As Aam Aadmi Party convenor and chief ministerial candidate Arvind Kejriwal is all set to form government in the national capital with the help of external support by Congress, the big question that emerges out of this development is whether or not the AAP will complete the 5-year tenure?
Arvind Kejriwal’s promises to the electorate as of now look untimely as the Lok Sabha elections are just five months away and a model code of conduct could soon be in place. And no government can take any steps to influence voters.
Also, any decision by the AAP against the two parties, Congress and BJP, may hamper the political stability as the Congress can withdraw external support if things go against it.
The BJP will also try hard not to let AAP work toward fulfilling its promises as made in its manifesto.
Also, Kejriwal’s promise of reducing the electricity bill and supply of 700 litres of waters to every household looks almost impossible in the near future as any audit of electricity regulatory body will take time and also that regulatory body may seek stay by court of law.
Following are the five promises which Kejriwal made to 'aam aadmi'.
- The AAP has vowed to provide 700 litres of free water to every household in Delhi. According to some estimates, that would cost the state some 340 crores a year.
- Kejriwal's pledge to reduce water and electricity bills has been described as impractical by the outgoing Congress, which is supporting the AAP. The fledgling party vowed to halve the power bills and conduct an audit of discoms, or electricity distribution companies, accused of overcharging consumers.
- The party has also promised "swaraj" or self-rule. To translate its idea of direct democracy into action, it has planned "mohalla sabhas" or neighbourhood meetings to decide on policies. The 272 meetings held across Delhi last week to invite public opinion on whether the AAP should form a government with Congress support, offered a preview of these mohalla sabhas.
- The party promised to bring in a strong law for a Lokpal or an anti-corruption ombudsman within 15 days. The demand for a Lokpal was at the centre of Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal's campaign in 2011. Since then, the two men have drifted apart, with Anna Hazare backing the Centre's Lokpal Bill passed in Parliament last week, and Mr Kejriwal rubbishing it as a weak law designed to protect politicians.
- The party has insisted that it will end VIP culture in Delhi. A report says Mr Kejriwal has decided to scrap what is seen as the most "offensive symbol" of that culture - red beacons or lal battis on vehicles. No AAP minister will ride in a lal batti car, or stay in the traditional bungalows allotted to ministers, he has reportedly said.
He told the lieutenant governor that AAP is ready to form government with the help of Congress on December 26. He is likely to take oath at iconic Jantar Mantar.
This comes after AAP sought public opinion and held jan sabhas to reach any conclusion over forming government in Delhi.
Although the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) did not announce the results of the referendum on Sunday, the positive response was evident in most of the meetings it organised, including the four attended by Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency.
"The response is an overwhelming 'yes' and we cannot run away from this responsibility given to us by the people," said Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia.
The party is keen to hold Kejriwal's swearing in ceremony at Jantar Mantar, from where it launched its anti-corruption crusade, in a departure from the practice of taking oath at the governor's house, Raj Bhawan.
After BJP had informed the LG that it would like to sit in opposition, the Congress, which has just eight MLAs, offered unconditional outside support for AAP to form the government. Following this the referendum was organised by means of SMS, phone calls, online voting and jan sabhas.
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