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As the 2014 Indian general elections draw to a close, SEIC's writers discuss the candidates vying for the post of Prime Minister, as well as the political scene in India.
As the 2014 Indian general elections draw to a close, SEIC's writers discuss the candidates vying for the post of Prime Minister, as well as the political scene in India.
As the 2014 Indian general elections draw to a close, SEIC's writers discuss the candidates vying for the post of Prime Minister, as well as the political scene in India.
AN SMU ECONOMICS INTELLIGENCE CLUB PUBLICATION A 2014 Indian General Elections Special This Issue in Brief: Indias Electoral Circus Damini Roy gives a lowdown on the Indian political scene, as the vying candidates battle it out in the last legs of the 2014 Indian general elections.
The Indian General Elections 2014: Candidates With the outcome of the 2014 Indian general elections looming over the horizon, a team of SEIC writers put together a detailed profile of the candidates vying to be Indias next Prime Minister.
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2 Issue 51 15 May 2014
For readers who are new to this discussion, perhaps the best way to think of Indias current political scene is to imagine an ill-orchestrated circus. Think of a stern ringleader (Sonia Gandhi, the Congress party president and chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition) making a timid lion (Manmohan Singh, the current/outgoing Prime Minister) jump through hoops, while the restless elephant (Narendra Modi, the contender for the Prime Ministerial post this year) waits to take centre stage. Flanking the sides are an aloof zebra (Rahul Gandhi, the Congress nominee for the Prime Ministerial race), and a motley of other show animals. Indias election is similarly disorganized: a chaotic mix of political arm-wrestling and wealth-flashing. Billions have been spent so far on excessive national campaigns by regional and national parties alike. A lot of the countrys resources have also been diverted to ensure that 550m1 voters can exercise their constitutional right to elect their leader democratically. On the one hand, the 2014 Indian election is the victory of democracy; the largest democratic election in history has concluded today. Yet, knowing how unpredictable popular elections can be, the question remains - who will be the next Prime Minister? Jostling for Political Clout For all its flaws, the Congress party has a few things to its credit. It has managed to ensure the survival of Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister for two consecutive terms. Despite slowing GDP growth (down to a dismal 5.5% average2) and multiple corruption scandals, the Congress coalition (UPA) stayed in power for the second term as well. It has fought off the incumbents disadvantage so far, ensuring that continuity in leadership contributes to the countrys general political stability. In fact, Congress has always been adept at forging coalitions with regional parties; perhaps its task is made easier by the fact that it is Indias only national party, per se. But recent exit polls results show that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is gaining mass popularity across the nation, along with its bold Prime Ministerial nominee, Narendra Modi. Compared to Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi has both experience and achievement to make his claim to the coveted post. Having ushered in an era of unprecedented growth in the state of Gujarat, Narendra Modi has shown voters that creating wealth by supporting commerce has gains for all. During his three consecutive terms as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi has rampantly done away with rusty government officials and unproductive state machinery. Based on a policy of promoting economic growth, he has won the respect of the local business diaspora. Understandably, Modis claim to the Prime Ministers post has the strong backing of business honchos who have gained massively from Gujarats business environment. It is no surprise then, that the BSE Sensex (a free-float market-weighted index of Indias 30 top-performing companies) has also been on an upswing for most of this week - a sign that investors are optimistic about Modis victory. Indias Electoral Circus by Damini Roy
3 Issue 51 15 May 2014 Certainly, it seems that Modi will have little trouble defeating the young and less experienced Congress candidate, Rahul Gandhi. With bare minimum success as a Member of Parliament, Rahul has had trouble campaigning in his familys stronghold district of Amethi this year. Known to house a strong pro-Congress voter base, hardly has anyone but a Gandhi won from Amethis electoral provinces. However, the tidings of this year have been different. With Modi making a visit4 to the scions den and the nascent Aam Aadmi party (AAP) fielding a candidate from the constituency as well, things havent gone smoothly for Rahuls campaign. Seeing his sister Priyanka Gandhi rallying harder for him than himself, even Congress party members are wondering whether the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA coalition) will withstand this election or will have to make way for a BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Events in the key state of Uttar Pradesh also look bleak for the Congress. With a population larger than that of Brazils, the state of Uttar Pradesh is a crucial battleground to conquer. Modis campaign across the state and especially in Varanasi shows that masses are being mobilized in BJPs favor. Further, the presence of strong regional parties hinders the Congress chance to claim seats from the UP constituency. However, before jumping to any hasty conclusions, an important fact needs to be mentioned. Given that Uttar Pradesh is a state that comes into the limelight mainly during national elections, it is obvious that long-standing regional parties command more loyalty than either the Congress or the BJP. However, given the Congress tact in making alliances with regional leaders, it is hard to assume which party will ultimately gather the required majority in the Indian parliament, based on the victory in Uttar Pradesh.
