With such majority, comes great responsibility. I’m very scared.” These were the first words of the Chief Minister designate of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal when the trends assured a clean sweep of Aam Aadmi Party with 67 seats.
While the party has emerged with unassailable majority leaving competitor BJP with only a handful of seats, there is much to prove for the party and Kejriwal after their last 49-day stint in the Delhi Government. Several challenges lie ahead for the party as they now have to fulfill their list of promises made before elections.
One of the biggest challenges that lie ahead of Kejriwal is to overcome his image as a “dharnebaaz”. Though before elections Kejriwal did say that he will cooperate with the Centre and also stay away from “dharnas”, it is an image which he needs to work hard to shed. Another huge challenge he has is to fulfil the promises made by him to the people of Delhi, especially that of getting full statehood.
Getting full statehood for Delhi would mean getting sanction from the Centre which is likely to end in a serious deadlock between the two. However, not running away from those responsibilities, Kejriwal accepted that he had to fulfil his duty and even asked people to help him.
“While I am completely humbled by this overwhelming majority, I’m scared. It’s very scary. Bigger majority means more responsibility. But I am sure that I will be able to take on the responsibility well with support of the people,” he said, while addressing a crowd of supporters outside their party office in Patel Nagar.
Meanwhile, as trends poured in on Tuesday morning, AAP supporters who had gathered at their office celebrated with full zeal and enthusiasm. From flower shooters on rooftops, to loud music and chants of Paanch Saal Kejriwal echoed through the lanes of Patel Nagar. Even outside counting centres, colourful celebration by AAP volunteers took centrestage.