Populist, Progressive To A Welfare Economist: How Arvind Kejriwal’s Political Strategy Is peaking Just At The Right Time.
A deeper analysis of the Aam Aadmi Party’s work in Delhi reveals a lot of economic common sense and pragmatism in AAP’s solutions to Delhi’s great challenges. The article/video brings out scientifically — ‘Why The Aam Aadmi of Delhi is Now a Kejriwal Loyalist‘ and ‘How today’s Political David — Arvind Kejriwal’s approach (beyond fighting corruption) will eclipse all Political Goliaths of our times.
Highlights —
- The Messiah
- The Servant Leader — Arvind Kejriwal
- Public Welfare Walking The Talk – The Whole 9 Yards
- The Common Sense Economics of AAP
- The Kejriwal Method
- Bold Innovative Reforms
- Chances and Challenges — AAP Vs Traditional Political Parties
Undoubtedly, being seen as a Progressive Leader is the most favoured pursuit of politicians — Irrespective of the boundaries of geography or the political ideology. However, most politicians in power either end up being seen as mere populists who dole out freebies from taxpayers’ money or they devise schemes of appeasement to ace vote bank politics.
The Messiah
Many sincere politicians also end up delivering bureaucratic schemes that have little impact when it comes to changing the status quo on the ground.
Also popular perception confuses the term ‘Progressive’ with just being development-oriented and modern in approach to the solutions. In reality — being progressive is more to do with bringing about social reforms while being modern in views and the approach to the new realities of the world (we live in).
As we further progress in this report, you will find — Why Aam Aadmi of Delhi is a Kejriwal Loyalist…
As a philosophy, ‘Progressiveness in Polity’ is based on the idea of progress — which asserts that advancements in science, technology, economics and social development are vital to the improvement of human conditions.
It is probably in this dimension that ‘Arvind Kejriwal‘ may eclipse any other political leader or even the Goliath of the current political landscape Narendra Modi in the coming Delhi elections in 2020.
The Servant Leader — Arvind Kejriwal
Be it the impact on the ground or the targeted reforms — the Aam Aadmi leader may have already found his winning formula.
Arvind Kejriwal had been quick to realize that even though per capita income was the best among all states in Delhi, the sheer gap between the rich and the poor left most people vying for basic services like health, transport, education, and social security.
Most of AAPs programs are focused on addressing these challenges of the Delhi’s common man (Aam Aadmi). The focus on delivering the 70 point public welfare manifesto of 2015 explains — why the voting masses will be extremely sticky with AAP in 2020.
Public Welfare Walking The Talk – The Whole 9 Yards
The Common Sense Economics of AAP
The common sense economics of AAP enables it to return Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000 on an average back in the pockets of Delhiites and that helps the bottom strata and the masses who constitute the voting majority.
Arvind Kejriwal has publicly stated:
‘Today is a period of recession‘. Salaries are not increasing, businesses are closing and expenses are increasing. If your Chief Minister makes water, electricity, education free then what is wrong?
Arvind Kejriwal | Chief Minister, Delhi
It may sound populist but it’s more rationale than distributing televisions and free rice or even mass loan waivers that majority of politicians resort to across states and the party lines. The heart of AAP’s economic policy lies vested in crucial decision making into the hands of the common man.
The Kejriwal Method
Bold Innovative Reforms
A slew of bold reforms addresses the key concerns of the low income urban masses, who otherwise are quite voiceless in a city that’s more obsessed with National Politics.
Targeted subsidies and tariff rationalization for Electricity, Water, Sewage and Transport are aimed at impacting the social fabric encouraging greater access and participation in the local economy of Delhi.
AAP has been able to identify the lopsided access to basic healthcare in Delhi—which has the ‘Best Government or Private Hospitals‘ but inadequate primary healthcare facilities for the urban poor.
Mohalla clinic is a fundamental service that addresses the basic healthcare requirements for those who need it the most. Accident victims for once have some assurance of treatment without having to worry about finding the funds first or facing preventable death due to apathy and lack of any medical or social security.
Similarly, reforms in primary and basic education infrastructure and a crackdown on unfair practices are some undeniable achievements that are giving Arvind Kejriwal’s critics a really hard time.
One visit to the ‘not so posh’ areas of Delhi explains why the urban poor hopes are intact with AAP inspite of an endorsement of Modi at the center.
Arvind Kejriwal also argues well that the proposed 100% subsidized public transport for WOMEN can bring an economic burst. All publicly owned and operated public transport systems in the world are subsidized to great extent.
In fact from March 1, 2020, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg too plans to make all public transport in the city-state buses, trams, and metros completely free. Such targeted subsidies are probably the progressiveness — the AAP leader endorses.
Chances and Challenges — AAP Vs Traditional Political Parties
The fact remains that AAP is a very young party and organization. They have had a severely restricted area to operate and perform in less than 5 years. Moreover, AAP faced a BJP-held hostile center and several sterile municipalities for getting things done on the ground. It has been the biggest hurdle.
AAP thus will leverage the achievements delivered under challenging circumstances — as its biggest reason to solicit voter loyalty.
Even on pure financial performance terms — as per CAGI, the grants in aid received by Delhi from the center decreased from Rs 2,825 crore (2016-17) to Rs 2,184 crore (2017-18). This included grants from the center in lieu of share in central taxes ,which has remained stagnant at Rs 325 crore since 2001- 02 although the central tax collections have grown substantially since then.
Arvind Kejriwal has also been consistently demanding that the center raises Delhi’s share in central taxes.
Delhi’s share has remained stagnant while it’s contribution is growing.
If AAP is able to communicate it’s achievements and it’s latent potential back to its voter base, it surely will spoil BJP’s chances in the next or near-future state and municipal elections.
Getting voter approval may be a lesser challenge for Kejriwal than getting good candidates and funds to combat the high decibel media and social media campaigns anticipated in 2020.
What really can catapult Arvind Kejriwal to be a great leader depends on his and team’s delivery on their obsession — ‘Making Delhi Great Again‘!
Aam Aadmi of Delhi is a Kejriwal Loyalist — and having said that, it will take not only the welfare economist in him but also the great environmentalist with his unparalleled stamina to fight for the ‘Aam Aadmi’ of Delhi — Who surely have got more than what they had voted for.
He could be right… again!
Special Contribution By: Sourav Chatterjee | Consulting Editor |DKODING Media and Chitresh Sehgal | Editor | DKODING Media
Analysis and Inputs: Abhishek Kumar Sushil, Smriti Bhalla and Sandesh Chaudhary
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