Thinking Twice When trying to predict who will win the Prime Ministerial race, there are few more dynamics to think of. The large number of first-time, young urban voters during this election is something unique. Not clearly knowing their preferences makes it harder for parties to canvass for their votes, and thereby fuels the unpredictability of the polling results. A divided voter base is also a peculiar characteristic of Indian elections. This is mainly because of the socioeconomic disparities in voter backgrounds. Additionally, the uncertain course of coalitions can lead to instability in the broader sense. If a party fails to gather the necessary parliamentary majority (which means securing 272 out of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha/lower house of the Indian parliament), bargains struck with regional parties could get called off and result in an unwieldy legislative set-up. Therefore, it is essential that the winning party secures a large winning margin so that it can ensure that it rules with a clear mandate.
The success of the campaign agendas of the Prime Ministerial candidates needs to be re-examined as well. At Varanasi itself, Modi campaigned aggressively to win the hearts of Hindu voters, posing with Hindu deities and alluding to folklore in his speeches. This is worrying to see, because of two reasons. First, Modis lack of concern to take action during the anti-Muslim Godhra riots as Chief Minister of Gujarat is something most voters cant forget. Second, Modis unabashed support for the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a right-wing Hindu nationalist party) sends the wrong message to other religious minorities in the country. If such a Prime Ministerial candidate were to win based on such an agenda, then Indias minorities would feel marginalized and underrepresented. As a secular nation, this is something India needs to be wary of.
4 Issue 51 15 May 2014 The 10-year Itch At large though, it seems that most Indian voters are discontent with the poor performance of the Congress over the past ten years. They are in the mood for a change in leadership, and the strong presence of Modi-led BJP may prove to be an attractive alternative. However, for those who hail Modi to be the marketeer of growth, it might be prudent to recognize that the Gujarat model of growth will be harder to replicate at the national level. Also, while Modi may have managed to overhaul most of the Gujarats state officers and install his own men to expedite legislative and legal processes, such a strategy will give way at the national level. What Rahul Gandhi or another candidate would do for the Indian economy remains to be seen. However, irrespective of whoever wins - Modi, Rahul or a third unexpected candidate - a key challenge that will plague the leader will be to work with the existing state machinery. Given the problem of systemic graft and corruption, Indias state machinery is less efficient than it should be. This could pose to be a problem for even a man with Modis experience, for instance. The wait to see who will lead the nation for the next five years is nerve-wrecking. Therefore, what the Indian voter needs to hope for is that the incoming Prime Minister has a clear vision and political mandate, which allow him to pave the way for Indias growth. In the meanwhile it suffices to say that the 2014 Indian elections will be a fiercely-contested race till the finish line. References
5 Issue 51 15 May 2014 The Indian General Elections 2014: Candidates by Gautam Nagpal, Hiremath Siddhant Sanjev, Riya Rajagopal, Rhea Chandra, Shivika Srimal
1. Jayalalithaa Jayaram Party: AIADMK (All India Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam) Intrduction: Born in 1948, Jayalalithaa began a career in the film industry before entering politics, and starred in over 140 films. In 1982, she joined a political party known as AIADMK, which was started by a fellow Tamil cinema actor, M.G Ramachandran. Due to her fluency in English, she was encouraged to take up a seat in the Rajya Sabha as a Member of Parliament, and was subsequently nominated for it. Upon the death of the partys founder, Jayalalithaa claimed to be the political heir and assumed leadership of the party. Jayalalithaa has served three terms as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, with terms beginning in the years of 1991, 2001 and 2011. Mission/Vision for India: Jayalalithaa envisions a resurgent India in which Tamil Nadu plays