Monday, October 15, 2012

Is Kejriwal’s focus misplaced!


Kejriwal’s focus misplaced! - An article by Col RD Singh
SIRSA NEWS ( www.SirsaNews.com )
15 October 2012 September, 2012
Pictures and Videos: Amar Singh Jyani, GS Mann

Of course, Kejriwal has created a sensation by attacking  Sonia Gandhi  and exposing Robert Vadra for amassing easy property through the  benevolence of  DLF.  He has touched where it hurts most. The Congress party is ill at ease to guard Vadra and his sudden meteoric rise in his business venture. He seems to have had an easy way to real estate by virtue of being the son-in-law of the first family.  So far, no one dared to point a finger at Priyanka or her husband. The opposition parties were looking for juicy news about them all these years, but none came. Even Priyanka’s villa near Shimla (made and re made) was not highlighted. But, Kejriwal has done it, and the media is lapping it up. So far, so good.  But is that what the new party of Kejriwal will survive on – attack individuals and hate  Congress politics?  It will be similar to Pakistani politicians sustaining on hate India attitude, and claim J& K.  This is a negative and weak foundation for the rise of any nation or a new political party, for that matter.
 Kejriwal and his team have pitched  the aim of their new political party ( yet to be named)  “ to change the nature of politics” rather than winning elections. I think it is a non starter. The instruments of change in political agenda do not lie in attacking big wigs for corruption.  For a new political party to succeed, even to make a difference in the thinking of people, it is the masses who matter. Will masses support Kejriwal or vote for the old party candidates in the forthcoming elections, is the moot point.  In politics, you are counted only if you get votes. If  Kejriwal fails to win an election, then all his big talk will come to a naught. Because, it is the elected members  in the Parliament who govern the country in a democracy.  In case, Kejriwal wanted to only fight corruption without winning elections, then he should have stayed with Anna. It is not easy to combine a social movement with politics. It does not work that way in a heterogeneous country like ours where caste based politics dominates. 70 percent of the voters are very poor, and do not survive on moral lectures. Honesty and competence do not mean much to them. They may gather in thousands, as crowds, at the Ramlila Maidan, and shout slogans ( as you direct them), but when it comes to voting, it is a different scene all together. They want money and favours from the candidates.  So, when elections come, the politicians feed them with both. How will Kejriwal face this challenge? He can do neither.  
Now that Kejriwal has taken a leap into active politics, he has to learn the game. You can change the national politics only if you are in power, or at least in the Parliament  and state assemblies, in good numbers. He should look at the regional parties like the SP, BSP, INLD etc and analyse the mechanics of their functioning. Then, make a realistic strategy, and take support from other parties. He cannot fight in isolation, not in politics, may be as a social crusader.  
So, If  Kejriwal wants his party to succeed, and make a difference, then winning elections is a must. He should focus his energies and   go all out to win as many seats as possible in the Delhi assembly in 2013, and  2014 general elections. Then only, he can influence the quality of  national politics, and have a say in law making, including the Lokpal  Bill. 

Colonel R D Singh ( retd)

No comments: