In search of an alternative - DNA Editorial

The Aam Aadmi Party's experiment has revealed a different imagination of electoral politics as it talks about a new way of transacting governance.

The idea of alternative politics has never appeared more seductive. As veteran politicians of the two dominant national parties go down in public esteem and young chief ministers like Akhilesh Yadav make a mess of governance, the search for alternative politics has accelerated.

Interestingly, this election season, the quest for ‘politics with a difference’ has moved beyond the conventional Third-Front paradigm. The entry of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) — armed with a radical philosophy — has provided a new dimension to the concept of a third alternative. The AAP is talking about a new way of transacting politics and governance, departing from the conventional electoral practices. Its language of discourse as well as the party programme are distinctly different from conventional Third-Front speak.

Seen from this perspective, the idea of a political alternative — not merely shifting loyalties from one mainstream party to another — but initiating a radical discourse on politics, assumes special significance. It can be argued that given the extent of the rot entrenched in the system, nothing but a dramatic shift and overhaul of the existing networks of power, can work. Take a look at the state of the Congress and the BJP — the two main contenders for power.

Though the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is gaining ground on the popularity index, the same can hardly be said of his party. The ruling Congress’s stock stands at an all-time low. Above all, public faith in the political system and institutions is corroded beyond measure.

The moribund state of the two national parties and the expected fractured electoral mandate, giving the regional parties a decisive say in the next government formation, has spurred disparate Third Front parties to begin backroom confabulations. Speculation is already in the air about a federal front put together by powerful state leaders, who have been persistently demanding a restructuring of Centre-state relations.

Recently, the CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat met the Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav — a former ally — and a core member of the erstwhile United Front. Significantly, Yadav said that in the absence of either the Congress or the BJP notching up the requisite numbers, “a Third Front will be formed after the polls to form the government at the Centre.”

Regional leaders like Nitish Kumar, Naveen Patnaik, Mamata Banerjee and even Sharad Pawar — NCP leader and UPA ally — may not be averse to explore options with a non-Congress, non-BJP front.

The space for such alternative formations — a counterpoint to the dominant national parties — has always existed in Indian politics. Throughout the 1960s, 70s and the 80s, we have seen its electoral manifestations in states and at the Centre. As the main opposition party, the BJP, and the regional parties grew more and more powerful in the 1990s, the Congress lost its historic hegemony at the national level. The Third Front gained currency. But in more ways than one, these experiments, often chaotic and short-lived, have failed to provide a radical alternative.

Unfortunately, even the parties, which ostensibly swear by alternative political culture and praxis, have failed to live up to the expectations. In that process, the idea of a different political process, has come to seem more and more like an illusion. This is where Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP can make a significant contribution: reviving faith in a viable and truly democratic political alternative.

The above is from the Editorial from DNA, a leading newspaper in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

As the wind blows in Delhi, both the Congress and the BJP have become "also ran" parties and as per latest survey, the AAP is expected to win 43 seats.

We still have 50 days left for the elections and by election date I won't be surprised if they get more than 55 seats although only 47 are required for a two third majority, the number required to get bills passed without any hindrance.

They should be able to form a government by the 14th December, my son's birthday and on the 29th they have promised to pass the Jan Lokpal bill in Delhi.

If they are able to keep this promise, there is no stopping them from winning all the 7 seats from Delhi in the next parliamentary elections in 2014.

Since the Haryana elections will also become due in 2014, AAP putting up candidates in all the 90 seats.

The Robert Vadra's scam is fresh in everyone's mind.Hooda's sins of omission and commission should wipe him out.The opposition combine of Chauthala and BJP is no better. Chauthala is still in jail for the teacher's recruitment scam.

Haryana is also Arvind Kejriwal's home state. AAP should get at least 60 seats in the Haryana assembly and probably 8 out of 10 MP seats.

With two states in their bags, which are the other states AAP could put up candidates.

I would suggest, W.Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra, Karnataka and Kerala.

In all the above states, the people are fed up of two equally corrupt regimes.

CPM and TMC in W.Bengal.

Congress/NCP and BJP/Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

Congress and TDP/BJP in Andhra.

Congress and BJP in Karnataka.

Congress and CPM in Kerala.

The people of these states are just fed up of having to chose between two equally corrupt parties.

The AAP would give the people a good, honest and corruption free government.

The AAP should get another 30 to 40 MPs from these states in 2014.

Don't talk of the third front which is in the making/breaking.

It is just a ploy of Mulayam Singh to further his agenda of becoming the Prime Minister of India.