a key role, in which there are open markets, inclusive societies, enterprise and creativity driven by knowledge and shaped by family values. She has also stated that she someday aims at creating a nation of growth with equity, peace, stability and development, and a modern, secular and prosperous India. Economic Policies: In the recently released manifesto by the AIADMK, certain policies and visions for India were prominent: Implementation of the freebie scheme (popular in Tamil Nadu) to all parts of India. Citizens can expect to receive items such as grinders, mixers, fans, laptops, goats and other necessities. Increase the income-tax exemption limit from Rs. 200,000 to Rs. 500,000. Measures will be taken to rescind FDI in retail nationally. Popularity Quotient: Becoming the next Prime Minister of India requires a win of all 40 seats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. She is immensely popular in these regions, having been CM for three terms in the past. Initially having formed a coalition with other Left parties known as the Third Front, there are now rumours about a new Federal Front, which is being formed after the collapse of the Third Front. This Front, being largely comprised of parties that are immensely popular in their states, stands a chance of winning if they manage to clinch at least 35 seats in the Lok Sabha. If this scenario plays out, Jayalalithaa could become Indias next Prime Minister. Controversies: There are currently 12 major corruption cases against Jayalalithaa and 33 cases against her associates. Some examples are as follows:
6 Issue 51 15 May 2014 Release of Assassins: In February 2014, Jayalalithaa announced that she would be using her legal and constitutional rights to free seven people who were found guilty of assassinating Rajiv Gandhi, a former Prime Minister of India. Her decision to release the killers who were sentenced to life received huge backlash from the country. Pleasant Stay Hotel Case: Jayalalithaa and her colleagues were accused of allowing a seven-storey luxury hotel to come up in a hill station, which violated building laws applicable to such areas that permit only two floors. In February 2000, the court sentenced Jayalalitha and her four colleagues to one year's rigorous imprisonment for favouring the owner of the hotel in return for monetary compensation when she was ruling Tamil Nadu. Her conviction sparked off rioting across the state, leaving three college girls dead. The three girls were burnt to death when an angry group of AIADMK workers seta university bus ablaze. Disproportionate wealth: During her tenure as chief minister, Jayalalithaa and her associates acquired more than 100 properties, besides jewellery and other assets worth Rs. 660 million. Different agencies of the government have yet to complete investigations into the case. 2. Narendra Modi Party: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Intrduction: Narendra Modi is a Hindu nationalist and is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist group. He has been the longest serving Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat, and is currently in his fourth term. Modi has been a member of the Indian political scene for 27 years, having joined the BJP in 1987. The positions he has held within the BJP include General Secretary and National Secretary. In March 2013, he was appointed as a member of the BJP Parliamentary Board, its highest decision-making body, and also as Chairman of the party's Central Election Campaign Committee. He has been Chief Minister of the State of Gujarat since 2001. Mission/Vision for India: Narendra Modi has outlined a transformative vision for India, pledging to project the country as a worldwide brand if elected. His view is that urbanization must not be viewed as a crisis, but as an opportunity for growth. He puts emphasis on several areas from checking price rises and inflation and controlling poverty, to developing bullet trains and creating an improved health infrastructure to focus on wellness. Economic Policies: Narendra Modi shows a clear sense of purpose and clarity in his vision for inclusive economic growth. His agenda has been drafted with inputs from some of the countrys top industrialists and economists, and spans a wide variety of topics, from bullet trains connecting India's four corners to 100 smart cities, battling inflation through a price stabilization fund and hi-tech innovations to protect farmers from price vagaries.
