AAP’s coming to power is a milestone in the history of Indian democracy. It is manifestation of the agony and power of common man who was generally marginalised and whose voice was subdued by political giants who manoeuvre the electioneering process. People who were fed up with false promises, large slogans of development and national welfare, suffering from the problems of day-to-day life and facing hardship to lead a dignified life, found solace in the programmes of AAP. They witnessed how politicians bake their cakes over the fire of emotions, burning needs and miserable condition of the masses. Sometimes they create hatred between different groups by making derogatory remarks, false statements and misinterpretation of their ideological ethos. Some other times they give false promises and show prosperous dreams of future to the masses and try to get their favour in the election. In the present election of Delhi state, all these tactics did not work.
The astonishing feature of the election is that political stalwarts are defeated by a large margin of votes by ordinary men who are not only new entrants in the political arena but also unknown to the public. Further, money power which is one of the important factors in determining the choice of the public is failed to play any decisive role in the present election. The candidates who contested election under the banner of AAP spent a meagre amount of money to get public support. People of Delhi, irrespective of other factors, supported them because they related themselves with the actual problems of the public and expressed their concerns with providing them relief of the monetary burden of day-to-day life. This is beyond the shadow of a doubt new trend in Indian democracy and shows that it is proceeding towards maturity, which is urgently required in making political system more effective and meaningful.
Indian democracy is the largest in the world but unique in the sense that the election depends upon emotional attachment with religion, caste, group, person and party. If a person or party succeeds to escalate the emotions of people and sensitise them of religious, caste and group feelings, he or it gets votes. This is the reason that communal riots are initiated; primordial loyalties are raised; caste and group feelings are highlighted and projection of a champion of a particular group is made to get people’s favour.
The other factor that counts in the election is the role of a muscleman who generally mobilises people in favour of a candidate or party. If the candidate himself has such quality, he organises such persons in each locality and gets their services to influence the voters. If the candidate is not a muscleman, he hires such persons and patronises them to bring people in his camp. Moreover, the significant fact is that membership of legislative bodies, assemblies and parliament, is lucrative business. If one is once elected to such a body, he/she can lead whole life luxuriously. A member gets very handsome salary, high perks, and various privileges. Besides, a huge amount of money is also given to a member in the name of development, the lion’s share of which goes to his or her coffers.
These amenities and money are too much keeping in view of the socio-economic scenario of the country where the majority of people are poor. They cannot get these privileges and monetary gain by doing other jobs. This is why most people are attracted towards politics, and they do all tactics to get access to the corridor of power. They spend a lot of money, flare up communal feelings, use muscle power and even do not hesitate to threaten masses of dire consequences, in case they could not get vote. The only purpose is to get money and enjoy privileges and not to serve people and the nation.
They become busy to extract money from every source when they get elected. First, they try to get ministerial position by coming closer to leadership, joining one faction or another and if necessary, they do not even hesitate to cross the floor. They influence the administration to get socio-economic benefit and to give them to persons of their choice. People were fed up of these persons, but they had no choice because most of them had the same traits. When AAP raised voice against corruption, talked of the problems of common man, highlighted their interests and assured to provide water free of cost and electricity at a reduced rate, people of Delhi found best alterative in it. Later, the party selected candidates of clean image from common people to contest the election. This again gave the impression that the party is different from traditional ones, associates itself with the difficulties and agonies of people, concerns with the interests of common people, is sincere about providing relief for people and overall can fulfil the aspirations of people. The result is that masses preferred ordinary people in comparison to political giants.
The election of Delhi state is a warning to political parties and all those who want to pursue a career in politics. They have to change their image as a ruler: living in palatial houses, traveling in business class of an airplane, using luxury cars, increasing bank balance, usurping properties of others with the help of administrative machinery, giving undue privileges to their relatives, friends and members of their group and betraying the trust of the people. Instead, they have to project an image of a true servant of people: live in an ordinary house; travel in third class with common man; understand the agony and difficulties of people; often visit their areas; consult people how to improve the condition of the area, and what they require to live a dignified life. If they do all these, they will continue to remain in the political arena; otherwise, they will be replaced by new entrants.
AAP is planning to take part in the upcoming general elections of 2014 and adopt the same strategy as they did at Delhi. They can alter the basis of election and bring about drastic changes. If AAP decides to abolish the developmental fund given to members of legislative assemblies and parliament, reduce their allowances, cut short their perks and privileges, instruct its members to lead a simple and honest life, sincerely work for the development and welfare of the nation, dedicate themselves to the service of the downtrodden and poor and eradicate corruption, the political scenario of India will certainly be changed.
The large amount of money spent on the salaries and allowances of public representatives is a heavy burden on exchequer. Further, it generates corruption and attracts undesirable elements of society to join politics. If it is abolished, only those who are really interested in the service of people and the nation will join politics. The best use of such money is to spend it on providing better facilities for the public. If the party recruits sincere and dedicated persons who are committed to the service of people and nation, give clean administration, oust corrupt officers, stop punishing innocent persons on false allegations, obliterate discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, colour and group and ensure the distribution of privileges of the state to everybody, it will surely win the heart of people and get the control of the country.
Let us hope that Indian masses will be more conscious of their right of governance, come out of the communal and caste tension, think in terms of the largest interest of the nation and send the persons who are concerned with their miserable condition and committed to provide relief for them to the Parliament. It is strange but a matter of shame that after more than half a century of indigenous rule we have no proper and adequate provisions of satisfying our basic needs: we have adequate quantity and quality neither of water nor of electricity. It questions the adequacy of our democratic system as it fails to satisfy the basic needs of people. The trend emerged in the recent election of Delhi gives us hope that in future Indian masses will show their political maturity and make democracy more relevant and more effective.