When Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal came together 17 months ago, the air throbbed with magic and hope, the response was sensational, and India seemed on the brink of heady, inspirational change. But like all transient curiosities, the pair that promised to banish corruption from public life has faded from memory even as the scams and scandals it fought against have attained a size and scale unimaginable in an earlier time. This is not all. In an ironic imitation of the politics that Team Anna relentlessly lampooned, it has split vertically, with one faction led by Mr. Kejriwal deciding to enter the electoral arena while Anna himself continues to be implacably opposed to politics, seeing it as a cesspool that only the irredeemably venal would plunge into. Why did the movement not reach its objective? Team Anna’s maximalist position on the Jan Lokpal Bill, which it projected as a one-stop cure for all problems, scared away even those committed to probity in public life. Political support which was forthcoming in the early stages of the Bill’s formulation, disappeared in part because of a genuine concern that the Jan Lokpal was designed to be structurally overarching and in part because of Team Anna’s vilification of politicians and even politics.
Over the following months, as Anna’s repetitive rallies and fasts began to attract fewer and fewer crowds, the veteran and his team found themselves hard pressed to answer a hostile counter question: If politics was so dirty, why not assume responsibility and clean it from inside instead of grandstanding from a safe distance? It is to Mr. Kejriwal’s credit that he did not resist the idea for too long. Anna’s estranged lieutenant has taken courage in his hand and floated a party with idealistic goals in an environment heavily contaminated by sleaze money and big corporate interests. As he ponders the next steps, Mr. Kerjriwal will surely experience for himself the challenge of practising politics without its attendant ills. He will also find the going tough in the absence of the charismatic Anna who drew his legitimacy from being seen as a selfless, modern-day savant. And yet Anna often failed to distinguish between sincere supporters who wanted a systemic overhaul and right-wing elements who infiltrated his campaign to further their divisive agenda. Though initially taken with the likes of the hugely popular Swami Ramdev, Mr. Kejriwal realised in time that neutrality was vital for his kind of politics. If he makes even a small difference to the popular perception of politics, he will have done a lot.
Keywords: Arvind Kejriwal party, India Against Corruption, national politics, Team Anna split, India anti-corruption movement, Jan Lokpal Bill, Indian politics
Mr. Kejriwal's valiant attempt to cleanse and perhaps introduce a new
brand of politics is commendable, especially when he has nothing selfish
to gain out of this, unlike any other politician out there. Lets just
hope that people honour his call this time.
Arvind Ji your party is oxygen for our country.i know it should be difficult initially but it ll
change the system.ll change politics.after your party now every youth will think I ld become
or join politics like join engg. And medical.For changing the system first ld part of the
system.you are not alone whole country is with you.
It is assumed that Kejriwal's new ploitical party will be very much different from other political parties.It must restrict its existence till Jan Lokpal Bill gets its breath and move to evolve an evolutionary change for a corruption free society.
to bring a change in a system one can't do without being a part of the system .no one can clean the dirt in politics without getting dirty .on the way of their fighting against the curruption one must be ready to face the allegation for fighting their way up. we should be in favour of any person who is a part of the democracy untill their intentions are good.
Kudos to the Hindu editorial in sketching a correct picture of
struggle.
It is sad to see the split in Team Anna on the need and desire for
future experiments.
Which path can bring a faster change ?
Both Arvind and Anna left their work jobs early without making an
impressive point.
Within the growing productive system they had the better opportunity
say in Income tax Department or in Army. Look at Gen VK Singh at the
fag end of his carrier he demonstrated courageously by refusing to
take the bribe and not allowing the bully system to continue.
Both Arvind and Anna as champions have to work harder because their
routes and pressure group lobbies are not connected `directly` to the
real growth productions where a real change can be demonstrated
faster.
