Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Who are fit to be Kejriwal’s successors?' that was published in Newsband

Who are fit to be Kejriwal’s successors?

The Aam Aadmi Party was founded on a belief in the possibility of changing the system, by working outside of it. It is high time for the leader of AAP Arvind Kejriwal and his men to deliver on their promise or rise to their potential. This is an opportunity for Kejriwal. If he manages to impress the people of India now only then he will be able to project himself as an alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Delhi is no more than a launch pad for his political career. There is nothing wrong if he aims at becoming national level leader. Punjab is the only State where the AAP performed well in the Lok Sabha election, while in Delhi, AAP managed to perform wonderfully and win Legislative Assembly election.  

In recent months, some of its ministers and MLAs have been caught on the wrong side of the law. The party did defend some of them, alleging, and perhaps not entirely falsely. So Arvind Kejriwal and his loyal men should be careful while making anybody a part of their party. The candidate should be thoroughly checked and admitted in the party only if they are non-corrupt.   

In the latest controversy involving its Women and Child Welfare Minister Sandeep Kumar, the AAP took the high moral ground, and sacked him soon after a video recording of him with a woman in a sexual act was released by a media house. Kumar was removed from the party as well, as it became clear he had known of the presence of the camera. This is a good example that Kejriwal and AAP are setting.

Kejriwal and AAP should prove their point that they can provide a better alternative system by their performance in Delhi and not by just attacking PM Modi and LG. Kejriwal should not only be more cautious of retaining his hold in the leadership of the party but also consolidate party base. He should introspect what he has done for Delhiites in spite of the roadblocks from LG and Union Home Ministry and do justice to the Delhi populace who have reposed confidence on him and prove that his party will be different from others. Kejriwal should start tackling common man's issues in Delhi. After all, the name of his party is Aam Aadmi Party.

Kejriwal and AAP should display sincerity, honesty and sheer hard work like they did before they were elected to power in Delhi. People still believe that AAP is the panacea for all their problem and so Kejriwal and AAP should live up to their belief.

Lastly Kejriwal should realize that AAP is still a one-man party. He should come up with a list of at least some members of his party who are fit to be his successors. Only then his ambitious movement ‘India Against Corruption’ that he had launched a few months back will show signs of becoming a success.