7 Issue 51 15 May 2014 At one of his partys national council meetings, he spoke at length on infrastructure - reviving shuttered power plants, modernizing railways, setting up gas grids and connecting India through optical fibre networks. This was also supplemented with proposals that will have a resonance with the common man and Indias farmers building agro-infrastructure, setting up mechanisms to monitor real time plantation and harvest of crops, as well as courts to try hoarders and black marketers. He favors liberalization of the retail sector, and also stresses on the need to develop the rural areas, as this will not only help in mitigation of migration to urban centres, but will also help in reducing the income gap between the rich and the poor. While his stance on the much debated FDI issue is still not clear, big businesses and investors are positive that Modis appointment to the prime ministerial post will be a huge boost for the economy, especially after the current government, under which Indias economic growth rate has nearly halved. Although Modis track record in Gujarat offers convincing precedence of success, it remains to be seen whether he can replicate this on the national stage. One major problem that every Indian government has faced, and to which Modis government will definitely not be an exception, is the frustrating levels of bureaucracy and red tape present in India. Moreover, Indias budget deficit as of 2012-13 stands at 4.9% of GDP, and with the huge amount of development and building of infrastructure that Modi is promising, we can only wait and see how the budget, and the fiscal deficit in particular, will be affected. Popularity Quotient: Several economists, foreign brokerages and stock market players have backed Modi's style of governance. US investment bank Goldman Sachs had upgraded India's rating to market weight from underweight on optimism of policy certainty post elections. Moodys Analytics also issued a statement saying that a Narendra Modi-led BJP government, if elected, should offer a more business- friendly policies that will further support confidence and investments. CNN-IBN, a local news agency, conducted an opinion poll which projected that it is almost certain that the next government will be headed by Modi. Controversies: One of the biggest controversies surrounding Narendra Modi is that of the 2002 Gujarat violence, a period of inter-communal violence in Gujarat which lasted for approximately 3 days. It began with the burning of a train in which 58 people were killed, most of them Hindu pilgrims, allegedly by Muslims. This led to widespread anti-Muslim violence throughout the state, and the Gujarat administration was accused by human rights organizations, the opposition, and sections of the media of taking insufficient action against the violence, and condoning it in some cases. Rumours abounded that it was Modi, a Hindu nationalist, who initiated the violence in the first place, or at the very least, turned a blind eye to the ongoing violence against Muslims. In 2010, a Special Investigation Team (SIT), appointed by the Supreme Court of India, reported that they did not find any incriminating evidence against Modi of willfully allowing communal violence in the state. In July 2013, it was alleged that the SIT was suppressing evidence.
8 Issue 51 15 May 2014 3. Mamata Banerjee Party: All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) Intrduction: Mamata Banerjee, the powerful figure behind the All India Trinamool Congress, is an extremely important player in the 2014 Indian general elections. She is currently serving as Chief Minister of West Bengal and Chairperson of the All India Trinamool Congress Party. She became the first women to hold the office of Chief Minister of the state of West Bengal in 2011. Mamata forayed into politics when she joined West Bengal Chhatra Parishad, the student wing of Congress, while studying at the Jogmaya Debi College in Kolkata in 1970s. Graduating to party politics, she was General Secretary of West Bengal Mahila Congress in 1979-80, and subsequently held other posts in Congress. She was elected as the Union Minister of state for Human Resources Development, Youth Affairs and Sports and Women and Child Development in 1991. She quit Congress and in 1997, formed the All India Trinamool Congress. In 1999 she went on to become Indias first female Railway Minister. She has also been named one of the 100 most influential people of the world by Forbes Magazine, and one of the 50 influential leaders in finance by the Bloomberg Markets Magazine. Mission/Vision for India: The AITMC is currently the sixth largest party in Lok Sabha with 19 seats. The party has not yet published a manifesto for the 2014 General Elections but in various speeches, she has stressed on the rollback of reforms including FDI in retail, increase in the price of diesel and limiting the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders for households. Although she denies the possibility of becoming the Prime Minister, she made it clear that her priority was to work for the people and formulate pro-people policies. Economic Policies: Mamata Banerjees pro-people policy is very literally translated into her staunch support of the labour intensive industries. She feels that labour-intensive Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, as in textiles, agro-based, food processing and aquaculture, leather, gems and jewellery should be nurtured and developed to utilise Indias high population. Although, surprisingly, she has stated that she supports latest technology and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), especially in manufacturing, sun- rise industries and high tech areas. Even with the strong emphasis on development of the IT and electronics industry, she emphasizes on the role of large amounts of manpower in these fields. Her claim to have a pro-industry policy has not quite been reflected in the past as she has been known to drive industries out of Bengal, such as that of the Tata Motors plant in Singur. However, in a recent interview to defend herself, she highlighted that SAIL is currently developing a plant in Durgapur and is investing Rs 20,000 crore, and that the NTPC too is investing about Rs. 10,000 crores. Popularity Quotient: Mamata Banerjee is extremely popular with the rural population due to her support for labour-centric industries. However, she has recently lost her reputation among the urban because of her erratic policies and her intolerance to criticism. However, her vote banks in the rural are sufficient to keep her in power in West Bengal and may be the reason to bring her to power even in the Central Government as a Federal Front in collaboration with other parties.
