Challenges before the newly sworn Kejriwal government: Bipin Sharma

There are two key factors that need to be taken into consideration before enlisting the challenges before the newly sworn Kejriwal government in the capital city.

The first factor being AAP managing a rout by winning 67 out of a total of 70 seats, and second factor being PM Modi’s stoic silence on grave communal attacks.

Had it not been for these two factors, there would have been a humungous challenge before AAP, but thanks to their thumping majority coupled with the ineptness of the PM in undertaking anything concrete in grave communal attacks, Team Kejriwal can heave a sigh of relief.

During the oath taking ceremony at Ramlila Maidan, Kejriwal displayed the signs of an astute politician when he advised the Indian Media to refrain from subjecting him to stringent time deadlines. Abreast with the hardcore reality about governance, he admitted that he had no magical wand to set things in order immediately.

It does not matter whether Kejriwal admits it openly or no, but he would have surely realized how different it is running a government compared to being a social activist.  Criticizing and cornering the government of the day is far easier whereas running a government is the actual test pftask for a crusader.

As far as the myriads of challenges go, Kejriwal needs to get his entire party cadre convinced that they would have to adopt a more amiable and a warm attitude towards the Central government since a good number of sanctions are to come through their offices. Having a confrontationist stance would only be detrimental for them which is why the AAP party

workers and mentors would have to re-define their strategies  if they nurture a serious desire and grit for transforming Delhi into a world class city.

During the election rallies and speeches, Kejriwal promised the moon to the Delhiites when he talked about the freebies.

The concept of freebies culture has to be done away with, as there’s no point making impractical and unachievable promises.

As per their election promises, the AAP has raised the expectations of lakhs of voters who reposed immense faith on him.

The citizens of Delhi look upon Kejriwal as an iconic personality who will improve the average standard of every common man.While he is pledged to providing free water, he needs to share a concrete plan about how he wishes to slash the electricity tariffs.

Then he needs to enlighten the affected families on how he wishes to regularize the unauthorized colonies. The CM has to elucidate the sourcing of the funds required for regularizing the illegal colonies, and simultaneously assure the citizens that they won’t be burdened with additional taxes while realizing his objective of regularizing the various illegal colonies.

AAP seems to be giving a great deal of priority to the issue of granting full statehood to Delhi which shouldn’t be the focus presently primarily because there are plethora of other challenges and burning issues that need the attention of the new Delhi government.

Kejriwal should be reminded of the fact that three world class cities namely London, Tokyo and Paris which happen to be capital cities of their countries too have not been not granted full statehood till date for obvious pragmatic reasons. As a norm, the capital cities are devoid of a full statehood, and instead granted other privileges. From that logic, Delhi too shouldn’t be treated as an exception.

It seems that Kejriwal and his party should have no problem with the DDA, NDMC continuing to be under the control of the Central government. However what they are really interested about is to get the Delhi Police under them for having a complete control on law and order.

On the other hand, the newly sworn Delhi CM has asked for a halt on all slum demolitions perhaps oblivious that the land on which the slums and other illegal dwellings stand are on either the DDA, MCD or the NDMC land.

Paradoxical to see the CM indulging in grand standing when the land in question, in the very first place, does not fall under the ambit of the State government.Engaging in‘politics of populism’ would not work in the longer run, and will prove detrimental for the AAP.

It is equally important for the state government to come to terms with the reality that a good number of clearances and sanctions for the state are rooted through the Central government, and thus they will have to keep a harmonious equation with them in case they are actually keen to see the swift pace of developmental works.