12-point strategy for AAP that Kejriwal can’t afford to overlook in 2014

1. Healthy Kejriwal will achieve more than fasting Kejriwal

You fast every other month. You entered politics because fasting wasn’t taking the people’s movement anywhere. So, why do it now. People care more when an old 80-year-old is fasting for 10 days. There won’t be many sympathizing with your cause. You have diabetes – fasting can be dangerous for your health in the long-run. As one of your followers, it worries me to no end. In winter, when you came on TV, you were coughing a lot, that’s not good. You are the heart and soul of this movement and you need to take care of your health. India needs you more than ever today.

2. Delhi Elections 2013 will be the first step before you finish the race

Don’t think of anything else, if you win Delhi 2013, your organization will exponentially rise and nobody would ignore you anymore. If you lose, the movement is over. This is why all the attacks on your offices and paid-media blackouts been conspired against you. Seeing the turn-out at your Jansabhas, BJP and Congress are actually scared this time. The Delhi seat won’t keep rocking between these two parties anymore.

3. Media, though mostly in the pockets of business houses, will make-or-break your party

After Delhi, media will not ignore you – to prepare for that moment, you should handle media with the utmost care. You did a blunder by going against big businessmen without adequate proof. I am not saying whether you were right or wrong on black money but your documents could not be accepted on face value, so media got an excuse to ignore you. Most of this “media” is already owned by the same business houses you targeted in the first place. So media will always be a sticky wicket for your party.

4. Nurture second and third line of leadership – this will be the future of AAP

Don’t make your party a one man show. There’s already an image of an autocrat being build against your working style. Break that image by bringing more second line and third line leaders to front. Let leaders rise in states – and share power with them. Don’t model the power structure of your party like Congress. You don’t want to become another “Gandhi”. BJP’s cadre structure lets more people rise to the top – this could be a better model to follow. Take an example, BJP will have a one-man-show of Modi in 2014 but everybody knows the good work by Yashwant Sinha in Vajpayee government by checking inflation and I believe Yashwant Sinha will play an important role if BJP comes to power. We need a lot more competent faces at the top in Aam Aadmi Party.

5. Build party-wide, well thought-out opinion on national issues like Kashmir

Aam Aadmi Party needs to communicate it’s position to public on national issues. Your agenda needs to be more than anti-corruption. For example, stop Prashant Bhushan to communicate his personal opinions on Kashmir – since you’re a political party now, your political position needs to be communicated officially. Making irresponsible statements harms your credibility in voter’s opinion. You’re  not here to just win the elections on anti-incumbency – you’re here to bring long-lasting change in the system – and for that you need to address the ugly truths like Kashmir as well. Make a well thought out strategy for such tricky subjects.

6. Let AAP show India how powerful it can be in opposition – become the watchdog in parliament first

Don’t plan-on, neither promise to occupy the parliament in 2014. Nobody can compete Modi in 2014. What you can target is the strategic position of opposition. On the other hand, show your governance skills in Delhi, at state level first. This was the first step for Modi too. You will have to be Delhi Chief Minister 2013 to take the movement forward. Let the world see how clean politics can After that, turn your vision into reality for the next few months and then in 2014, fight the Lok Sabha election, you are the face of the party, enter into politics of centre. Aam janta are waiting to see people like you in parliament. You will make the best opposition, not like pseudo-opposition today like BJP. I really look forward to you and Modi debating in the Lok Sabha. That’ll be some real law-making.

7. Don’t get disheartened by ridiculous criticism

People call you greedy for power. I don’t understand who are they to make such random qualitative assessments bout your motives. Most such opinions are either inspired by jealousy or are sponsored by invisible forces for whom you’re clearly an irritant. In a democracy, every person has the right to join politics and there’s nothing wrong with that. CAG Vinod Rai rightly said that “It’s nothing wrong to have political ambitions”. Media’s job is to tell the people what is the vision of the party, instead of giving baseless forecast about who turns into a dictator. I mean, in media’s opinion if you are a dictator, than imagine what Modi is. There’s clearly no stopping him from prime-minister’s post in 2014. I am not criticizing any of you here, as a matter of fact, in 21st century India needs decisive leadership. We’re already over a decade late in finding such a leader. We’re glad that you’re here now.

