ChinmayC Blog

Politics Of Corruption: Common Man Rule In Delhi Extended As AAP Wins Trust Vote!

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal won the trust motion in Delhi Assembly on Thursday, January 2, 2014 on a voice vote, 37 in favor and 32 against. After an eventful day on the floor of the house Congress maintained its promise of outside support and with its 8 members (7 voted) ensured an AAP victory. One additional vote came from the lone Janata Dal-United member and the independent member making the mathematics clear—AAP (28) +Congress (7) +JD-U (1) + Ind.(1)=37. The main national opposition BJP had been objecting from the beginning for clear reasons—that being the single largest party in the assembly they could not or rather did not form the government; that it always maintained AAP as being opportunistic or immoral for obtaining support from the very political party (Congress) which they identified with corruption and became a political entity fighting tooth and nail against it from Anna Hazare days and that when Congress is on one side the traditional rival BJP cannot but oppose, additionally because the future of their Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi depends on how effectively they carry on their non-stop diatribe against Congress or Corruption. At the moment BJP does not seem to have any other election strategy.

In an unprecedented anti-corruption wave that changed the politics in the capital of the country AAP, in its first political venture, became the second largest party in Delhi Assembly Elections. With outside support from Congress and emboldened by a public referendum favoring formation an AAP government Arvind Kejriwal, the quintessential common man, was sworn in as the youngest Chief Minister of Delhi on 28^th December, 2013. It seemed like a scene straight out of a Bollywood blockbuster with the struggling hero finally in power maybe for a day or few more. However, now it turns out to be more real than reel. The General Elections being just round the corner and the anti-corruption movement capturing public attention Congress could ill-afford go against AAP. The party had already got the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill passed by befriending a desolate Anna Hazare and later its high command had forced the Maharashtra Government to review the Adarsh Report earlier rejected in Nagpur Session of Maharashtra Legislature. In fact, on the same day the Maharashtra Cabinet has partially accepted the Report promising legal action against the guilty officers, but failing to find any criminality involved against the six political leaders implicated by the Judicial Commission on Adarsh. The Opposition led by BJP is far from happy and is demanding a special session of the legislature. Yes, BJP too has to be against corruption, but it cannot afford to ally with Congress except for a 'larger' Lokpal Bill and also cannot afford not to allow Yeddurappa, the corruption personified of Karnataka, come back into the party. Well, the kind of corruption-compulsions doing rounds in political circles of the country! For the Congress the problem is corruption scams keep on unfolding so fast for them that by the time they take care of one more lurk round the corner.

The Common Man seems to be moving from strength to strength at the moment and why not. Honest and transparent governance has been a distant dream and now it is being realized in the capital of the country. Arvind Kejriwal broke away from Anna Hazare to enter politics with the aim of cleaning the system from within, and his party's chosen election symbol is also the broom. The Indian citizens have solid good reasons to be optimistic. The Common Kejriwal Man Government has already put an end to the rampant VIP culture by refusing to travel by official cars or to put on the red beacons. It has also fulfilled two major election promises, namely supplying about 700 liters of free water and reducing electricity rates by half for Delhi commoners. The only caution AAP needs is not to get bowled over by populist agenda and try hard on good, economically sensible and efficient governance apart from being honest, simple and straight forward.

In Hindi Aam Aadmi means ‘common man’, and AAPmeans ‘You (respectfully)’. Therefore, it is basically ‘AAP KI SARKAR’ Or ‘YOUR GOVERNMENT’. No way for any complaints, the common man can only feel happy about it and hope AAP to spread far and wide in whole of India. Bigger and established political parties better fall in line.

Test Cricket: South Africa Delivers One More Overseas Drubbing For India!

New look or old look, new wine or old wine, old bottle or new bottle—whatever way you tend to look at Team India it has been historically proven that India never had answers to sheer fast bowling on green and bouncy tracks overseas. Indian batsmen from times immemorial get bogged down and bat tentatively when faced with fiery spells of pace bowling. That India have never won a single Test Series in Australia and in South Africa in its entire cricketing history is something the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) must not go on ignoring. A few wins here and there have been aberrations rather than being real. BCCI must veer away from its money-oriented policy of preparing ‘commercial’ dry tracks for one-day cricket, and spinning, often unplayable, tracks for Tests. It is not being cynical when we comment that Indian batsmen are kings at home and Indian spinners create wicket-taking records on pitches tailor made for them. While South African or other country fast bowlers generate bowling speed in excess of 150+ km per hour Indian ‘pace’ bowlers struggle to get to even 140. This is only natural because they do not have pace-friendly tracks at home where they play most of their cricket.

AB de Villers And F du Plessis

Even then, the ‘new look’ Team India dominated four days of the fantastic first cricket Test against South Africa in Johannesburg and got themselves into an immensely winnable position at stumps on the fourth day. Set a stiff target of 458 runs for victory in about one and half days South Africa were 138 for 2 at stumps. India just needed to mop up 8 wickets on the last day for a morale boosting victory after 2-0 drubbing in the ODI Series (3rd ODI was abandoned due to rains). A tremendous batting display by South Africa not only saved the Test but gave them a real chance to make history successfully chasing the highest ever target in the last innings. A brilliant double-century partnership between F du Plessis and AB de Villiers put India fully on the defensive and the hero-at-home Indian spinner R Ashwin went wicket-less on the fifth day whereas he is used to get it all over in three or four days back home. South Africa needed just 16 runs in the last 3 overs, but they started defending after losing the 7^th wicket in the form of du Plessis run out in the previous over and with Morkel unfit to bat. Nobody wanted to go one down in the BCCI-style two-Test Series and in the final analysis no team deserved to lose. However, Team India missed a great opportunity to go one up. The India cricket Board must learn from this that Test cricket is not gone yet, but can get you absorbed for five full days. Make way for exciting Tests at home too.

There was a similar situation in the Second Test in Durban at stumps on the fourth day when India were 68 for 2 and needed to bat out the full fifth day to draw the Series. But fiery spells of genuine fast bowling from Dale Steyn (total of 9 wickets in the match) and Philander paved the way for a meek Indian surrender like in so many overseas occasions. Their spinner Peterson too captured 4 scalps against a team supposed to be masters of spin. South Africa won by 10 wickets thus winning the Series 1-0. One more zero-margin drubbing for India on foreign soil. Leadership tactics and batting of the Indian captain MS Dhoni overseas are also matters that need lot of probing attention.

Kallis Goodby in Style

The most memorable part of the Durban Test was Jacques Kallis who suddenly announced his retirement from Test cricket after the Johannesburg match. The second Test was his last and what a fantastic way to say goodbye to cricket. Coming in a crucial juncture in the first innings the greatest all-rounder of modern cricket stayed put and crafted his 45^th Test century thus contributing immensely for his team’s win. Exit of Jacques Kallis would put a lot of pressure on South Africa just about to face Australia.

This year India have several overseas cricket tours starting with New Zealand later this month. It is up to them and the BCCI to try change history.