The Delhi assembly election result is certainly a big blow for Arvind Kejriwal and it’s tempting to pen an obituary for his political career. But in politics, it’s foolish to treat any setback as conclusive and write off leaders, particularly the self-made ones. For someone who built a party with no family legacy or bigger organisation to bank on, and took on the biggest parties in the country with aplomb, a lot would depend on how he navigates through the current equations in national politics.
Kejriwal merits all the analyses on him because he is a unique figure in Indian politics. While most contemporary leaders in India are heirs of established brands – Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejasvi Yadav and others, for instance – or products of organisations with deep roots in the country – Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an example – he is someone who took off on his own, establishing a party that not only successfully challenged the Congress and the BJP but also emerged as a national entity in quick time. It’s similar to a start-up taking on legacy brands.
It is never easy to swim among sharks, several start-up founders would admit. Most of them go bust after the initial energy ebbs out. Kejriwal’s AAP could be termed a success. It made Congress insignificant in Delhi, trounced the BJP twice in the capital-state in assembly elections, won the MCD elections and, beyond Delhi, gained power in Punjab. It contested in BJP’s fortress Gujarat and secured a respectable 13 percent of votes. All this in a span of 10 years and without the resources at the command of older parties.
It was goodwill that sustained Kejriwal – goodwill born out of his everyman image, stand on corruption and the ability to speak out for the common man, particularly the poor and middle classes. He spoke of empowering people through education and making health services accessible. Not many politicians or parties see both subjects as vote catchers. Free water and electricity was in sync with his initial pro-poor image. The defeat in Delhi is a pointer to the depletion of goodwill, partly due to doubts over his incorruptibility and honesty, and partly due to other parties appropriating his ‘freebie’ initiatives. Of course, it didn’t help that he was seen in a perennially combative mode with the centre, which came as a hindrance to Delhi’s development.
After the defeat in Delhi, Kejriwal and his party enter a challenging new phase. Survival would be at stake from now on. Both the BJP and the Congress would like the AAP finished; expansion plans beyond Delhi have to be on the back-burner; and the government in Punjab would be under threat. As all successful start-ups Kejriwal’s would require fresh energy and ideas to navigate through tough times. Will he manage? The question hangs heavy in the air.
For now, let the obituary wait. Let’s wait for Kejriwal’s next move.
(By arrangement with Perspective Bytes)
