THE Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won a spectacular victory in the Delhi election but it has since been beset with problems. It is not a cohesive unity with a well-defined ideology except for its fight for the people and against corruption. The cracks are showing. Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan have been ousted from the party’s national executive. The two may soon have to quit the party along with Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha. Bhushan has also ceased to be head of the party’s national disciplinary committee. The party has also decided to recast its own Lokpal panel. The party’s volunteers are in a quandary. Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, is in an embarrassing isolation. Can he still deliver the promised goods to the electorate? A split in a ruling party, especially with socialist ideals, may not be unusual. However, It seems that the AAP is still in its chrysalis.
Trading of accusations has fouled the atmosphere with the power conflict sharpening. Yadav and Bhusan have been accused of having tried to defeat the party in the Delhi election which is a serious matter. Kejriwal has been accused of being autocratic. Inner party democracy has been found illusory. The party is not yet grounded in reality. However, it is the people who elected Kejriwal to power. Yadav and Bhushan do not perhaps come into the reckoning. When Kejriwal asked the national council to choose between him and the two dissidents, he received overwhelming support. But he has a lot of explaining to do. Except for achieving the pani-bijli-sarak objectives, his government has offered little to the electorate. Riddled with dissensions, his party is a long way from ensuring good governance.
