Aam Aadmi Party – Means Common Man Party and abbreviated as AAP. A new political party emerges in India and Shocks everyone with a strong election results in Delhi. Political grounds are shaking all over the world and it seems India is the latest nation to experience such tremors. Frustrated with the inept governance of ruling Congress Party, and unwilling to embrace what is seen as corporate backed Hindus-nationalist opposition BJP – Bhartiya Janta Party, many Indians, specially seen in elections result of Delhi, are looking to embrace something new.
In local assembly elections held at Delhi, India’s sprawling capital, the Aam Aadmi Party won 28 out of 70 seats. The leader of AAP – Mr. Arvind Kejriwal himself beat the Chief Minister of the city, a veteran of the ruling Congress party who had dismissed the AAP as ‘Not even on our radar’ when it was founded a year ago, by a massive 27,000 vote margin. Congress was literally wiped out of Delhi, reduced to eight seats.
Every news channel showing the tremendous emerge of AAP and Mr. Kejriwal’s name flashing all over the media and news. But where did it actually came from? The Aam Aadmi Party – So called Common Man Party. How it all started? And how did it became so big in such a small period of time, which decreased the size of huge ruler Congress & the opposition BJP, the parties in command since years. What happened? Why the sudden air of change was blowing over the political campus of India?
Let’s take a look from the eye of a real common man, like you and me. Suddenly, on the news channel and social media we all of us heard a uncommon name as Kishan Baburao ‘Anna’ Hazare, more commonly known as Anna Hazare, who was born in 1937 and is widely known as a social activist who led movements to promote rural development, increase government transparency and investigate and punish official corruption. In 1992 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan – The third highest civilian award by the Government of India, for his efforts in establishing Ralegan Siddhi, a village in Parner Taluka of Ahmednagar as a model for the others. Thereafter suddenly in 2011 we heard about Anna Hazare starting a indefinite hunger strike on 5th day of April to exert pressure on The Indian Government to enact a stringent anti-corruption law, The Lokpal Bill, 2011 as envisaged in the Jan Lokpal Bill, for the institution of an ombudsman with the power to deal with corruption in public areas. This fast let to nationwide protest and support. The fast ended on 9th April 2011, a day after the government accepted his demands. And then comes the entry of Mr. Arvind Kejriwal in support of Anna Hazare and for his role in drafting a proposed Jan Lokpal Bill. Prior to this he has worked as a former Indian Revenue Service officer and politician. He has worked for IRS as a Joint Commissioner in the Income Tax Department. He has also won a Ramon Magsaysay Award for emergent leadership in 2006 for his contribution to the enactment of the Right To Information Act and his efforts to empower the poorest citizens of India.
The origins of the AAP can be traced to a difference of opinion between Arvind Kejriwal and Anna Hazare, social activists who had both been involved in Team Anna, a strand of the anti-corruption movement for Jan Lokpal Bill that had gained momentum in India during 2011 and 2012. Hazare had wanted to keep the movement politically neutral but Kejriwal considered that direct involvement in politics was necessary because attempts to obtain progress regarding the Jan Lokpal Bill through talks with existing political parties had, in his opinion, achieved nothing. A survey conducted by the India Against Corruption organisation using social networking services had indicated that there was wide support for politicisation.
Hazare and Kejriwal agreed on 19 September 2012 that their differences regarding a role in politics were irreconcilable. Kejriwal had support from some well-known people involved in the anti-corruption movement, such as Prashant Bhushan and Shanti Bhushan, but was opposed by others such as Kiran Bedi and Santosh Hegde. On 2 October, Kejriwal announced that he was forming a political party and that he intended the formal launch to be 26 November, coinciding with the anniversary of India's adoption of its constitution in 1949.
The party name reflects the phrase Aam Aadmi, or "common man", whose interests Kejriwal proposed to represent. A party constitution was adopted on 24 November 2012, when a National Council comprising 320 people and a National Executive of 23 were also formed. Both the Council and the Executive were expected to have more members in due course, with the intention being that all districts and all classes of people would have a voice. Various committees were to be formed to draft proposals for adoption by the party in a process that was expected to take several months. Although one aim was to limit nepotism, there were complaints at this initial meeting that the selection of people invited to attend was itself an example of such practices. The party was formally launched in Delhi on 26 November and in March 2013 it was registered as a political party by the Election Commission of India.
And now after the results of Delhi Election AAP is not just a ordinary party but a party who has emerged suddenly and taken of the grounds from age old rulers BJP & Congress. The Natural reason for this is seen as planning of Mr. Kejriwal, but actual fact is that Indian Common man is so much disappointed by both the big name parties that they were looking for the options that could become a better rule and hence the success of AAP was sudden. But do you think that we would be able to get a good leader in a new emerging party, when we were so disappointed by the age old experienced leaders and best economist such as Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh?
Time to think, AAP, BJP, Congress, RJD and many such parties all over India and what are we getting? Babaji Ka Thullu? India needs a political renovation, let’s see if AAP can bring it or emerging of AAP can create renovation in BJP or Congress. Let’s See!
As of now, the picture of not taking support in making the government in Delhi just makes me think that AAP, BJP and Congress all are just playing with political field of India and the emotions of Voters of India. Horribly Disgusting! If they didn't had a backup plan to create a government, then why the hell were they contesting the elections???
