YPOST

People Participation in Politics, The emergence of AAP and its future – AN EYE OPENER

Politics, the term itself creates havoc wherever and whenever it is discussed. It maybe considered by many as an alternate way to socialize and improve the nation as a whole whereas for some it still remains the most trickiest and easiest way to brainwash the minds of the youth in particular and get them into it. India is a free nation where everyone is free to voice their opinions and politics is the most trending topic especially with the upcoming lok sabha elections.

In the past many years there has been two superpowers namely BJP ( Bhartiya Janta Party) and The Indian National Congress who have been contesting for the elections. People have been trusting and believing in these two government bodies and casting their votes for the right candidate. But then the common man’s perspective seem to tell a different story altogether. In the recent times when the people saw that it was useless voicing their opinions and entrusting the politicians who claimed to be the voice of the voiceless and leader of the masses, the AAP trend went viral all across the country. AAP stands for ( Aam Aadmi Party) and the trend started back in 2012 when ANNA HAZARE went ahead with his hunger strike to get his bills passed onto the lok sabha. It was a common man’s fight against the corruption in the government. The inspirational story continued later when Arvind Kejriwal moved the nation a year later with the movement and brought faith in the people that its not over until we decide to fight. The nation was shocked to see that in the party’s first electorial test in the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly Election which saw AAP secure 28 out of the 70 seats as the second largest party. With no party obtaining an overall majority, the AAP formed a minority government with conditional support from the Indian National Congress.The first point in its election manifesto had been that within 15 days, it would pass a bill for a strong ombudsman position that would investigate charges against political leaders on a priority basis. When it became clear that the other major parties would not support this bill, the government resigned after 49 days.

This raised various questions and doubts on the mind of the people as they were a bit un-nerved to see their faith crushed again after AAP resigned and they were a bit moved by this decision. The active people participation in politics has always been a major concern in India with more than half of the country’s population that doesn’t want to cast their votes, and this has been going on for years and in today’s generation, people are least bothered to vote. There are several campaigns going around the nation which are encouraging people to cast their vote and make a change. But nothing has been able to properly establish the belief of casting votes or supporting politics amongst the people of India. The legacy needs to be solidified and people need to believe in the power they have been bestowed with or else they will never get what they want from the nation and corruption will continue to eat this country’s core values. This time around one can see the rise of the citizens of the nation and people are ready to bring about a change with three major powers in the form of the Indian National Congress, Bhartiya Janta Party and the Aam Aadmi Party. The change has begun and in future this shall bring politics into a good limelight. People have realized their responsibilities and by the time the next general elections arrive there shall be an increase in active participation as far as politics concerned. Recently Politics is being undertaken to be a serious profession and the government is installing several institutions in the country that will run parallel educational courses on politics. This will be a huge boost to people taking part in politics.

The Future of AAP is another serious concern among its believers as well as the people who had started to find a new hope in the political organization. But in recent times even the famous leader Arvind Kejriwal is finding it difficult to touch people with his campaigns like he had been doing formerly. There has been attacks on him by the people who were in attendance during his last two political campaigns. And this has surely put a smile, a sarcastic one, across the faces on many. The chances of AAP wining the contest with its two other rivals is very minimal but then lets not forget that back in the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly Elections, nobody counted AAP to secure 28 out of the 70 seats and AAP swiped everyone off their feets just like the JHADU CHALAO slogan they believe in. the question still remains that will AAP be able to pull off another miracle in the upcoming elections? The answer to that shall be given in due time in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.

Sahali Sarkar

M.Sc Media P.G 1