Imran and Kejriwal: new stars of the subcontinent
Imran won in K-P while aspiring to lead in Islamabad; Kejriwal assumed power in state, now aspiring to lead Lok Sabha.
The writer is a consulting editor with The Statesman and writes for several newspapers in India
In the 2013 general elections, Pakistan witnessed the dramatic rise of Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which had been in existence for several years. One recalls the palpable excitement in Lahore and Islamabad in the run-up to the polls where the young and large sections of the senior citizenry predicted a major comeback for the famous cricketer. He did emerge as a factor in the polls, but while more successful than his previous performances, certainly not strong enough to give Nawaz Sharif and his PML-N a run for their money.
Imran managed to cut through the general disillusionment and anger with the existing political system, promising a new government, free of corruption, responsive and sensitive to the people at large. He made many promises, many of them a little difficult to believe, but kept well within the box when it came to issues of terrorism, sectarianism, and the violence that has engulfed Pakistan on a daily basis. He managed to don new clothes, but as elections approached, the articles on him got more critical, with commentators wondering whether he actually had the answers that could then be the basis for a new Pakistan.
India, too, has witnessed the rather dramatic rise of a new party under the unassuming Arvind Kejriwal, with the Aam Aadmi Party cutting into the cynicism of Delhi, and forming the government in record time. The run-up to the crucial assembly elections was marked with similar scepticism and a campaign against Kejriwal and his team. But in this case, the people chose to desert the Congress and the BJP to support him. He is now preparing to contest 300 seats in the forthcoming parliamentary elections even as he consolidates his party’s government in Delhi.
One cannot be but struck by the similarities between the two, even though there are several differences as well. Kejriwal mounted an amazing strategy to earn nationwide recognition through the India Against Corruption movement, in which he stood just behind Gandhian Anna Hazare, waving the national flag and pledging to fight corruption. Imran also made corruption his foundation stone, and while he was already known because of his innings in cricket and subsequently politics, he ensured his campaign and manifesto for change got support and recognition as well. Secondly, both reached out to the people directly and had a special word for the youth. Both came through as crusaders, with levels of honesty and integrity clearly lacking in their colleagues from other political parties. And third, both have established a space for themselves in politics and are certainly forces to be reckoned with — at least for the moment.
Both appear intense and speak in direct tones. Both share a certain arrogance, more visible in Imran, but present in Kejriwal as well. Both have decided to keep equidistance from other major political parties, preferring to strike their own paths. Both rely a great deal on support from the youth. Imran came to power in a province while aspiring to lead in Islamabad; Kejriwal came to power in a state and is now aspiring to lead the Lok Sabha. Both have made tall promises, but to give credit where it is due, Kejriwal has started delivering on his seemingly impossible promises to reduce power tariffs and supply free water. And this is where the fundamental difference comes in: the Aam Aadmi Party leadership’s ability to strategise and move ahead one step at a time. Announcements are made after bricks are put in place.
Both rule difficult provinces, of course in different ways. One is confronted with the challenge of violence and terrorism; the other with retaining the goodwill of a hugely fickle middle class population. Both realise that the path to the centre lies through these provincial and state governments, with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Delhi voters review having a direct impact on their respective march towards national politics. Imran still has some time, Kejriwal has none.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2014.
Imran managed to cut through the general disillusionment and anger with the existing political system, promising a new government, free of corruption, responsive and sensitive to the people at large. He made many promises, many of them a little difficult to believe, but kept well within the box when it came to issues of terrorism, sectarianism, and the violence that has engulfed Pakistan on a daily basis. He managed to don new clothes, but as elections approached, the articles on him got more critical, with commentators wondering whether he actually had the answers that could then be the basis for a new Pakistan.
India, too, has witnessed the rather dramatic rise of a new party under the unassuming Arvind Kejriwal, with the Aam Aadmi Party cutting into the cynicism of Delhi, and forming the government in record time. The run-up to the crucial assembly elections was marked with similar scepticism and a campaign against Kejriwal and his team. But in this case, the people chose to desert the Congress and the BJP to support him. He is now preparing to contest 300 seats in the forthcoming parliamentary elections even as he consolidates his party’s government in Delhi.
One cannot be but struck by the similarities between the two, even though there are several differences as well. Kejriwal mounted an amazing strategy to earn nationwide recognition through the India Against Corruption movement, in which he stood just behind Gandhian Anna Hazare, waving the national flag and pledging to fight corruption. Imran also made corruption his foundation stone, and while he was already known because of his innings in cricket and subsequently politics, he ensured his campaign and manifesto for change got support and recognition as well. Secondly, both reached out to the people directly and had a special word for the youth. Both came through as crusaders, with levels of honesty and integrity clearly lacking in their colleagues from other political parties. And third, both have established a space for themselves in politics and are certainly forces to be reckoned with — at least for the moment.
Both appear intense and speak in direct tones. Both share a certain arrogance, more visible in Imran, but present in Kejriwal as well. Both have decided to keep equidistance from other major political parties, preferring to strike their own paths. Both rely a great deal on support from the youth. Imran came to power in a province while aspiring to lead in Islamabad; Kejriwal came to power in a state and is now aspiring to lead the Lok Sabha. Both have made tall promises, but to give credit where it is due, Kejriwal has started delivering on his seemingly impossible promises to reduce power tariffs and supply free water. And this is where the fundamental difference comes in: the Aam Aadmi Party leadership’s ability to strategise and move ahead one step at a time. Announcements are made after bricks are put in place.
Both rule difficult provinces, of course in different ways. One is confronted with the challenge of violence and terrorism; the other with retaining the goodwill of a hugely fickle middle class population. Both realise that the path to the centre lies through these provincial and state governments, with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Delhi voters review having a direct impact on their respective march towards national politics. Imran still has some time, Kejriwal has none.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2014.