A streetcar named Kejriwal

Dear Arvind,

Here's a letter from one who is neither your supporter nor hater, but who has a sneaking suspicion that if there's anyone who can change the very paradigm of the way politics in this country is conducted, it is you.

Consider what you bring to the table: an excellent education, experience as a civil servant working for the government of India, a stellar career in grassroots activism (including receiving the Ramón Magsaysay prize) and thanks to your father, whose work as an engineer took the family to many B- and C-tiered towns in the North, strong middle-class values and an understanding of India's middle-class ethos.

Neither are you a product of the Nehruvian era of Oxbridge educated, left-leaning, entitled classes of an earlier India nor the upholder of its pro-Hindutva right-wing antithesis.

Truth be told, your median position between these two overarching ideologies that dictate the political discourse of our country has given it a much needed tempering and nuance. And even though your critics have tried to reveal your allegiance to both the parties that represent these opposing ideologies, miraculously, you have shown that you have stood clear of both.

Truth be told, your equidistant position and rugged anti-corruption canon has come as manna to our beleaguered nation and your resounding success in the last Delhi assembly polls has demonstrated the extent of the electorate's appreciation of your position. To snatch Delhi from right under the nose of PM Modi and the might of the BJP, as well as its traditional Congress allegiance, is a feat that is commendable.

That you have done this against all odds, fighting tooth and nail with your rag-tag army of supporters against mighty powers in politics, business and the media, hell bent on protecting status quo, is nothing short of miraculous.

Which brings me to the current situation: the recent CBI raid allegedly conducted on your office; your government's odd-even car measures to address the critical condition of Delhi's pollution levels and your championing the almost four-fold proposed hike for Delhi's lawmakers, which will benefit members of your Aam Aadmi Party the most. Each of these instances tells us of your ongoing battles and your considered responses to them.

That you are Delhi's Chief Minister in India's federal system makes for a piquant situation, given the legacy of animosity and the threat you pose to the ruling BJP.

Added to this is the fact that the police, the CBI and other regulatory arms of the State that report to the Centre and bear allegiance to it, have, and will keep causing you much concern. Every movement, every act, every deed of yours can be subverted, undermined, misrepresented and given a different spin. That you have been able to perform to some measure of success in this environment is in itself extraordinary.

So too is the alacrity with which you responded to the challenge of Delhi's critical pollution levels. Strong and swift measures, which affect voters, requiring change and often sacrifices and inconveniences on their part, are not easily taken by political leaders. Your demonstration to bite the bullet speaks of your profound commitment to the greater good, regardless of your own political survival. Similar is your vociferous championing of a pay hike for Delhi's MLAs. On the face of it, it appears to be a clear case of self-aggrandisement and entitlement, but no, on closer inspection, it is anything but that.

Your years spent working in government agencies, your experience as an anti-corruption activist and deep understanding of India's middle classes have obviously taught you that most people do not want to be corrupt. In fact, most people would rather not have to resort to taking or giving bribes if they didn't have to.

Raising the salaries of MLAs might appear self-serving, but once again, you have proven that you are ready to take the most unpopular and often seemingly politically incorrect decisions – if they result in a stronger, better, cleaner India.

This is why I say that you are slowly, but surely changing the very paradigm of India's political discourse, making it go in a direction hitherto never seen before.

More power to you. And here's wishing that 'even-or-odd', your car toots on for a long, long time!

Yours sincerely, etc

malavikasmumbai@gmail.com,@msangghvi

(The columnist believes in the art of letter writing)