SUNDAY SENTIMENT
AAP trying to wriggle out of its
electoral promises by not forming govt
TRYING TO PUT CART BEFORE THE HORSE
The cat is out. As the new day rises it is now becoming
increasingly clear that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal is trying
to get out of his responsibility to form a government in Delhi.
BJP has won 32 seats including one by its ally
Akali Dal. It is short of at least 4 MLAs to form a government and no other
political group — the Congress and AAP) is forthcoming to support it. Therefore,
even though BJP emerged as the single largest party after Delhi assembly
elections, yet it lacks the requisite numbers for a stable government.
PUTTING CART BEFORE THE HORSE
It was, therefore, but natural that the Delhi Lt.
Governor should call the next single party which has the numbers to cobble up a
government. He called the AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for consultation on
government formation. In the meantime, Congress wrote to the Lt. Governor that
it would extend 'unconditional' support to AAP to form a stable government.
With Congress support of 8 MLAs and two others, the AAP support in the assembly
swells to 38 to give a stable government. But Mr. Kejriwal sought a 10-day time
to decide on government formation.
But Mr. Kejriwal tried to put the cart before the
horse by writing both to Congress and BJP seeking their support on 18 points,
many of which were common and within the competence of the State government.
Even BJP had said that it will extend constructive support to facilitate AAP
government fulfill its election promises to the people.
So far the history had been that a party with
largest numbers sought the support of other smaller parties/groups by forming a
post-election alliance or seeking support from outside. It was not the largest
party which forced conditions for seeking their support but the smaller groups approached
which haggled for more and more pound of flesh.
This happened during the NDA rule from 1998-2004 and the UPA-I and UPA-II after
2004. In 1996 the then President invited the single largest party, BJP led by Mr.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee to form a government. He did form one
but failed to hoggle support from other political parties and groups with the
result that he had to resign just after 13 days of the formation of government.
It was the price for support from other parties that BJP from 1998-2004 period had
to put its important planks of Ram Mandir, repeal of Article 370 and Common
Civil Code for all in the cold storage. In the instant case, AAP is seeking
support of other parties on its own terms.
Even otherwise, there are many issues in the
election manifesto of AAP — 700 litres of water free to every consumer,
reduction in the electricity rates, regularization of illegal colonies,
creation of Lokpal or Lokayukta, Statehood for Delhi, protection of women — which
no political party, be it Congress or BJP, can afford to put hurdles in AAP
government implementing these promises. If any party does, it will cost very
dearly to it in the eyes of the people.
AAP is making a funny demand. Both BJP and
Congress should give, in writing, their support on all the 18 points raised by
it. First, both Congress and BJP are going vocal on the electronic channels and
in the media about their stand on these issues. They could be confronted any
time if they changed stand by seeking the footage of their statements made to
the media and electronic channels. Supposing if they give in writing too, are
political agreements and statements enforceable through the courts?
The matter does not end with Congress and BJP
elaborating their stand on these 18 points in writing. AAP says that after they
receive commitment from these parties, they would go to the people to seek
their opinion whether they should — or should not — form a government in the
given circumstances. The people in whatever number have given their mandate to
AAP, even if it falls short of the clear majority, to form a government.
Moreover, what is the methodology AAP will exercise to gauge the real mood of
the party on government formation? These are all diversionary tactics.
Slowly and steadily, AAP is emerging as a party
that is trying to wriggle out of its commitment made to the people by adopting
dilly-dallying tactics not to form a government. ***