9 Issue 51 15 May 2014 Controversies: Cartoon Controversy- A Jadavpur University professor, Ambikesh Mohapatra was arrested for drawing a cartoon of Mamata Banerjee and her fellow AITMC members. However, what was more laughable was the charges put against him. He was booked for outraging the modesty of a woman (punishable with one years imprisonment), defamation (which carries a maximum term of two years imprisonment) and hacking (punishable with three years of prison and a fine of up to Rs.2 lakh). Mohapatra was allegedly beaten up by AITMC men and forced to write a statement that he had circulated the cartoon "motivatedly" as he was a Communist Party of India-Marxist activist. Singur Tata Nano Controversy- It refers to the controversy generated by land acquisition of the proposed Nano factory of Tata Motors at Singur of the Hooghly district, West Bengal, India. Singur gained international media attention since Tata Motors started constructing a factory to manufacture their $2,500 car, the Tata Nano, at Singur. The small car was scheduled to roll out of the factory by 2008. That time, Mamata Banerjee was leader of the opposition in the government. Banerjee's "Save Farmland" movement was supported by environmental activists like Medha Patkar, Anuradha Talwar and Arundhati Roy. Leftist activists also shared the platform with Banerjee's Trinamool Party. The Tatas finally decided to move out of Singur on 3 October 2008. Ratan Tata blamed agitation by Banerjee and her supporters for the pull-out decision. On 7 October 2008, the Tatas announced that they would be setting up the Tata Nano plant in Sanand, Gujarat. Star-struck candidate list- Mamata Banerjees announcement of the candidate list for the General Elections 2014 was followed by a lot of debate. Her star-struck candidate list includes inexperienced celebrities like Bengali celebrities Dev, Moon Moon Sen and Sandhya Roy, as well as singers Indranil Sen and Soumitra Sen. She is being widely criticized for a candidate list that is perhaps too rich in glamour and too poor in experience. 4. Rahul Gandhi Party: Indian National Congress Intrduction: Rahul Gandhi, the son of Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi, is the Vice President of the Indian National Congress party and the Chairperson of the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India. Gandhi served as a General Secretary in the All India Congress Committee and represents the Amethi constituency as its Member of Parliament (MP) since 2004. Mission/Vision for India: Rahul Gandhis vision for India encompasses the notions of education for all, a roof over the head of every Indian, more women in power and a growth story that will bring about demographic transitions. His vision for the poor mirrors that of Mahatma Gandhis, who claimed that he shall work for an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country, in the making of which they have an effective voice. Gandhi strives for the democratization of governance so that the poor are effectively empowered to take charge of their lives, in combination with the money provided by government, to build their own future instead of being dependent on the bureaucracy-NGO labyrinth.
