Don’t under estimate Aam Aadmi’s power: Arvind Kejriwal to parties

AAP capable of running govt, can do better than BJP, Congress: Kejriwal

New Delhi: It seems the deadlock over government formation in Delhi will be over soon with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal saying that his party can run a government and do a better job than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress. 

According to a leading newspaper, Kejriwal said that it is wrong to assume that AAP would stumble while running the government. Taking a dig at the political parties, the activist-turned politician said that first they challenged us to enter the political arena and said we won’t get elected, but 28 members of our party won in the Delhi Assembly elections. "Zee News"

The confident AAP leader looked set to become Delhi's next chief minister, saying the apprehension that the party will stumble once in office is not a valid assessment. "I just want to say that political parties should stop challenging us. First they said they (AAP) won't get candidates, then they said we can't get elected. Now we have won 28 seats."

Kejriwal said mainstream parties continue to underestimate AAP. "I want to tell them: stop challenging the power of the aam aadmi. They have no idea how powerful the aam aadmi is. They have made it appear we will not be able to run the government. Governance is not like going to the moon. We will run the government better than them."

On the ongoing referendum, Kejriwal was non-committal. "We have received both points of view, some who feel we should stay away from politics and have nothing to do with it and there are others who feel that we should form government. There is nothing unethical in either. It is a political decision. We will completely go by public opinion," he said.

But senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia indicated where the ongoing referendum is headed, saying, "We are receiving overwhelming support for our decision to form the government. There is no reason not to form government." The party is expected to make an announcement by Monday.

Kejriwal, who is gearing up for two days of jan sabhas across the city, also dismissed sceptics who criticized the party's manifesto as a pie in the sky.

Asked how promises like auditing of power companies or provision of 700 litres of water for every household will be fulfilled, he said, "Our manifesto has been carefully thought out after public consultation. It is practical and implementable. Congress has not been able to fulfill its 1998 manifesto so why are they are challenging us? It is our priority and we will achieve it."

He asserted that if Congress or BJP withdrew support on a bill, the parties will risk being exposed. "The public does not expect the moon. They will understand that if we bring a bill and Congress and BJP do not support us, it is these parties who will be exposed. The government is being made on issue-based support," he said.

Having decided to step up to the table, AAP's pitch for the 2014 polls seems underway. The referendum, Kejriwal said had made their party a talking point even among those who had not supported them earlier.

He added, "It is important to realize that we are redefining democracy. People are already talking about our party and feeling empowered. The process is important for us."-'Times Of India'

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