During Delhi Assembly election, my colleagues, friends, relatives and I had discussed numerous times whether Aam Adami Party (AAP) will be able to get more than a couple of seats. But I think we all had a nice surprise when AAP got 28 seats that is just a little short of majority. We thought that finally people have a new option which if not now, may be in future, will provide a corruption-less (or less corrupted) government.
As the BJP also did not get a clear majority, we were again surprised by 'AAP' when they decided to form the government with support from Congress. Now is not it amazing that AAP who won these many seats because of Congress, got support from them to form the government. This is why I say 'It happens only in India'. The best part I liked is that they asked all Delhiwalas before saying 'I do' to this marriage. While some of my colleagues, friends, relatives and I felt 'AAP' should not have formed the government but then we thought, may be, 'AAP' felt that they can bring out change by forming the government.
So far so good. Delhi government started doing things which they had promised in their election manifesto like free water, lower electricity charges, a phone line for handling corruption complaint etc.. I liked the last one most though not sure how much it really helped. 'AAP' tried to table their own Lokpal Bill. But because of some constitution issues (which I really do not understand), 'AAP' could not do it. So 'AAP' decided that they should not be in Government if they cannot fulfil their promise. This is something that triggered a change of heart for some of my colleagues, friends, relatives and definitely in me. We started speculating on why 'AAP' formed the government if 'AAP' did not wanted to run it? We came up with lots of different theories and one which almost every one mentioned was that 'AAP' wanted to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha Election and so they decided to dissolve the Delhi Government.
One big question which keep coming back to me is 'Why 'AAP' decided to dissolve the Delhi Government without asking Delhiwalas about it?'. While I agree that they cannot go back Delhiwalas for all the decisions they want to take but I think this is not just any decision, this is a decision which will affect Delhiwalas one way or the other.
At this time, the struggle between heart and mind started over 'AAP'. My heart goes with 'AAP' while my mind says 'Don't even think about it'. Let me put down some of the points here:
As the BJP also did not get a clear majority, we were again surprised by 'AAP' when they decided to form the government with support from Congress. Now is not it amazing that AAP who won these many seats because of Congress, got support from them to form the government. This is why I say 'It happens only in India'. The best part I liked is that they asked all Delhiwalas before saying 'I do' to this marriage. While some of my colleagues, friends, relatives and I felt 'AAP' should not have formed the government but then we thought, may be, 'AAP' felt that they can bring out change by forming the government.
So far so good. Delhi government started doing things which they had promised in their election manifesto like free water, lower electricity charges, a phone line for handling corruption complaint etc.. I liked the last one most though not sure how much it really helped. 'AAP' tried to table their own Lokpal Bill. But because of some constitution issues (which I really do not understand), 'AAP' could not do it. So 'AAP' decided that they should not be in Government if they cannot fulfil their promise. This is something that triggered a change of heart for some of my colleagues, friends, relatives and definitely in me. We started speculating on why 'AAP' formed the government if 'AAP' did not wanted to run it? We came up with lots of different theories and one which almost every one mentioned was that 'AAP' wanted to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha Election and so they decided to dissolve the Delhi Government.
One big question which keep coming back to me is 'Why 'AAP' decided to dissolve the Delhi Government without asking Delhiwalas about it?'. While I agree that they cannot go back Delhiwalas for all the decisions they want to take but I think this is not just any decision, this is a decision which will affect Delhiwalas one way or the other.
At this time, the struggle between heart and mind started over 'AAP'. My heart goes with 'AAP' while my mind says 'Don't even think about it'. Let me put down some of the points here:
- We need corruption-less (less corrupted) India. (Heart)
- We need a party that has experience in executing a well planned strategy to provide corruption-less (less corrupted) India and unfortunately though 'AAP' wants to do this but their execution strategy does not look good. (Mind)
- We want a different Prime Minister. (Heart)
- We need a Prime Minister who speaks, has experience and has some track record that he/she can provide a good government and unfortunately while Mr. Arvind Kerjriwal can speak, he lacks in all other points. (Mind)
- In large software development, we are very particular about Scalability. Scalability has to be thought through during design and needs to be handled every step of your development cycle. Also it is very very difficult, complex and time consuming to fix this. Some time people advise to start from scratch. Now just map this to what 'AAP' is trying to do and see for yourself what will happen in future.
- It is a well know fact that you should be very very careful when you are expanding your software company (or Team) because it will effect the whole company (or Team) if you are not recruiting like-minded people who understand and appreciate the vision/mission of your company (or Team). I feel 'AAP' should not be giving Lok Sabha Tickets to anyone who they think make a right candidate.
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ReplyDeleteGo with the heart man.......Many people taunted them to fight elections and bring legislations. Well they did that. They didn't get clear majority because of many of us didn't believe in the miracle that was in the making.
