How Kejriwal is breaking Delhi's heart again

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had made a slew of promises, mostly freebies, in its manifesto for the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections. While AAP claims to fulfil some of them in the 100-odd days that it has been in power since February 14, the achievements have got overshadowed by the controversies which dog the party. The people have now started doubting whether it will be able to translate the dreams, which it had sold before the Assembly elections, into reality.

Among some of the people-friendly promises that have been fulfilled, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has slashed electricity tariff by 50 per cent for consumption up to 400 units per month and announced free 20,000 litres of water to every household per month. Kejriwal claims to have reduced corruption by 70-80 per cent but his government has been mired in a chain of controversies, the latest being his confrontation with Lieutenant-General Najeeb Jung over the appointment of Shakuntala Gamlin as acting chief secretary of Delhi.

It is debatable whether it was appropriate for Kejriwal to take on Jung. He may even be on the right side of the law. But a general perception is growing among the people is that AAP is embroiling itself in one avoidable controversy after another ever since it has been voted back to power for the second time.

There is a large section of voters which are confused whether Kejriwal has let them down, or is just about to. This section had high hopes from him in its second stint in power. Before the elections, AAP had made several people-oriented promises in its manifesto like setting up 500 new schools and 20 new colleges, free Wi-Fi throughout Delhi, making the capital a drug-free city, filling 55,000 immediate vacancies in government departments, special reservations for all senior citizens and youth, providing loans to young entrepreneurs at low interest rates, enforcing an education loan guarantee scheme and making Delhi into a manufacturing hub.

Not much has been heard on these issues. Even on the passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill, on which AAP adopted a belligerent stand to throw away its government in a huff, no urgency for its implementation is seen. Instead, the AAP-2 government, like AAP-1, has attracted more attention due to the controversies, be they internal or external.

The voters forgave Kejriwal after he profusely apologised to them for resigning from government. They realise that he is a common man. People generally identify themselves with him. They also feel that he speaks from his heart. The people had hoped that Kejriwal would completely focus on governance and keep away from courting controversies. But the Delhi CM seems to be disappointing them again.

He had indulged in dharnas and protests on the street despite being a CM. He had confronted the UPA government at the centre. In his new avatar, Kejriwal has again adopted a confrontationist approach towards the L-G after maintaining a low profile initially during his 100-odd days as CM.

The people have naturally started doubting Kejriwal's intentions, whether he is at all serious about delivering his promises and whether he is courting controversies just to deflect attention from his failure to deliver goods.

The people expect Kejriwal to reach out to them and start delivering on urgent issues like power and water shortages, unemployment, health, cleanliness and education. Instead, the CM is seen attacking the Centre, L-G, municipal corporations and the media over issues like full statehood to Delhi, handing over Delhi Police to the state government, and getting more executive powers and funds.

Just after holding the reins of Delhi for the second time, AAP was beset with internal squabbling over removal of senior leaders like Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav. While the issue had hardly settled that Rajasthan farmer Gajendra Singh's suicide pushed the party and government on the defensive. And now comes the collision with L-G over Gamlin's posting.

Kejriwal, it seems, refuses to come out of his brand of politics cast in agitation and confrontation. The controversy over the posting of Gamlin was totally avoidable, to say the least. He has not just taken on the L-G but also antagonised the bureaucracy in the process.

The CM could have dealt with the issue in a more dignified manner. As Gamlin was already serving as power secretary, hell would not have broken loose had she taken over as the acting chief secretary. Secondly, it was a matter of just ten days as chief secretary KK Sharma went on a leave. Instead of making it a prestige issue, Kejriwal could have allowed Gamlin to take over as acting CS but kept a tab on her, if at all he wanted to, without making a fuss.

Even the Supreme Court has rapped Kejriwal for ordering that all potentially defamatory remarks in the media should be reported for action. Instead of finding faults with other agencies and individuals, Kejriwal would do well to focus on delivering an efficient government and fulfilling the mass-oriented promises which had endeared him to the people. After all, public perception is crucial.