writes ARUNODAY PRAKASH
In his first public appearance after a historic victory in the Delhi Assembly polls, AAP National Convenor and Delhi’s CM Arvind Kejriwal used the term ‘scary’ for the massive victory. He knows what the landslide victory means. He knows it puts more pressure on the party to perform while in power. The man who mopped both the BJP and the Congress in the polls has to handle multi-pronged challenges.
Kejriwal’s task started soon after the victory. His first words referring to the victory, “Don’t let it go to your head”, made it clear that he understands the fallouts of such a massive victory.
Though the numbers have given the AAP a good elbow room to work, the same numbers also put forth some challenges. The AAP needs to take very careful steps both in governance and running the party.
Tasks for ‘Janata ka CM’
In his first move after the victory, Kejriwal has made it quite clear that he wants no confrontation with the Central Government as far as governance is concerned. His meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Rajnath Singh before swearing-in made it clear that he wants to have a constructive and healthy relationship with the Centre. He knows how important it is to push for statehood for Delhi to meet the people’s expectations.
The AAP in its manifesto promised a lot to the people of Delhi. Meeting all the promises in time will not be an easy task. like making 20 new colleges, 500 new Government schools, building 2,00,000 public toilets, creating eight lakh jobs in the next five years, reducing pollution, regularising contractual posts, controlling price rise and so on are promises which are going to take a lot of effort of the new Government.
One of the biggest challenges for the Kejriwal-led Government would be to get water from Haryana. The State Government of Haryana has already made it clear that it can’t be banked upon for Delhi’s water needs.
The first six to eight months are going to be the most crucial for the AAP Government. They need to deliver before impatience creeps in amongst the electorate. This is the time period within which the Government needs to send out a message that yes, we are here to work. They will be under immense scrutiny, both from the media and the political opponents; they can’t walk off the line.
Party’s vistaar
With a landslide victory in Delhi, talks of AAP going national, AAP going for the BMC elections in Mumbai, AAP to fight elections in Punjab etc have gained ground. The AAP must spread its wings, but the ground work needs to be done and rechecked for any such launch. Elections are due in Punjab in 2017, Bihar’s political situation is very fluid and it can go for an early election in the months to come. But more than elections, what the AAP needs to look at is the preparedness. It can’t afford a repeat of the 2014 General Elections.
The party has a good presence in Punjab; it has four MPs from the State. In most likelihood, the party will go for the Punjab polls only in the near future. Though Kejriwal would be the vote-catching face, AAP needs to groom a senior party leader with a clean image to be projected as the Chief Minister of the State. The Akali-BJP combine is going through a rough patch, the Congress is not in a good shape either. This is the right time for the AAP to focus on Punjab along with Delhi.
Balancing the family
The AAP is growing. It has 67 MlAs in the House. The numbers add up to responsibility. The party needs to send out strong signals to its representatives to be on their toes and work; to remain humble and stay in touch with the electorate. Though the elections are far away, the historic verdict puts them under serious scrutiny in all walks of life.
A single mistake can put the party under immense pressure. All MlAs need to get back to work, from installing CCTVs to looking at the betterment of society. The voters of Delhi have given what the AAP asked for, now they want delivery of the promises made.
The party needs to keep its image intact of being a party of the aam aadmi, a party whose leaders are approachable and clean. The fact that not a single candidate with cases of heinous crime won has sent a good message among the people.
It would be tough for the party to keep the momentum going and onus of this lies not just on the CM, but on the whole Cabinet and members of the ruling party. None of them should forget that with great power comes great responsibility.
The writer is Managing Editor of The Political Indian