Two Chartalans and a flawed achiever, choice is clear

Election season is upon us, so this blog will get a bit more active. In this post I want to expand on my thoughts on the new kid on the block - AAP.

There is lot to admire and like about it. Transparent funding model, ability to mobilise erstwhile apolitical voters, demolishing high entry barriers and idealism though misplaced as we will see. It is also occupied by shrewd political minds. The choice to fight the first election from Delhi is not accidental. Delhi unlike Mumbai is a privileged city, it is where the media is located and hence the problem of high entry barriers can easily be overcome by co-opting the media. But that is where the positives end.

AAP really had a historical opportunity to experiment a radically different governance model and Delhi was a perfect fit. It is a city state with a limited population and geography. It could have showed us whether its pet idea of Mohalla Sabhas can work on the ground. How to manage illegal slums and how can we design urban spaces to avoid congestion , crime and filth.

Governance of any country is complex, but India is doubly so. Any government in India has to manage a mind boggling array of self interests and complex socio economic structures. It is very easy for the urban middle class to sit in air conditioned rooms and dis politicians as corrupt , criminal and compromised. In our privileged worlds everything is either black or white. But a poor villager in feudal UP who is worried about his next meal, will vote for someone who can get him a ration card, protect him from caste oppression or simply provide him dignity in his/ her miserable poor life. It really does not matter if he has 2 helicopters or 3. So anybody who wants to do something good needs to understand this nuance, needs to tackle the easier bits, needs to compromise and deftly manage it. It is not to say he or she needs to be corrupt, but to argue that when you can fix 90 things you should not be fixated on some utopian ideal society.

AAP in government was a miserable failure. Is Jan Lokpal bill really more important than cleaning the Yamuna, providing poorer areas with water, improving public transportation and infrastructure?. And what does AAP really hope to achieve by winning 40 Loksabha seats ( I am being optimistic here). Even the decisions that it took in its 49 days in power which it publicises as some sort of achievements is really juvenile. What governece imagination does it take to announce that they will give free water?. Does South Delhi need free water when the the slums of Delhi do not even have access?. I would have had more respect if they had worked hard for 5 years and made sure 100% access to clean drinking water and sanitation to all Delhites. It would have required imaginitave governance  hard work and ability to take on vested interests.

So when Arvind Kejrival goes to Gujrath and shouts that there is no electricity, health and employment for people he sounds foolish like his middle class followers. At least Modi has a record that is visible and can be measured both good and bad. If you don't take any tough decisions you can't be corrupt or anything really.

There is a clear choice in this election. There is a regional leader who has ruled a state for 12 years and is asking a mandate on his record. And there are two chartalans, one who has never had a proper job in his life and another who has never sincerely held on or delivered on the jobs that were given to him. My choice would be clear.