Arvind Kejriwal sets tough deadline to implement his radical promises

NEW DELHI: The bizarre spectacle of parties fleeing from their responsibility to form a viable government in Delhi concluded finally on Monday with the Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP) announcing its decision to lead a minority government with Congress’ support. Arvind Kejriwal is expected to be sworn in as the seventh and youngest chief minister of Delhi on Thursday at Ramlila Maidan.

The AAP has set a tough deadline for itself as it plans to implement or at least initiate implementation of each of its 18 radical promises — including passage of Jan Lokpal Bill, free water supply of 700 litres per day per family, 50% reduction in electricity tariffs and stripping symbols of VIP culture — in its manifesto within the first two months of coming to power. It hopes to pass the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill before January 26.

“All policy decisions will have to be taken before the end of February next year as the model code of conduct for the general elections will kick in immediately after that,” said AAP leader Yogendra Yadav.

AAP got cracking soon after making its intent to form the government public at the party’s Ghaziabad office on Monday at 11.15 am. While AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal left immediately to meet L-G Najeeb Jung to inform him of the public mandate, senior leaders of the party kickstarted an intensive two-day training programme on governance for all its 70 candidates, including those 42 who lost the elections.
“Over the last week we have consulted the electorate and they want us to form a government. We are going by that mandate,” Kejriwal said after which he met Jung where he expressed his desire to be sworn in at Jantar Mantar instead of Raj Bhawan. But Jung’s office suggested that the oath taking ceremony be held at Ramlila ground. “His office felt that Jantar Mantar will not be able to accommodate the kind of crowd we are expecting for Arvind’s oath taking (ceremony) and it could lead to a law and order situation,” said Sanjay Singh of AAP’s political affairs committee.

Questions were raised about the longevity of the alliance between AAP and Congress as its leader Sheila Dikshit made it clear that the support offered was “not unconditional”. “We will support them as long they deliver. We already know that it is not possible to fulfil the kind of promises they made,” she said.

Yadav said: “It could be a one-day government or a 5-year government. The day we are not allowed to fulfil even one of our promises we will walk out.”