Congratulations common man we have Kejriwal representing us in
politics which we know little about and I believe he too knows less
than required. Yet courage on his side and sincere canvassers; Anna
Hazare, Kumar Vishwas to name just two he could succeed. It will take
time may be next fifty years but if he steers the course and NOT get
upset by initial intimidation, set backs engineered by vested
interests he will succeed! GOD Bless! IAC website and support will
continue to provide him and his trustworthy friends feed back from us,
common Indian. May I make an humble suggestion to this laudable
initiative and people behind it, just deliver one thing at a time make
one promise fulfill it before you make another.Do NOT call yourselves
angels, act the angel and let the people say you are the models they
want! Notice Mr Antony of the most corrupt congress party; a case in
point! Arun Shorie, Arun Jaitley and many others noble public
figures. Request support of all honest politicians!
Arvind Kejriwal starting a political party is welcome step. But is will
naïve to expect him to make any remarkable imprint of Indian politics
at least for a foreseeable future. Most of the Indian electorate seems
not particularly swayed by anticorruption rhetoric as most are
scientifically irrational, have stupendous superstitious beliefs and
for them the order of priority is caste, community, language, region
and lastly honesty. People who are agog with excitement of the new
party are all internet savvy and it should be remembered that net
revolution has hardly touched vast majority of Indians. Nothing else
can explain YSR Congress sweeping 15 out of 18 seats in AP bye
elections though it was very clear that jailed Y.S. Jagmohan Reddi has
amassed gigantic illicit wealth and B. Sriramulu winning Bellary Rural
when whole of Bellary knew as side kick of Gali Janardhan Reddy, the
imprisoned mining robber boron? There is hardly hope for the country
under veil of ignorance and superstition.
The editorial brimgs to my memory the scene from Mani Sir's film Yuva, where four newly elected youths enter the Parliament. While watching it I thought when will it happen ,now I see it happenning.
Lets keep our fingers crossed.
As most of them always say that Indian's are very good planners but bad implementers. most of our thoughts and plan's go off in very early stages of implementation.It is very difficult under the current circumstances to start a new party,collaborate the entire nation to single stage and bring that into meaningful existence.To implement what we are dreaming of we need to find better way's.
I am reminded of a scene in the YES MINISTER SERIES, in which, the PM after presiding over a cabinet meeting,over contentitious issues would say that he is in favour of the issue. The minister would retart that it would be a big challenge to which PM would say that every challenge brings with it an equal opportunity.
I am also reminded of our own shankar's film, in which CM would challenge the reporter to occupy his seat to understand the ills behind it.
One thing is sure. Mr Kejriwal will definitely find that for running a political party, you need faithful and stubborn followers, who will not desert you in difficult times. To keep them intact, you need money. To get money for survival, you need power.Once you get power , you get money, in fact more money, that you become greedy and it becomes a disease like kleptomania.Then it becomes the turn of the have nots in the opposition to point their guns at you. you get dethroned Start allover again.JUST WATCH TN. he can learn a lesson.
Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, sir please go ahead we are all with you.
Yogesh
In political arena these days protest are like baby cry and
nobody(governance) pays attention to it until election is nearby.May
be the short term memory of Indian crowd pays them.But democracy
provides us the option to reach at policies making level.Mr. Kejriwal
has done a good job.And as far as Anna and allies are concerned they
are also in the same line of purpose just outside the political
ring.If intention is same to make this nation corruption free than
inside and outside both ways support required and this will lead to empower this socialist group.
Our greatest misfortune is that good, honest persons shun politics. If the system has to be cleansed of corruption, non-corruptibles have to boldly enter politics and fight their way up. There is no other way to bring about a change in a peaceful manner. Kejrival's job is full of difficulties. But someon has to make a beginning. Once peopple are convinced that his party is different, there is bound to be polarisation of good peopple, let us hope.
In the democratic system as we have political parties are inevitable and it is not wise on the part of Mr.Anna Hazare to shun political parties. Either he should clean up the existing political parties or start a new clean one. That is what Mr.Kejirawal is trying to do- starting a new and clean political party. All right thinking persons, including Mr.Anna Hazare should support it.