DeleteWhen they tried to bring the most important legislation (Lokpal), it was not allowed on technicality. As AAP said, they will let go of many governments over this important legislation and they did. Neither the BJP nor the Cong was allowing the passage of this legislation. (Ideally BJP should have come forward to support AAP to form govt since the vote was against the Cong but BJP was sulking for AAP having denied them a chance of coming to power in Delhi. In my opinion, this would have won BJP many accolades, helped them to position themselves against corruption etc.) Since AAP felt that Lokpal will not be passed, they resigned. This could be because they wanted to free themselves up from the encumbrance of running the Delhi govt, but there was an opportunity, next general elections would come after five years, and they wanted to maximize their chances. This is politics. They have entered politics and they are free to do their math as long as they do not compromise on their fundamental principles. If BJP and Cong (and more so BJP) is so worried that AAP will cause damage to their tally, BJP should have allowed the passage of the bill, not giving chance to AAP to walk away. Cong could have held Delhi elections along with LS polls to tie AAP to Delhi. They allowed AAP to walk free.
Every party, with exception of AAP (till now) has corrupt people. Let us go for AAP. Let the doubts rest for a change. Go with the heart. Remember, because many people voted with their mind, AAP was denied the majority in Delhi (many felt they will not even few seats let alone majority and voted to whichever party they voted). Today there is a complete change of mind in Delhi and AAP will get 60% of the votes, if we were to believe some of the opinion polls.
Go with the heart "Bharat".
Anil,
DeleteI think My Heart is also putting up similar arguments but Mind is putting up other arguments which has loads of value. Some of them I have mentioned in the post.
Also, it is easy to say that 'AAP' do not have corrupt people but once they come to power, you never know. Power itself corrupts.
Another issue I see is execution. I am not a fan of their overall execution as Delhi Government. I would not want them to come to power in the centre but I would like them to get some seats so that they can create a balance in the government. I also want a stable government so the India can progress.
As you neither have put forth any new argument nor you have responded to my arguments on why I am listening to my Mind, I still feel I will go with my Mind.
Regards,
Bharat
I think AAP does not believe in following any system. What they like is the only way. Arvind believes in "My Way or Highway" concept. Break law at every now and then. Some of their actions during last couple of weeks do not suggest any maturity. These actions were the drama done in Gujrat, attack on a party office in Delhi and some places in UP, threatning media to be sent to jail if voted to power etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteAAP is doing anything to be in news.
Also I do not think the freebies(Free water,free electricity,free food or any such thing) offered by any parties are any solution. In short I believe AAP shows ideology of communists which can not be acceptable in today's times.
Regards,
Satish
Dear Satish,
DeleteI understand and share your concern. The only reason I am willing to listen people is to see if they have any arguments that will help me in deciding what to do.
Thanks
Interesting "technical" post Joshi :-) Here is my take ...
ReplyDeleteI am all out for AAP simply because AAP is a party formed out of people's movement (I have contributed to it in small ways as well) and they have demonstrated the intent and the will to bring about a positive change.
Quitting Delhi government was a typical case of how Congress/ BJP did not want such a strong bill to come in effect. If it did come they will be wiped off. If BJP/ Congress had the intent, they would have supported the bill and let it pass in the assembly. Without center alignment bill would have gone to the President for mediation. If this bill was submitted for approval to center (Congress), it would never see the light of the day and the "Corruption" trump card of AAP would have got defeated and people would have slammed AAP left and right for not delivering on the key manifesto item. People at large will not understand to the political moves by both Congress and BJP.
We have already witnessed breach of trust by Congress and BJP during the Anna movement and this bill going to center would have been a repeat show. Not an option. Add to it the spy role Kiran Bedi and VK Singh played to nullify Anna Hazare and create a rift between people of India, it's a shame. Look at the old man now he is nobody.
Quitting from Delhi government opened up a big opportunity for AAP to make a nationwide impact and shake the foundation of the ugly politics being played in India. If the anti-corruption bill had passed and even then AAP had quit, it would be a cause of serious concern.
Remember, "Change" is hard and it will take time and a lot of effort. Someone has to start. It's like one of the many initiatives that fail in corporate world but some do succeed tremendously. The success of initiatives lies how worthy the cause is and how people connect with it. AAP has started the change. Everyone knows the state of political affairs in India.
Political parties are adept at keeping people divided. If people got united, the corrupt will get washed away in no time.
AAP. A party which has its roots in a nation wide movement driven by people of India must be supported by the same people for an emphatic win in the upcoming LS 2014 elections.
If AAP fails in its mission, it will be a failure of the people of India who nurtured, promoted and tasked AAP to handle the seemingly never ending anarchy prevailing in Indian political scenario.
