The people of Delhi have given both the BJP and the AAP a more or less equal mandate. The split verdict should be respected. As the largest single party, the BJP should be invited to form the government. The AAP should extend issue-based outside support. This way, the AAP will be able to participate in governance and give effect to some of its important electoral promises. Another election will be an expensive process, besides involving huge efforts by the Election Commission. Also, a re-election may throw up a similar fractured mandate again.
S.N. Srinivasan,Bangalore
The BJP and the AAP should have the nation’s interest uppermost on their agenda. They should come together to form a coalition government. This is an opportunity for the AAP to show how an efficient government can be run with zero tolerance for corruption. Another election will involve much expenditure, and there is no telling if the AAP will get a mandate to rule Delhi by itself.
S. Sundresan,Chennai
The civil servant-turned- politician, Jayaprakash Narayan, established the Lok Satta Party in 2006 and won around 2 per cent of votes in Andhra Pradesh. The AAP is based on a similar ideology — of cleaning up politics and providing transparency in governance. One hopes more such parties will come up in future, with the support of the educated and the youth.
Havish Madduri,Kankidapu
The Delhi poll results have signalled that people can move away from the tradition of choosing their representatives from among only the BJP and the Congress. It is clear that elections can be won by grassroots-level parties. People want clean leaders who can understand the problems of the common man. The AAP’s victory has raised the hope that the day is not far when India will be free from corruption.
Rajdeep Singh,Patiala
Maoists should realise at least now that the ballot is more powerful than the bullet. People are not for violent means to achieve their ends. The AAP has integrated people with its ideology. A healthy democracy is about people’s power, earning their trust and working to their satisfaction. While Maoists collect “levies” to buy firearms to fight the system, the AAP collects “chanda” (donation) to buy brooms to fight the system. If the experiment could succeed in a city, it can surely do so in villages too. Before trying to destroy any system, try to change it.
Krishna Mohan,Ranchi
