Arvind Kejriwal (R) and Manish Sisodia announce the AAP decision to form government in Delhi at a press meet in Ghaziabad
Arvind Kejriwal's one-year-old Aam Aadmi Party has dazzled Delhi with a litany of promises that have been laughed off by its mainstream political rivals as unimplementable. The party may have just two and a half months to walk the talk. With the national election just five months away, a model code of conduct could soon be in place, so no government can take any steps to influence voters. Speaking to NDTV, Mr Kejriwal said, "We will deliver."
Here is a look at the AAP’s five top promises:
The party has insisted that it will end VIP culture in Delhi. A report says Mr Kejriwal has decided to scrap what is seen as the most "offensive symbol" of that culture - red beacons or lal battis on vehicles. No AAP minister will ride in a lal batti car, or stay in the traditional bungalows allotted to ministers, he has reportedly said.
Mr Kejriwal's pledge to reduce water and electricity bills has been described as impractical by the outgoing Congress, which is supporting the AAP. The fledgling party vowed to halve the power bills and conduct an audit of discoms, or electricity distribution companies, accused of overcharging consumers.
The AAP has vowed to provide 700 litres of free water to every household in Delhi. According to some estimates, that would cost the state some 340 crores a year.
The party has also promised "swaraj" or self-rule. To translate its idea of direct democracy into action, it has planned "mohalla sabhas" or neighbourhood meetings to decide on policies. The 272 meetings held across Delhi last week to invite public opinion on whether the AAP should form a government with Congress support, offered a preview of these mohalla sabhas.
The party promised to bring in a strong law for a Lokpal or an anti-corruption ombudsman within 15 days. The demand for a Lokpal was at the centre of Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal's campaign in 2011. Since then, the two men have drifted apart, with Anna Hazare backing the Centre's Lokpal Bill passed in Parliament last week, and Mr Kejriwal rubbishing it as a weak law designed to protect politicians.
Post a comment