Kejriwal must show he cares for the common man

Delhi’s new Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was elected to office with much fanfare, a poster boy for change who would give fossilised politicians a run for their money in the upcoming elections. But just weeks later, he is being roundly criticised by a cross-section of the populace for being a “rabble-rouser” and someone “who has missed the wood for the trees”. He has shunned the trappings of power, continues to stay in an apartment and moves around in a small car. But governance goes beyond all that. Kejriwal launched his protest to demand that five policemen whom he had accused of misconduct be suspended and the city’s police force be put under his control, instead of the central government’s. He eventually called off the protest after an assurance from Delhi’s Lt. Governor that he would look into the matter.

But vigilantism by a chief minister may not always be the best way to resolve an issue. After two days of traffic disruptions and unruly behaviour, the common people, who elected him to office, are now questioning whether Kejriwal was fighting on their behalf. Kejriwal’s statements about threatening to disrupt the annual Republic Day parade on Sunday too have not gone down well with the masses. As far as Kejriwal is concerned, it has been a very short honeymoon. Reality has hit him hard and every move that he makes is going to be analysed. The Delhi Government will need to show fast that it is indeed interested in making the life of the common man better if it wants to make a larger impact on the country.