New Delhi:
In a stark critique, veteran social activist Anna Hazare has lambasted Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), as the party faces a significant defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections. With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) poised to reclaim power in Delhi after a 26-year hiatus, Hazare’s comments underscore the shifting political landscape in the national capital.
Kejriwal’s AAP, which dominated Delhi’s politics since its landslide victory in 2015, is now trailing far behind the BJP. This reversal of fortunes has prompted Hazare to reflect on what he believes led to AAP’s downfall. Hazare, who was once a mentor to Kejriwal during the 2011 anti-corruption movement, has been vocal about his disappointment in Kejriwal’s governance.
Hazare’s criticism centers on Kejriwal’s alleged focus on liquor and money power, which he believes has eroded the trust of voters. “A candidate’s conduct, thoughts, and life should be pure, without blame, and filled with sacrifice. These qualities help voters trust him,” Hazare emphasized. However, he noted that Kejriwal ignored his advice and instead became consumed by the lure of money and power.
The Delhi government’s 2021-22 liquor policy, which was eventually scrapped, has been a major point of contention. Hazare had written to Kejriwal in 2022, expressing his dismay over the policy that allegedly favored private wholesalers and retailers while allowing kickbacks to AAP leaders. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had claimed that this policy provided high-profit margins for these entities, further implicating AAP leaders in financial improprieties.
Hazare’s warnings to Kejriwal about maintaining a pure and blameless image were consistently ignored. This neglect, according to Hazare, led to Kejriwal’s downfall. “I told him that power, like liquor, intoxicates. It seems he was intoxicated by power,” Hazare remarked.
Early trends in the Delhi Assembly elections indicate a decisive majority for the BJP, with the party leading in over 40 seats. Kejriwal himself was defeated in his New Delhi seat by the BJP’s Parvesh Verma, a significant blow to his political stature. As the BJP celebrates its impending victory outside its Delhi headquarters with drumbeats, fireworks, and saffron-colored powder, the AAP’s hold on Delhi appears to be crumbling.
The BJP’s strong performance marks a significant shift in Delhi’s governance, with the party set to return to power after more than two decades. This change is seen as a rejection of Kejriwal’s governance model in favor of the BJP’s, highlighting the public’s dissatisfaction with AAP’s leadership.
