Often Arvind Kejriwal might be getting up with feelings of frustration in the morning. The anti-corruption movement’s prince simply can’t seem to make a headway in the political circles. He is like the one kid in class who is a people pleaser, and yet nobody seems to invite him for lunch during the recess break.
He came into limelight under the mentorship of Anna Hazare during India’s biggest anti-corruption movement. The whole fight was held outside the authority system, opposite India Gate. He began his journey as an outsider.
Once he decided to join mainstream politics, he was left without the embrace of Hazare. He formed his own jumbled bag of upstart politicians. The gang of novices started functioning as a political party in Delhi.
As people in the ‘Thugnagri’ were fed up with the biggest thug Robert Vadra, Kejriwal came to power. He had his chance of redemption. But he could not hold the seat beyond 49 days. The Anti-Kejriwal gang was vindicated. In the Gangs of Wasseypur style, the established and experienced white clad and Nehru topi wielding politicians told him, “Tumse nah ho payega.”
The leader of the Aam Admi Party had his face slapped by a commoner. His style of sitting on dharnas outside on pavements was mocked as street form of governance. His cough and his muffler became a subject of jokes because our country is habituated to a particular archetype of politician. And he did not fit the bill at all.
He came back with a bang in Delhi during the 2015 General Elections. But the structure of the Delhi government, as a central capital territory, has left him handicapped. The Lt. Governor has more powers in matters of legislation and execution. He seems more subdued after learning some lessons in Indian polity. And yet, he cannot break the ice that moulds the traditional Indian political system.
He fought the system, and now the system is not accepting him. Neither of the mainstream parties, ruling or opposition, want to be associated with him.
As there are demands to allot a Rajya Sabha seat to Kejriwal, it might be the last glimmer of a dying star. Only a major political cataclysm might save this novice politician.
