What was the need to stage the (swearing-in) drama for a party that came to power because of genuine love and affection of the masses?
The resounding victory of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) defeating the two mainstream parties, Congress and Shrimani Akali Dal (SAD),in the recent Assembly elections in Punjab has created a history and kindled a new hope amongst the people of the state. Bhagwant Mann was sworn in as the 28th Chief Minister at an impressive ceremony attended by thousands of his followers at Bhagat Singh’s village Khatar Kalan. Addressing his supporters, the new Chief Minister promised to fight widespread unemployment and corruption in the state and usher in reforms in agriculture. improve health infrastructure,transform the educational system by introducing quality education to suit innovations in the job sector and provide job security to the youth. After the oath-taking ceremony, Bhagwat Mann was greeted by hundreds of employees gathered on the balconies of Punjab Civil Secretariat with claps and cries of joy as soon as he reached the secretariat.
The people of Punjab have extended whole-hearted support to AAP which is an offshoot of the social movement launched by Anna Hazare against corruption in 2014. Fed up with the misrule of Congress and Akali Dal, the masses of Punjab “voted for change”. Carried away by the Delhi Model of governance, hoping for better days, the people felt that they were investing in their own future by voting for APP. Now, the pertinent question is: “Will the AAP party be able to come up to the expectation of the people of Punjab?”.
It will take a while to get an answer to this question. But the murmur of discontent has already started about the manner in which the swearing-in-ceremony was held. The 17-minute ceremony which included the signing of papers and 10-minute speech of Chief Minister Bhagat Mann cost the state exchequer more than Rs 3 crore which far exceeds the Rs 2 crore earmarked for the ceremony. Standing crops on acres of land was destroyed for the event. The fleet of Punjab Roadways buses were used to transport people to Amritsar for the victory march causing inconvenience to the general public as public transport services were hampered. Spending crores from the state exchequer for the victory rally, swearing -in-ceremony and print and TV advertisements is criminal misuse of taxpayer’s money for personal and political purposes. What was the need to stage all this drama for a party which has come to power because of genuine love and affection of the masses and with a thumping majority?
The vigilant public and the opposition parties are already up in arms asking questions:”Is this the sign of change?” “In what way the AAP party is different from other political parties?”The leadership of AAP should realise that the issues of accountability in public life,good governance and appointment of Lok Pal to end corruption were the hallmark of the Anna Hazare movement out of which AAP was born. So, it has to prove itself as a party with a difference. The new government in Punjab should take positive steps to win the hearts of the taxpayers who are alreadyhard-pressed due to years of mis-governance by changing the style of working in sharp contrast to the previous governments functioning in the State. The focus of the government should be in setting an example by providing good, transparent governance, focussing on job creation by establishing industries, setting up agro-food processing units which will engage rural youth, eliminating the drug and mining mafia, controlling pollution of rivers, resolving the problem of the water table going down, and dwindling forest cover. The new incumbent should not forget that he has to take care of the debt-ridden farmers and depleted treasury.
AAP has attracted the common man because its composition is different from other cadre-based parties. The party has a people-centric character. It provides equal opportunities to one and all to organize and evolve in a spontaneous manner. The biggest regret of AAP which has been in power in Delhi has been that they have not been provided full autonomy to rule the state. In Punjab, they are getting this opportunity. The people of Punjab have brought them to power with high hopes by providing an absolute majority and the electorate of other states are also looking up to them as an alternative to the mainstream parties. Now, is their chance to prove their worth.
(The writer is a senior journalist and Chairman, Panwar Group of Institutions, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The views expressed are personal.)