WITHIN a month of its triumphal march to victory in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is in trouble. An audio clip has emerged showing that Arvind Kejriwal reportedly tried to split the Congress to capture power. Whether or not the tape is genuine, it has caused a rift in the AAP lute. Kejriwal resigned last year from the hot seat which won him both bouquets and brickbats. But the Delhi elections put him back right at the top. There are indications however that the party’s ethics and probity are not above suspicion. The AAP at the outset succumbed to a power struggle between Kejriwal and the ideologues, Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav. The latter were expelled from the party’s highest decision-making body. Their presence had not merely attracted youth power but also offered a challenge to many other parties. But now the trading of allegations is undermining the party base. Yadav wants the controversial clip to be referred to the AAP’s internal lokpal. Arvind Kejriwal has to come clean to reassure the people of Delhi.
Within a month, the new government has only fulfilled promises on water and power. Otherwise, it has achieved nothing. The Central government monitors every step taken by it month by month to assure good governance according to the BJP commitment. The AAP has to follow its example. It has to take steps to achieve full statehood for Delhi. As soon as Kejriwal gets well, he should read the party manifesto between the lines and put the focus on the aam aadmi who elected his government.
