The Aam Aadmi government lasted only 49 days. Arvind Kejriwal’s fall was not caused by clash over corruption. The establishment parties did not topple it. Congress support never wavered though there were hitches from time to time. The BJP did not oppose the Jan Lokpal Bill. The fall of the AAP government was due to lack of respect shown by it for the law of the land. Kejriwal’s party tried to push a Bill through though the law demanded that it had to be placed before the Lt. Governor of Delhi. The Jan Lokpal Bill could not be proceeded with as the Congress and the BJP impressed upon the Lok Sabha Speaker that constitutional propriety demanded that the Lt. Governor’s instruction had to be received about it.
It is assumed that Arvind Kejriwal intends to gain from the fall from power in Delhi by cashing in on it in the parliamentary elections. But he is probably overoptimistic. His party did not cover itself with glory during his 49 days. True, subsidies were given in water and power but the subsidy spree benefited only the middle classes. The party can claim credit for instituting FIRs against powerful politicians on grounds of corruption. But it could not get to the bottom of the problem. No transparent process could be put in place against graft. The law minister’s moral policing was a negative point. Human Rights were given little regard as the aam aadmi rampaged. The AAP claimed that it knew best and disregarded accountability. To it, anyone against the party was tainted and corrupt. Besides, errors crept into its legislation and administration. Where will it go from here?
