Parties bring themselves AAP-to-date

NEW DELHI: In the upcoming assembly elections, the criteria for selecting candidates seems to have changed for all political parties. It’s not just BJP and Congress, but also small players like BSP, SP and NCP, besides others, who are looking for candidates with a ‘clean image’.

Thanks to Aam Admi Party (AAP), which has changed the political discourse in the country by making corruption the central issue, political parties are now making concentrated efforts to project a clean image in public. Political parties, which are known for fielding candidates with money and muscle power, admit that corruption is the core issue in the assembly elections and have decided to deny tickets to people with a tainted background.

The BJP’s decision to appoint Dr Harsh Vardhan as its chief ministerial candidate is a case in point. Sources say BJP hopes to encash his ‘clean image’ and silence opponents like activist-turned-politician and AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on the issue of corruption. On Tuesday, AAP claimed credit for BJP’s decision to appoint Dr Harsh Vardhan as its CM candidate. “The BJP’s announcement of Dr Harsh Vardhan’s name is a clear win for AAP which has been fighting for clean politics…The corrupt Congress made Manmohan Singh its face at the centre. But he failed to check corruption within his own government. Similarly, now a corrupt BJP has made Dr Harsh Vardhan its face in Delhi…Isn't Dr Harsh Vardhan Delhi BJP's Manmohan (Singh),” asked Kejriwal.

Political parties like SP, BSP and NCP, among others, which have a smaller presence in the capital, have also embraced the idea of clean politics. “We have decided that people with a criminal background will not be given a ticket. We are going to take extra precautions this time to ensure that our candidates have a good image and greater acceptability among the public,’’ said Kanwar Pratap Singh, national secretary and president of the Delhi wing of NCP.

Similarly, BSP and SP are taking their time in declaring their candidates. The BSP, which has fielded many rich and powerful candidates in the past, is now carefully screening candidates. “We are checking backgrounds. This time, we are giving tickets to party workers with a clean image. We have given tickets to advocates, small-time traders among others. As a party, we don’t believe in promoting people with a tainted background, but after the Supreme Court order, we are making a conscious effort to keep people with tainted backgrounds out of elections,’’ said M L Tomar, in-charge of Delhi BSP.

“People are fed-up of corruption and inflation. They want leaders who can work and deliver results. We are giving tickets to candidates who are well-connected at the grassroot level, have a clean image and can deliver results. Today, people want a government which can deliver,’’ said Usha Yadav, president of Delhi SP.

Few are, however, willing to give any credit to AAP. “AAP had claimed that their candidates have a clean image, but this is not true. They have also given tickets to candidates with tainted backgrounds,’’ alleged Tomar.

What AAP thinks today, the other political parties think one year later.

Anna and his India Against Corruption have been harping on corruption but the other political just made fun of them.

It was the Supreme Court with two quick dismissals of two MPs which finally made the parties see how serious the matter had become.

However, the credit should also go to AAP which has made corruption the central issue.

People ask AAP their views on other issues but AAP say that once corruption is tackled, other issues will be solved as we will have money for the other issues.

I agree with them.

I also agree with them that decisions should be taken at the village level or the street level instead of at the top wherein the supremo decides what is good for the people.

Here in Bengal we have Mamata Banerjee deciding that Kolkata should look like London. So decides to decorate the streets in kolkata with Trident lights which serve just decorative purpose but give no illumination. The Sodium Vapour lights were removed to accomodate.

Now, after one year, a good percentage of these lights on VIP Road have become inoperative/broken and KMC is now reinstalling the Sodium Lights. Similarly, Mamta decides to donate Rs 2.0 lakhs to each of around 7000 thousand clubs ostensibly to promote sports but actually to canvas for the TMC during elections and do the dirty work of booth capturing and threatening votes. However, I smell a scam here.Suddenly clubs are springing up to collect the Rs 2.0 lakhs donation. I suspect, most of these clubs may be just two men clubs, formed just to get the money.

In UP, we have seen how Mayawati suddenly decided to cover Lucknow with statues of elephants and herself.

Do you think, the people would have agreed, if she had asked the people?