Mandate muffled, Delhi keeps waiting for government

For a brief while at the start of the year, the common man believed he had the reins of government in hand. But it was all too theatrical to last, with the CM intent on dharnas & durbars.

Shaken and stirred. That has been the state of the capital this year. Arvind Kejriwal had taken charge of Delhi government in the dying moments of 2013. So, it's rather surreal to see him canvassing for votes once again with his trademark muffler wrapped around his neck exactly a year later. In between, except for that tumultuous brief period when the city seemed to be caught in a whirlwind, there has been no government.
How did we come to such a pass?

Blame the voter who didn't give a definite mandate. But also blame the man who despite opting to rule spent most of the time protesting and then walked away in a huff. Aam Aadmi Party's 49-day rule was marked by a lot of drama and theatrics. The new kid on the block - which set out to raise the bar in political conduct - did seem to have its heart in the right place but couldn't shake off its agitational approach to issues.The chaotic but shortlived Janata Darbar, dharna outside Rail Bhavan, Kejriwal's threat to disrupt Repub lic Day celebrations and a mid night raid in Khirki Extension by then law minister Somnath Bharti - all pointed to a party unable to handle the reins of power.

While the corrupt felt the heat and some populist decisions on power and water got the government brownie points, many voters.

let down by the party's signature confrontational stance against the Centre, LG and even well-meaning critics. And then it all ended in a jiffy with Kejriwal submitting his resignation, accusing BJP and Congress of thwarting the passage of Jan Lokpal Bill. Delhi came under President's Rule followed by months of uncertainty over government formation. This finally ended with dissolution of the assembly in October but President's Rule continues as the city awaits declaration of fresh polls and a new government. Now AAP is facing a resurgent BJP and a decimated Congress. The odds are once again the same, if not somewhat weighed against it, howsoever it may try to replace Narendra Modi with Jagdish Mukhi in its campaign posters and pretend that the challenge has been downsized.

Meanwhile, governance has been a casualty though lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung has taken on the role of an administrator with aplomb. The bureaucracy has been uncertain and imposition of the code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections only stalled movement of many projects and decisions. It was only after May, when a BJP government took charge at the Centre, that the administration took some action. However, regularization of unauthorized colonies, allotment of EWS flats, policy reforms in transport, traffic management and pollution-related matters can be addressed only when a new government takes charge.