3 Mistakes Of Arvind Kejriwal’s Political Life

The problem of a love-child born of street protests and anti-system demonstrations is excessive noise. Aam Aadmi Party and their leader Arvind Kejriwal, born after system apathy and growing corruption had caught popular imagination, has stayed true to the template by drawing attention to itself through rhetoric, reason and rising noise against the system. The party, though, seems to be in a mood for hara-kiri. Suffice to say that with the drubbing in the national elections, Kejriwal's stint in jail could have been entirely avoided. Here are the three mistakes of Kejriwal's life that should not have happened.

Leaving Delhi And Being Labelled Bhagoda

© BCCL

When people repose faith in you, you go out and serve them, not dump them. Lesson 101 of politics was lost on the entire party that decided to quit Delhi government on an issue of moral principle. Kejriwal forgot that politics is as much about bargaining for the best as it is about governing with a firm hand. In turn, AAP's credibility went south and the party could not do anything to stop itself from self-destructing in the elections that followed.

Challenging Narendra Modi In Varanasi

© BCCL

Everybody loves a good underdog story but Arvind Kejriwal was no match for the Modi wave sweeping the country. Contesting against him in Varanasi made no sense as the party was hardly known outside Delhi and Punjab, where it had a following. While the media duly covered the battle between the two, people on the ground never really got a sense of Kejriwal as the party was fighting the elections on very thin resources that was organised at double-quick time across the country. Where Modi relied on Amit Shah to prepare Uttar Pradesh and Varanasi to be delivered to him, Kejriwal simply lacked the charm and drawing power of his competitor. His loss means that AAP will need to rework on its strategy and put up a brave face after facing a humiliating defeat.

Not Obeying The Law And Going To Tihar

© BCCL

Lastly, over the last couple of days, Kejriwal has demonstrated that his street movement is still very much the DNA of his party. This is a wrong message to send to potential voters and supporters. A movement can be born on the ground but when people power it to Parliamentand State Assemblies, it does not befit politicians to rake the mud on trivial issues as giving up a bail bond of Rs 10,000, Worse, Kejriwal's actions suggest that he does not believe in the law as this was a court-related matter, not a political scandal. This is absolutely unacceptable and Kejriwal must learn that taking law and order in your hands is not the right way to win votes.

Kejriwal's cause in noble and his intentions correct but there needs to be a method to the madness instead of just madness. We hope somebody at the party hears us out and begins to act maturely from here on.