Kejriwal should chin up for a larger role in Indian politics

Published: Thu 20 Feb 2020, 10:21 PM

Last updated: Fri 21 Feb 2020, 12:21 AM

Having discredited the Congress that otherwise would have been the principal opposition to the BJP at the Centre, Kejriwal and AAP should now chin up and prepare for a larger role in national politics.
The party's participating in the 2014 national elections and subsequent forays into states like Goa, Rajasthan and Punjab - a state where they conceded self-goals, did not bring much success. So, the party would be forgiven for being sceptical of a reentry. It is also true that the battle for Delhi was unlike that of any other state.
Larger states with diverse issues and more entrenched identity politics will require different kinds of political strategies. In addition, national success requires delegation and decentralisation, and AAP's past record does not inspire too much confidence on these fronts.
It is, however, time that AAP gets its act together. With a popular Hindi-speaking leader who understands modern-day politics, an enthusiastic party structure that is not yet associated with nepotism or corruption and the perception of being efficient administrators (much like Modi), the party has some of the key ingredients needed to challenge the BJP.
What it lacks, among other things, are resources and a wider party infrastructure. A project on this scale could take years, if not decades and AAP needs to start working on it right away.
- S. K Singh Dubai

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