Mahua Moitra and Supriya Shrinate got into trouble for ‘outsourcing’ their responsibilities to others. The same is being done by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as he languishes behind ED bars. Some emissary who has access to him, be it his secretary or his wife, is communicating his ‘orders’ to ministers of the AAP government. If this becomes a regular affair, accepted by the system because of legal lacunae regarding an incarcerated CM, how soon before the emissaries adding their own content to the orders?
This is, of course, an imagined scenario, but possible in the developing circumstances. The investigative agencies have had Kejriwal’s ministerial colleagues in custody for long periods of time. If Kejriwal is kept behind bars for just as long, how is it possible for him to sign the many official documents required on a daily basis? Are the courts expected to make concessions in his case just because he is a chief minister? That’s what the Aam Aadmi Party seems to be demanding. In fact, had it not been election time, the matter would have been dealt with routinely as has happened in the past.
India’s parliamentary democracy, which has much of its roots in the British model, requires not just the laws but also conventions to be followed to function properly. It is presumed that political parties have proper organisational structures by which leadership dilemmas are resolved even in unusual circumstances. Unfortunately, this is not the case in most Indian parties, which have evolved on the pattern of ‘centralised’ leadership established by the Congress. As such, the interests of the ‘leader’ and ‘dynasty’ are placed before those of the party. This is easily the biggest reason for the decline of the Congress. Emergency was declared rather than have Indira Gandhi tender her resignation following a court decision.
The same goes for Kejriwal. If he was the principled person he has claimed to be ever since he got into politics, he would have surrendered the leadership and focused on clearing his name. He knows however, that, should somebody else hold the position long enough, he would not be reinstated. And, in this, they would be following exactly what he did to Anna Hazare. People should take note that the very party leaders protesting on the streets and declaring their fealty to him are hoping to take his place given half the chance. And that, exactly, is the BJP’s plan!
