India’s political smorgasbord

With the Congress announcing its support to the AAP government on the floor of the Delhi assembly, the odds are that Arvind Kejriwal’s fledgling government is not in imminent danger. But to my mind, the actions that the AAP government have taken in the first 3-4 days of its term have raised some questions. Indeed, so has Rahul Gandhi’s penchant for publicly displaying his displeasure about various matters. This time, he railed against against the Maharashtra Congress-NCP government’s decision to reject the Adasrh Society report. As a result, the harried Chief Minister of Maharashtra has gone on record to say that they will partially accept the findings. It remains to be seen if he will also train his guns on party veteran Virbhadra Singh (CM of HP), who has been accused of corruption by the BJP’s Arun Jaitley.

Meanwhile, Modi’s campaign seems to have lost some of its intensity in the past few weeks. Also, apart from accusing UPA II of mismanaging the nation’s economy and corruption, he has said little. I am sure there are many like me who would like to know the BJP’s position on what our foreign policy will be vis-a-vis Sri Lanka, China, Pakistan, the USA etc. Also, what actions do he (and his advisors) have in mind to tame retail inflation?

I’d love your views on these questions…

1. In its hurry to be seen to be fulfilling its poll promises, is AAP guilty of not paying enough attention to the economic consequences of its actions? For example, would it have been more prudent had they clearly declared that the subsidy route is only a short-term measure til they are able to arrange for piped water supply and meters to under-served and unserved parts of Delhi?
2. By supporting the UPA, has the Congress converted its lack of choice into a really smart political move? Let me explain. Even today, Arvinder Singh Lovely of the Delhi Congress said they would support the AAP as long as its policies were pro people and administration corruption-free. By letting the AAP take a series of potentially ill-advised decisions, the Congress could be creating a situation when, in April or May, it can tell the voters of Delhi something along these lines: “We supported the AAP for 4-5 months, and look what they have done. And you anyway know that the BJP is not really an alternative. Ergo, vote for the only party that can provide a stable government”.
3. Several high-profile corporate leaders are reported to have joined AAP. But does the party have the administrative apparatus in place to convert the growing anger of India’s people against corruption and “scam-rajya” into votes (in time for the 2014 polls)?
4. Many in urban India may relate to AAP’s ideology. But will India’s rural voters appreciate it equally? If not, can AAP really make a difference by providing a credible alternative to the BJP and Congress?
5. Will AAP be able to provide the nucleus around which regional parties unite? Or will individual aspirations of regional satraps prevent that kind of coalition? And even if such an alliance is created, can it sustain?
6. By inviting Yeddyurappa to rejoin the party he left in a huff last year (under the cloud of corruption), is the BJP diluting its avowed stand against corruption? Or will the expected gains from Lingayat votes be more than any negative rub-off on voters who tend to view the BJP as less prone to corruption than the Congress?

Tough questions for sure. And I for one do not have the right answers. About a month ago, I would have completely ruled out the possibility of UPA 3. Now, I am not so sure…. I guess only time will tell.