In an obvious attempt to put the BJP on the defensive, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Singh has invoked the Ramayana while setting the narrative for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Soon after taking over, she decided to sit on a separate chair adjacent to the one occupied by Arvind Kejriwal in the CM office to send out a strong message to the cadres as well as the opponents. Atishi referred to Lord Rama’s 14 year exile to keep his father’s promise to one of his wives, and highlighted how during this period, Bharat his brother out of deep reverence for him, governed Ayodhya by placing his footwear on the throne, thus waiting for him to return and rule. The analogy in modern times may sound misplaced but Atishi by giving this illustration, tried to convey that she was there only as a stop gap arrangement, and her mentor Kejriwal would return once the polls were over, and after people brought back the AAP for the third consecutive time in the next elections. The Ramayana messaging was also aimed at the BJP and the Saffron Brigade which has been targeting her for the Leftist background of her parents, both activists of the Delhi university at one time. This way, she has made a conscious effort to distance herself from the Leftist leanings while embracing the pragmatic politics of AAP, as well as to appeal to the common man. The AAP’s popularity has been on the decline and after Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh were all behind bars, there was no one to provide direction to the cadres. Atishi, did carry a big burden on her shoulders and acquitted herself pretty well as a minister. Now as the CM, the expectations from her are many times higher and therefore, she has to wear both the administrative hat as well be one of the prominent political faces of the party. Many political observers feel that by giving an impression that she was on the seat temporarily, she may have made a mistake. The bureaucracy which in any case, works under the command of the Lt. Governor would see her as an interim arrangement and may decline to listen to her. This indeed is a challenge since the CM has to be full time and not someone who is viewed as an adhoc position holder.
There is little doubt in anyone’s mind that Kejriwal is indeed the boss of the party but till he is cleared by a court of law, his getting back as the CM, could pose problems which have forced him to resign. On his part as well, he may want to now adopt the Congress model where Dr Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, but the general perception remained that the power was vested in the then president Sonia Gandhi. The issues that arise are that Kejriwal and the AAP had entered the political arena with the objective of making the country “Congress mukt’’. If the party has to follow what the Congress did, it would show that there was no difference between the two. In fact, the AAP is a lot closer to the BJP in many ways politically than to the Congress.
It is not without a reason, that many of its critics describe it as the “B’’ team of the RSS. Atishi’s falling back on Ramayana would strengthen this belief and it may cost the AAP politically in terms of minority votes. In the political scenario that exists today, the Muslims which used to support AAP because in their perception, it was best suited to defeat the BJP in the capital, may move over to the Congress completely. Till now, they were divided, but now they would be with the Congress absolutely. In addition, the AAP has been irrational in dealing with its Dalit members; many of the seniors who were elected thrice find themselves on the sidelines while many juniors have been given plum positions.
The fallout could be that the Dalits too may choose to get back to the Congress. For record, it needs to be mentioned that Dalits, Muslims and Brahmins constituted the original Congress vote bank. Thus, after these communities started supporting other parties, the decline of the Congress commenced. The logical corollary is that if the AAP is unable to retain its Muslim and Dalit support, these communities may choose the Congress thus not only weakening Kejriwal but adding to the political muscle of the grand old party, which has been virtually marginalized in the city. In addition, if the AAP’s politics also revolves around Hindutva issues, it would be eating into the BJP vote bank and by default also helping the Congress that could become a major player in a triangular fight next year. Atishi’s performance as the CM would be closely watched and could impact the political prospects of the party one way or the other.
Since she is a new face, she does not carry the baggage of either Kejriwal or Sisodia, both of whom have been her mentors. She has to carve her own place and cannot afford to be viewed as a rubber stamp of her party’s central leadership. She has the potential and thus has to simultaneously provide good governance in this short period as also she has to enhance the prospects of her party. Kejriwal and Sisodia have reposed their confidence in her but it is for her to take the ship forward. On one hand, she has to deal with the Lt.Governor, who enjoys overriding powers and on the other hand, she has to keep the flock together in her party.