10 Issue 51 15 May 2014 He wants deeper and more effective participation of individuals and communities in their own governance or as he says inclusive governance for inclusive growth This according to him can be achieved by greater involvement of the youth in the political arena and by strengthening transparency by implementing laws like the RTI. Economic Policies: Rahul Gandhi puts forth the following economic policies that he feels are imperative for the nations growth. Education for the poor: Connecting local panchayats through a 'knowledge network, where the Government has already made plans to connect 250,000 village panchayats through an optical fibre network over the next two years. Expanding industrial training coverage: Implementing policies that will fund training and skill development, especially in rural areas so that they are purely demand-driven, facilitated and defined by the industry that has the most stakes in it. Decentralization of the rural region: A government that is inclusive from top to bottom According to Gandhi there is very little money for the poor because vast amounts of money being transferred to the states through centrally sponsored schemes are not reaching them since panchayats are not central to the guidelines issued by the Union Government. Thus, he wants to empower local pradhans by giving them the money directly and making them responsible for building institutions and infrastructure. Gandhis National Youth Policy of 2014 seeks to achieve a productive workforce through education, skill development for better employability and entrepreneurship training, a sense of community service and strong social values, high levels of participation in governance and social inclusiveness by creating equitable opportunities for all, via policy imperatives and funding by the government to level the playground for all ages. Popularity Quotient: Rahul Gandhis incoherent and evasive answers in his television interviews have definitely marred his public image, especially after the interview with Arnab Goswami which was aired on the show, Frankly Speaking with Arnab. He is said to not have a firm grasp of an economic vision when compared to his counterparts such as Modi, Kejriwal etc. Additionally, the failure of UPA 2 in areas such as growth and inflation control has further diminished the politicians image. Such is the case, that some people of the country were reported as saying that they watch his shows and interviews not for enlightenment but for entertainment. Although he appears to have strong ideas and is headed in the right direction, these initiatives seem to lack detail, depth and most importantly a concrete plan for implementation. However, Gandhi is seen to be popular amongst many of the youth. His speech on introducing a smart phone type of education gained much popularity amongst students in Bangalore, with students participating actively in the discussion. Controversies: MPhil controversy After journalist, Arnab Goswami accused Rahul Gandhi of having faked his MPhil degree at Cambridge, there has been much controversy regarding the issue. While the Congress leader swears that he hasnt done such a thing and is ready to show any affidavit to prove his degree, a report carried out by the New Indian Express claims that not only has Gandhi bungled up the dates of his graduation, he has also got the name of the course that he studied on the affidavit wrong. In
11 Issue 51 15 May 2014 addition, the report indicates that he didn't even clear one of papers. On the other hand, the University, in a letter, explained that 'Rahul was a student of Trinity College and was awarded an MPhil in Development Studies in 1995. Hence, Rahul Gandhis qualification remains a matter of controversy. Creating a communal divide In 2009, in a conversation with the then United States Ambassador to India, Timothy J. Roemer, Gandhi said that he believed that Hindu extremists posed a greater threat to India than Muslim militants. Also responding to the ambassador's query about the activities in the region by the Islamist militant organization Lakshar-e-Taiba, Rahul Gandhi said there was evidence of some support for the group among certain elements in India's indigenous Muslim population. In a response to this, the BJP heavily criticized Rahul Gandhi for his statements. This statement can be seen to be a bigger threat to India since it can be viewed as dividing the people of the country on communal grounds. Furthermore, his statements are seen as those that contradict the very notion that terrorism is an act devoid of any religion. Lokpal controversy: On one hand Rahul Gandhi is seen to put forth his anti-corruption ideas and his strong desire to root out corruption, but on the other hand, he was seen to belittle the Lokpal around the time of the anti-corruption movement started by Anna Hazare. Rahul Gandhi suggested that Lokpal should be made a constitutional body and it should be made accountable to the Parliament, just like the Election Commission of India. He also claimed that Lokpal alone couldnt root out corruption. In response, Anna criticized Rahul Gandhi, claiming he had made the bill "weak and ineffective". Many saw this statement as a strategic move to delay the opposition of Anna's members. 5. Arvind Kejriwal Party: Aam Aadmi Party Introduction: Born in 1968 in Haryana, Arvind Kejriwal completed his higher education in IIT Kharagpur with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Later, he went ahead to work in the Indian Revenue Service. He was involved in social work and activism, and played a big role in bringing about the RTI act. As an absolutely new entrant in politics, he is often criticized for his lack of knowledge and understanding of Indian politics and governance. He has been a social activist for most part of his life. His first plunge into politics was on the 26th November 2012, when he launched his own political party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). On 8th December, AAP won the Delhi state elections by trouncing incumbent Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit from the assembly constituency. On the 18th of December 2013, Arvind Kejriwal assumed the role of Delhis Chief Minister. Mission/Vision for India: Most of Arvind Kejriwals inspiration and vision for Indias future comes from his strong passion to eradicate corruption from India. All his policies are based on his anti-graft motto and he believes that getting rid of corruption is the only elixir to our economic problems. His partys core agenda is to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill (anti-graft legislation) and Swaraj Bill (decentralization of governance in the capital) in the Delhi Assembly. Economic Policies: Foreign economic policy: When the AAP came into power last month, they sent a letter to the federal government seeking to rescind the relatively new policy of allowing FDI in the multi- brand retail sector of Delhi. One of the highly debated reasons given in favour of this decision is that FDI will cause an increase in unemployment since big businesses will eventually displace smaller retailers.
