Delhi Poll Outcome

It is a deja vu moment.  The victory of AAP has many parallels with the BJP victory at the center in May last year.  It is a decisive mandate.  The mandate has been given on the basis of clear-cut issues rather than caste, region and identity.  It is a mandate that leaves little excuse for not delivering on the promises.  I would like to think that it also shows what happens when a decisive mandate is not fully honored, and hence it embodies a warning too for the beneficiaries of the mandate.  It says in very clear words that petty corruption and crony capitalism have reached a level that the public will revolt against at every available opportunity.  And it shows its disapproval for narcissism at any level.

The electorate in India seems to be maturing fast.  The old tricks deployed for dividing the electorate ad infinitum on the lines of caste and creed are now giving ever diminishing returns.  The electorate seems to be sending out a message that it is a taskmaster and will not put up with non-performance.

The electorate is essentially telling the politicians, "We are giving you responsibilities and tasks and NOT a seat of power and pelf.  And please do not use identity management to distract us from any non-performance."

AAP supporters are celebrating the victory in traditional ways.  They will do well to keep celebrations at a minimum and get down to brass tacks. AAP must not forget the warning very clearly implicit in this victory.  Deliver or perish!