8. Perception will make or break a political success 

The ‘P’ of politics stands for ‘Perception’. Make it work for your party. Sell your ideas the way people want to hear it. Your socialist outlook makes people perceive you as anti-business and left-leaning. While in reality you’re far from it – as a matter of fact you are more pro-business than any other leader around. Let me explain – in my state there is not much investment – why? Because of red-tapism.. Corruption is a nightmare for a businessman. If you remove corruption you help small scale industries and manufacturing sector to prosper. Crony capitalism needs to be kept in check, even US, the most business friendly country imposed fine on banks worth 2 Mill USD on cases of money laundering. Left-leaning leaders like Yogendra Yadav need to be taken on board for this. Congress has already failed India with it’s “pro-aam-aadmi” policies. Unless we pool more money into our economy no socialist policy will ever function. Off-course corruption needs to be reduced side-by-side.

9. Don’t engage in “Sickularism”

Some people in your party are “perceived” to engage in this kind of politics. The mandate is clear – majority doesn’t accept this twisted version of secularism anymore. That is why Modi is winning despite clearly being communal. What Prashant Bhushan said on plebiscite in Kashmir a year ago may not have an ill-motive and what he said on AFSPA a few days ago is clearly debatable. It’s sad that ”removing AFSPA” is equated with “giving away Kashmir”. No, it’s not. I am not advocating complete removal of AFSPA, but it’s provisions could be changed after a proper debate. You have to make sure the right message goes to the people”. If you are “mis-interprated”, you become a part of the sickular brigade.

10. Stay away from Babas, Swamis, Authors and 5-Star Activists

You have been associated with them in the past. And it’s understandable – a new people movement needed support from all corners. But now, real motivation of such actors need to be understood before associating with them. A lot of these people have their single point agenda and don’t look the issue at a broader perspective. Though not all activists are bad, I have huge respect for Irom Sharmila, but I don’t like those activists who turn “intellectuals” at literary fests. While others merely want to misuse your movement as a spring-board for their own personal ambitions. Create new leaders instead – common man has a lot of people with genuine interest in creating a clean government. Bring more common people without the badge of “celebrity” on top.

11. Make small realistic targets and try to achieve them

Accept one fact, you won’t form the government in 2014, so you have to take care that you select your targets and achieve them. Under-promise and over-deliver, and you’ll stick to people’s memories. Under-deliverance will make you fizzle out overtime. Numbers are most important thing in politics. I believe, your organization has a considerable presence in Maharashtra, Haryana, Western UP and M.P. Target some seats in this region where other parties are weak and they don’t have a presence and try to win them. This will ensure that you win 30-40 seats in Lok Sabha, which is highly appreciable for a new party. Achieving this will prove your presence as a real contender to the top job. Next 5 years will see the rapid development and expansion of your party. You can’t beat Modi in Gujurat or Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, so don’t waste your resources there. Challenging theme there could be good for the ego, but will fail you mathematically. The same resources will fetch you 5 more seats elsewhere.

And the most important,

12. Don’t lose hope

I personally was a cynic. I never followed Anna’s movement. I used to say ”yeh Anshan se kuch nahi hoga, inka bill nahi pass hoga”. But the day you said you are entering politics, I saw hope. The protests against the Delhi gang rape wouldn’t have happened if YOU hadn’t shaken-up the country and brought back nationalism from the dead. A journalist rightly said that “we are passing through a very romantic phase, romance towards the nation, romance towards our country, claiming our stake in it”. I also participated in the protests against the Delhi rape in my city, all because of YOU, I never felt as much “Indian” as I felt in later 2012 and feeling now.  It’s because of YOU that for the first time in my life of 20 years. I used such words like “Is desh ko kya ho gaya hai, Yaar desh ke liye kuch karna hai”. I don’t know what will I do, perhaps join an NGO or do some social-work after completing my studies and getting a job. I don’t know if this energy will last if you would not be there, but till you are there, this energy in me could not die. You’ve become an inspiration for countless others of my age – who will bring positive change in India in their own little ways. Thank you Arvind for killing the cynicist in me and making me love my country again.

Written by,

Gaurav Chhugani

A keen observer of changing political scene of India.

Ishaan Mohan Bagga 

Political Analyst. Social Visionary. Editorial Journalist. Founder of open-magazine Indian Exponent.