It's up to the people of India to take charge and vote for good candidates from a good party which has shown the will and intent to bring a positive change.
Think #AAP this LS 2014.
Amit,
DeleteThanks for your comment.
I must say your points are very valid and well accepted.
But we are in a cross road. My thinking is that if we do not get a stable government, we will be taking India further back. I certainly don't want Congress as we all have seen what they have done to our country.
As my post explains, I have gone through multiple stages with AAP. I was sure that AAP will change the way we look at politics. I would say AAP is doing its bit but as explained, I feel that they have somehow lost their way.
I do agree that 'Change' is hard and we, human, usually resist change. So is not it better that the 'Change' is brought slowly? That is the reason I feel that 'AAP' should have done this slowly and surely.
I do not agree that if 'AAP' fails in its mission, we are doomed. As you would have seen, there are already some core people in AAP who have started voicing their concerns about different things. I am sure there are people who would be planning AAP-2.
But I must say that 'AAP' has shown the way. Previously people would use to say 'Politics is not for me' but that has changed. May be, some good people/party will come in future.
Regards,
Bharat
Bharat,
ReplyDeleteHere is my take. Like any big software project, it is just not about the product itself, it is also about the support on the product.
This is where I found AAP lacking. They had one good deliverable but they balked at the support for it. It is during this support, they could have actually built a great team.
Now the argument is that they have a far superior product which they might. But I am not confident of the people involved and the process involved. I'd rather skip them this time and give them a chance another time when they actually have shown some maturity and deliver for a longer period of time.
Hi,
DeleteThanks for your comment.
We did discussed this. As you have rightly pointed out, I also think 'AAP' do not have the right balance in the team to govern. Moreover none of their candidates have ever govern in any capacity in the government.
So if I have to decide from a list of persons in which one is who have never been any minister (RaGa), another is who have govern only for 49 days (ArKe) and the last is a person who have govern for more than 4000 days (NaMo), I will surely choose the last.
Regards,
Bharat
Can you hire someone who has not yet led a single project successfully as a CEO ? Both AK and RG fall in this group...
ReplyDeleteVery well said.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletehi Bharat, Sorry for writing my comments so late. But I read this blog and thought of sharing my comments with you.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I am concerned I am going to listen to both my heart and mind because fortunately both are telling me the same thing. In past 2-3 years many of us have invested a lot in IAC and AAP – by spreading their message, by donating money to them and even by campaigning for them. My view is that AAP’s entry has strengthened Indian democracy and they have been successful in changing the rules of the game. I agree that they have also made lot of mistakes but I would still give them more time and chance to prove themselves for the sake of my own benefit. At least I think their intent is right.
Now the time has come for the performance appraisal of these political parties and their MP's. I am in no mood to give them good rating just for the sake of stability. I am ready to invest another few years and would rather have my vote (investment) going to right candidate. We can debate whether the likes of Nina Nayak or V Bala are better than other party candidates or whether they have any experience as a politician or not but I believe that on any day they will be better than folks like Yeddyurappa, Paswan, Lalu, Rahul Gandhi, Raj Thakre etc. Moreover some of these folks from AAP talk my language and show some will power to address some of the issues which are impacting a common man like me. I am in no mood to invest further in the same old folks who had opportunity to correct the system for decades and have not given anything to me except corruption. These old folks just want to use the anger common man has against Congress and does not seem to have any will power to change the system because they are the real beneficiary of the current system.
I would rather take some risk and invest in someone who shows me courage to take the system head on. This is my time to send a message to these old folks that they have to talk about the real issues which are impacting me directly. They also have to work hard to win my vote this time because when they had opportunity but they wasted. So I would rather try something new this time. As AK says that we have to start the car first. After that we can talk about seat cover, indicator, AC etc. Thanks.
Anshul,
DeleteYou need not be sorry. I am grateful to you that you wrote what is in your heart.
While I agree to your logic of getting fed-up with most of the parties but I feel 'AAP' is pretty far off when I could chosen them as a party to lead my country.
I also agree to your logic for electing someone just because they may provide stability because we surely want far more than that.
But our current scenario is that we need to choose something from what is available. Its a different question on how to change 'what is available'. I will try to write my thoughts on how to do that in some other post. Yes, we can always say we don't like the options available (NOTA) but will that really help in the short run?
Finally, if no party gets a majority, we may have-to-have election in some time. This is a waste of people's time and money and would put India behind by so many years. And because we usually do not learn from our past mistakes and also elections are fought in India on Caste/Religion/Money etc., we may keep having election or some Jugaad Government.
As mentioned in my post, 'AAP' is a good step but they should not have tried to scale too much and too fast. Anyways, we will know how the real 'Aam Aadami' has reacted to 'AAP' in a month time.
Thanks,
Bharat