Kejriwal infuses hopes on recovery of democracy

As far as Delhi is concerned, the 'hurly-burly's done, the battle's lost and won', at least for another five years. In a spectacular event at the mighty Ramlila Maidan in the national capital on a rather placid Sunday, 51-year-old former civil servant Arvind Kejriwal took oath as the Chief Minister for the third time in a row.

And when the frail-looking but robust-sounding Haryanvi thundered 'a new politics has begun', the whole nation looked at him eagerly and with a newly infused hope. And yes, there is a reason for the widespread interest in Delhi politics, that until recently was not everybody's business.

Braving all odds, Aam Admi Party (AAP), whose national convener Arvind Kejriwal spoke sense to the voters of Delhi unlike other political parties in the country during the polls, swept the Assembly elections, thus confirming the fact the whole of the country has not turned insensitive to the political developments.

Kejriwal and his trusted lieutenant and longtime comrade in tirade against corruption Manish Sisodia, along with other AAP leaders Satyendra Jain, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Imran Hussain and Rajendra Pal Gautam took oath at the Ramlila Maidan to form the new Cabinet for a better Delhi and of course to set an example how proper politics can make democracy alive and ticking even in times of majoritarian fanaticism and politics of hatred being spread by parties that form the government at the Centre. Addressing two-crore odd people of Delhi, Kejriwal said, "Today your son has taken oath for a third time as Chief Minister.

This is not my win but yours - the people of Delhi. We will continue to work for the people of Delhi. In this elections, some people voted for AAP, some voted for BJP, some voted for Congress, some for other parties but now that I have taken oath, I am everyone's Chief Minister." This sent a message loud and clear not just to the people of Delhi, but to the general public across the country.

Kejriwal may not be an alternative to a political colossus like Narendra Modi, but his massive win – 62 out of 70 Assembly seats in Delhi elections – has definitely something to convey to the people of the country.

The possibility of Kejriwal becoming a national leader who represent the aspirations of common people in the country may only be the figment of imagination of political analysts and aspiring lawmakers, but the scope for a new messiah to incarnate in the prevailing situation where democracy is lying on deathbed is immensely high provided the grand old party should immediately act upon and dismantle its present leadership and scout for young, energetic and charismatic leaders who can change the country's ailing social stability.

It is high time for the Opposition Congress to come out of its dynastic hangover and to be wise to find out the next leader. Rahul Gandhi time and again proved to be a big flop all these years.

But that does not mean that there is no other leader in the country to counter the towering persona of Narendra Modi founded on jingoism and religious intolerance.

Now that the Delhi elections are done and dusted, the Opposition should come out of stupor and act smart – not for its gluttonous leaders, but for the millions of masses in the country.