@Kejriwal Heavy ball of politics will be difficult to roll initially but if it rolled once it will churn up whole indian politics
Decision to form a political party by Mr. Kejariwal is well appreciated
in current circumstances, for to clean the system you can not keep
youself at a distance from system. Chanakya did the same when there was
a need.
Also Citizens of India will also get an alternative when every political
party is charged with cases of corruption.
Excellent Article.. right on the money .. go Kejriwal go.. we all are
with you :)
Quite beautifuly said. Hazare is a mahatma, but we know that even a mahatma has his limitations.
A nice articulate assessment of situation. Lets hope he brings positive change in state of Indian politics. We must understand a single person or group of persons alone cannot bring about change. We must continuously assess and criticize/appreciate govt throughout 5 years rather than cast the vote and sleep for 5 years.
Let us see the ground realities. Today’s politics is for the people (many of whom are very poor and rightly believe that a politician must come to their rescue in their fight for survival), by the people (who may not possess any special leadership qualities but are good crowd pullers) and of the people (the present politicians who honestly believe that they are the only ones who are fit to win elections, often by using questionable and unethical means and unaccounted money).
If Arvind Kejriwal’s party can offer to the people a choice between its own candidates and today’s politicians, a sizeable section from the middle class will be with the new party. It is clear that the new party may not win even a few any seats. But it is welcome.
If Sri Kejriwal’s new party turns up even 15 to 20 truly honest and patriotic MPs in 2014, the citizens will begin to believe in their electoral power, and the nation will come alive!! If they manage to take a few famous scalps it will electrify the political scene.
If Sri Hazare and his team manage to educate the masses, the political parties may field less corrupt (if not totally clean) candidates in 2014. If the Hazare Team really succeeds it may start competitive bidding by the current parties to field cleaner and even cleaner candidates.
Both Sri Kejriwal and Sri Hazare complement each other, by offering alternative paths to the same goal so that a wider section of voters than otherwise can participate in the nationwide desire to curb corruption and safeguard India’s future, and everyone (including future generations of the corrupt!!) will benefit. God bless India.
Even during the freedom movement, there was time when Gandhi Ji was not able to attract crowd simply because common people can not leave their work every day for protest. Arvind is young and has plenty of time to learn. I know they have done mistakes and they will do in future as well; but I'll support them as long as their intentions are good.
Though lofty in ideals and efforts, the Anna movement has more or less failed in
mobilizing the masses at grass root level across the breadth and width of the nation
by bringing an attitudinal change towards corrupt practices.The euphoria created
could have been properly exploited , had the team Anna concentrated more
organizing at grass root level in addition to fasts and melas at Ramlila maidan and
Jantar manthar.Amongst sharks and crocodiles, Kejrival will find that running a
political party is far different from organizing dharna or facing the media. Unless
there is a wave of mass upsurge and revolt and genuine commitment to clean up the
governance of the country,, political party envisaged by Kejriwal will be a damp squib
and may be miserable failure in elections
It is a step in the right direction - Arvind Kejriwal may not win or
succeed for the present but at least his impact in politics will have
far reaching connotations in the years come.We hope he involves
"kejirwal-like" like minded persons to contest in the elections. Who
knows - India could have a leader who connects with Aam Admi.
The editorial "Join the party,Mr.Kejriwal" has splendidly brought to light why the two key persons,Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal,who had successfully launched a massive movement against corruption last year and, to a great extent, made the government bend, if not yield fully, to their demand for the early creation of a powerful Jan Lokpal, had to part ways recently.While the former is a strong believer that dirt and politics are inseparable, the latter has opted to plunge into it to prove that he can cleanse it and achieve the objective. Laudable is his objective and bold his initiative. Yet, Kejriwal will be well advised to be most cautious, as the impediments he will have to face en-route will be odd and innumerable. The period of trial has started for him.
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