Arvind Kejriwal's List: He Has Caught The Mainstream Parties And Old Fuddy-Duddies Off Guard Again!

By Capt G R Gopinath (Guest Writer)

The hallmark of guerrilla warfare is the element of surprise and to be always one step ahead of the enemy. Just when the enemy is smug and wallowing in his comfort zone, 'Boom!' There's an ambush.

The audacious naming of twenty-five 'most corrupt' politicians in the country, which seems to be the first list, was once again a classic guerrilla tactic that caught the big bosses of the mainstream parties and the old fuddy-duddies off guard. 
The announcement of a strategy at the AAP Political Affairs Committee, to identify and focus on about one hundred and sixty five politicians with criminal backgrounds, and to put up honest AAP candidates against them and give them a tough fight in the ensuing parliament elections, and the clarion call to the country to come together and ban them entry to Parliament and cleanse the system, has touched a responsive chord across the country and sent shock waves across the political establishment. 

Arvind Kejriwal has once again proved his brilliance in capturing the imagination of the country, leaving seasoned politicians numb and sending them scurrying for cover. He does not have to spend hundreds of crores hiring top flight ad agencies to build brand 'AAP'.

A few months after he split from the Anna movement, Kejriwal said he would expose one politician and a scandal every week, with documentary proof. Till then politicians had attacked one another, sometimes getting personal with below the belt remarks, but never targeting the corrupt among themselves. 

However, the common people were astute and could easily sense that most politicians belonged to a cosy club, where it was an accepted unwritten code and a tacit understanding that they would not expose one another when it came to cases of corruption. Though they belonged to different political parties, one common denominator bound all of them together. 

No one went after their colleagues in hot pursuit with documentary evidence to expose the 'loot', unless it was already a scam exposed by the media or NGOs or other agencies. They adhered to a secret code of honour of silence among themselves, just like the Mafiosi in the film 'The Godfather'.

Kejriwal changed all that in a daring, gutsy move that was unheard of and unthinkable. He came well prepared with documents from RTI queries, a movement in which he was one of the crusaders, and without much ado read out the names of high profile politicians or their associates. Kejriwal went straight for the jugular and it made headlines and won the hearts of millions of people across the country. 

Here was a frail and diminutive man, just like one of them in nondescript clothes, unassuming in appearance, taking on the mightiest of the land and cocking a snook at them - an upright and courageous David taking on the evil Goliath.

What brought Kejriwal and AAP to power was largely based on two promises. One, that they would rid the country of corruption. And two, that they would be humble. There's no necessity to promise free water or subsidies in a hurry, before an in-depth study is conducted, and trip on your promise. 

All the people were united in one demand - they wanted good governance and freedom from bloodsucking bureaucrats and politicians. Even the poorest of the poor do not want a free lunch. They want jobs and access to good education, healthcare and infrastructure. There's no dearth of brilliant economists, capable defence analysts, eminent jurists or bright foreign policy experts. Kejriwal can hire the best of them and come out with a sound and prudent policy document and a road map for development. There is time enough for it.

But there's a real dearth of honest people who are committed to bringing about far-reaching changes in our system and institutions. There's no time to postpone this, as the country is impatient. So kudos to Kejriwal for discovering the pulse of the people again. The country is sick and tired of corruption. There will be fulminations and righteous anger amongst those who have been named in the 'corruption list'. 

They will fret and fume, and swear that Kejriwal must prove his accusations or apologise for his brazen act - and if allegations are proved, they will take 'political sanyas'. All that won't wash with the public. With brazen, rampant corruption being a reality, with seething anger against the present state of affairs, what will stick is Kejriiwal's charge.

And so he must press home the advantage and ride the tide and capture as many seats as possible and deliver on his promise of good governance. All is fair in love and war and elections.