Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Kejriwal versus Modi' that was published in Newsband

Kejriwal versus Modi

Arvind Kejriwal as Narendra Modi’s challenger in the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency during the forthcoming election makes the contest interesting.  There will be plenty of drama and excitement.

Modi has formidable campaign machinery. Kejriwal, on the other hand, has no resources bar his spunk and daring. Kejriwal has financial bankruptcy as his USP. He is like the underdog pitted in an unequal race with the Big Two, the Congress and the BJP.

BJP will try to portray Kejriwal as the leader who hurriedly dumped the first-ever government he formed in Delhi. They will try to project him as one who ran away from responsibility and broke his promise of bringing about systematic reform. They will try to convince the voters that Kejriwal does not deserve a second chance.

But Kejriwal will defend himself by saying that he sacrificed his chief ministership to uphold a principle. The view that Kejriwal sacrificed his chief ministership to uphold a principle, might have takers as well, and this group appears to be made up largely of people on the margins - Muslims, sections of Dalits and the economically poor. It is only the media that are vainly denying this. Thus it appears as if the media has already been sold out.

Kejriwal is far stronger than Modi on moral grounds. But can one consider morality and ethics as the parameter of strength in Indian electoral politics? Kejriwal has displayed his tough character and tremendous inner strength by daring to take on the strongest opponent at Varanasi when he could have safely contested against a weak opponent somewhere else and won easily.

Modi is contesting from Vadodra too to ensure his safety. It shows the weakness of Modi, since he has to fight from two seats to secure his position when Kejriwal is fighting just from one seat.

Varanasi is going to witness a riveting fight in this election. It has turned out to be a formidable ground for all the parties. The entry of Modi has raked up tensions in other parties and therefore best candidates are fielded to ensure that no stone is unturned to win the major share. This election is poised to become one of the most difficult and enthralling competition where everyone is trying its best to beat the opposition.

It would be fool hardy to undermine Aam Aadmi Party. It had done once and it can do again. AAP is about awakening the conscience of the Indian voters about the state of governance, and the quality of polity, in the country. There is no personality cult, so it does not matter whether any individual wins or loses, although Indians will be better off with citizens like Kejriwal fighting for them in Parliament. Congress and BJP are the two sides of the same coin when it comes to corruption and crony capitalism, mal- governance, lack of transparency and accountability, downright arrogance, politics of divide and rule based on religion and caste. It is time for Indian voters to reflect on this point.