: The Well-meaning Blunder : I have always believed that Arvind Kejriwal is a brilliant leader. Anna Hazare was the ideological backbone of the movement but it was the tactical brilliance of Kejriwal that took it forward. He is an able strategist, has his way with expressions and does his homework very well. The success of the first phase of the Anna movement was a result of the combination of Anna’s purity of purpose and Kejriwal’s coordination and managerial skills.
The movement shook people out of their stupor and gave expression to the people’s frustration with the rampant corruption that has spread in every corner of the government. There was a time when this would be the duty of the Opposition. Ram Manohar Lohia and Jayprakash Narayan played this role in their times. But times have changed since then. All political parties today have but one goal – to be the next Congress party, to have the same power, reap the same benefits. Therefore, an alternative, outside the system, that would keep it in check, was needed. The Anna movement was that alternative. However, by entering the world of electoral politics, Kejriwal is opening up a Pandora’s box. I feel this is a blunder.
I am not saying that no one from this new party is going to win a seat. Politics is an unpredictable game and giant killing acts have been performed often enough. What I am saying is, this will dilute the appeal of the movement. It is one thing to say do not vote for the corrupt. It is quite another to say, vote for me. Electoral politics is an absolute quagmire. The moment he asks for votes for his own organisation, the movement loses its selfless nature, and thus, part of its support. A movement that has no ambitions to power, is always more credible than one which asks for power, even if it is only to bring about common good.
Election politics has its own compulsions and requirement. In order to rally support, one needs funds for propaganda. Once support is garnered, one needs an efficient organisation to focus that support. Then, one needs candidates to contest the elections and a machinery in place to properly screen those candidates. All these require massive capital. And this money is not going to come from charity. A person who invests, will always wish to get some benefit from it at some point or the other. Thus, vested interests come into the equation.
Secondly, India is not a small, neither is its Parliament. In order to gain power all over it, Kejriwal needs a huge party. While I am absolutely sanguine of his honesty, will he be able to ensure that of every member in his organisation? Also, will he be able to create a party big enough to leave behind all the existing ones and come into power on its own steam?
Furthermore, power corrupts. Even Lalu Prasad Yadav started his career with the highest ideals of socialistic politics, inspired by Dr Lohia. Today, it is enough to say that he has strayed far from that ideal.
To hope that he will be able to put together such a band of incorruptible people, cull out all the bad sheep and create a party big enough that comes to power independently, it a dream not rooted in reality. What he may realistically hope for is a coalition government with the existing players. This again, will force him to compromise.
Furthermore, it is not always the people’s choice who comes to power. If that were true, how could well known criminals get themselves elected like they have been doing? The truth is, there are several loopholes in the very system of electing the representatives. To bypass these, Kejriwal will have to make a further set of compromises and adjustments.
Instead of all these compromises, he could have continued with what he was doing – creating awareness. Of fearlessly exposing scams like the one in Robert Vadra-DLF deal. Or fighting for landless farmers or honest officers like Ashok Khemka. The Parliament is, after all, not the only forum. Also, with time and repeated agitation, I am very sure there will be a time when this will begin to affect electoral politics. On the one hand, the people will be forced to bring the proper people to power and on the other, the political parties too will realise that they have better hopes if they field a candidate who is honest.
It is this precise reason why Gandhiji never took part in electoral politics. In fact, he wanted to disband the Indian National Congress once we gained freedom. He was no fool. Anna too has steered clear from endorsing the party for the same reason and I feel it is an astute move. The idea of changing the system from within is nice, but not easy. I am not saying Kejriwal is definitely going to fail – and I would be most happy if he succeeds — but I am saying the odds are stacked up against him.
Let’s also not forget that all good persons are not able to work together as has been demonstrated by the parting of the ways between Justice Hegde, Anna Hazare and Kejriwal.
वरिष्ठ पत्रकार और मशहूर जनसत्ता अखबार के संपादक ओम थानवी का यह लिखा द संडे इंडियन मैग्जीन में प्रकाशित हुआ है. वहीं से साभार लेकर यहां प्रकाशित किया गया है.
