After their stunning win in the Assembly election, AAP has found the going tough.
In politics, perception often triumphs over reality and public memory is awfully short. In that context, Arvind Kejriwal's decision to sack minister Asim Ahmed Khan in live press conference may go a long to way in establishing AAP as a party it originally strived to be, a party with absolutely non-compromising stance towards corruption.
After their stunning win in the Assembly election, AAP has found the going tough. Arvind Kejriwal has been involved in continuos bickering with Delhi LG Najeeb Jung, with both sides trying to exert their power leading to frictions. From appointment of ACB chief to DCW chief, from granting of funds for MCD, the smallest of the issues have led to full blown confrontations. No matter, who was in the fault, this sustained power struggle has not gone down well with Delhites.
The full blown revolt in AAP, with Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav leading the way, which finally ended with their inevitable expulsion also tarred AAP's image. Arvind Kejriwal came across as an intolerant leader unwilling to abide any dissent. AAP also suffered a setback with Jitendra Tomar getting involved in the fake degree imbroglio. Many believe the party couldn't react promptly to the entire incident and supported Tomar for too long raising the bogey of BJP conspiracy. When the facts started to tumble out, the party was left red-faced. Similar thing happened in the Somnath Bharti incident too where Kejriwal's condemnation came at the eleventh hour, too little too late.
Also Read: #AAPWalksTheTalk top Twitter trend as Arvind Kejriwal sacks Asim Ahmed Khan
All these isolated events were seemingly giving the perception that AAP is like any other party, just looking to stay in power with scant respect for morals. It was disconcerting not only all to those who are AAP supporters but also for many who believed that AAP will usher in an alternative form of politics in India where caste, class, religion and muscle power will not be the driving force.
Now, in one stroke, Arvind Kejriwal has managed to somewhat salvage the lost sheen he and his party enjoyed. In India, where political parties are notorious for shielding their leaders from any charge till the time it becomes impossible for them to continue, AAP has brought a welcome change. In West Bengal, Madan Mitra continues to be a minister even after being put behind bars in connection with the Saradha scam. Congress is wholeheartedly backing Virbhadra Singh even after serious charges of corruption and CBI enquiry. BJP's record too is chequered with several of its Chief Ministers under cloud. Every time a resignation is demanded, the parties conveniently give example of others who are still sticking to power in order to skirt the issue.
It is heartening to see AAP break the trend and expelling someone from post of Minister even before media got the wind of the story. Kejriwal's words in the press conference were also bold and brave. He said, "This is just a message to everyone involved in corruption. If we can fire a minister, we can fire anyone. If Manish is corrupt, I will not spare him, and if I'm corrupt, Manish will not spare me. We will not tolerate corruption in any form, whether it is from a minister, MLA or officer".
It needs to be seen how far Kejriwal can actually implement these words if it ever comes to that. The cynics believe Kejriwal sacrificed a pawn to deflect attention from the larger issues of salary hike and Somnath Bharti fiasco. Only future will tell if they are right or not. But undoubtedly a start has been made, and hopefully it will force other parties to also emulate and not protect obvious offenders giving pretext of technicalities and precedents.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Arvind Kejriwal")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}