12 Issue 51 15 May 2014 Furthermore, businesses in retail that form cartels may force farmers to sell their products for cheap. Not being in support of liberalization for retail sector in the capital, he claims that he is not opposed to FDI per se. This is something that ought to be decided on sector-by-sector basis. Free water policy: Within 48 hours of coming into power, Kejriwal delivered on his promise of providing 667 litres of free water to every household in Delhi. At first instance, this reformatory action seems to elicit much applause but on looking closer, we may be able to observe some loopholes. Firstly, there will be no incentive to use a resource efficiently if it is free and has abundant supply. Not being able to realize the scarcity of water would only lead to more wastage. Secondly, there is no such thing as a free meal. We may agree with the principle behind the policy but it would be a potential financial drain for the government. However, addressing this concern, Kejriwal tweeted that it would cost the government just 40 crores for the last three months of this financial year and Rs. 160 crore a year thereafter. Economic System: Sometimes being criticized as being leftist, Kejriwal defends himself by claiming to be Anti Crony Capitalism, not Capitalism. Across India the relationship between politics and business has become fraught, which is why he believes that preventing private cartelizing can cure India of its economic woes. Kejriwal says that he is not against privatization, but he most definitely opposes monopolies since they lead to corruption. One of his famous quotes is the Government has no business to do business. Popularity Quotient: Some may portray him as a crusader while some may term him an anarchist, but having brought a breath of fresh air to the field of Indian Politics, Arvind Kejriwal has most certainly managed to capture the attention of major digital media leaders. He also seems to resonate well with the mid-income section of the society that wants politicians who dont line their pockets and tycoons who compete without favors. In March this year, Kejriwal had emerged as the only Indian leader to feature on Time magazine's top 100 most influential people in the world poll. Assessment: Although it is hard to criticize his intentions and simplistic plan for economic growth, Kejriwals ambiguous stance on various other economics issues still stirs much concern. India is hoping to see Kejriwal go beyond the corruption agenda and perhaps give more concrete plans of his administrative reforms. Controversies: Kejriwal's dharna to support Somnath Bharti: On January 20 Kejriwal defied police orders and urged the capital to join him on a 10-day protest, declaring defiantly, "Yes, I am an anarchist". Kejriwal and his ministers sat on protest near the Rail Bhawan, close to the office of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the President's House, demanding the union Home Ministry to suspend three police officers who refused to make a series of arrests ordered by his minister. The BJP used this controversy to hit out at the AAP government, saying they are more comfortable doing a dharna than focusing on governance. Resignation- The AAPs exit from government after just 49 days of governance has added to the number of controversies surrounding him. Arvind Kejriwal had threatened to resign if the Jan Lokpal Bill was not passed in the Assembly due to lack of support from other parties. This decision has disappointed many AAP supporters, who feel betrayed by the party for placing Delhi under suspended animation. Many view his resignation as a well-thought-of escape route, or as a way for him to shirk his responsibilities.
Issue 51 May 2014 SEIC Correspondents for Issue 51: Wong Shi Jun Aaron (Vice President, SPEX) Undergraduate Lee Kong Chian School of Business Singapore Management University aaron.wong.2012@business.smu.edu.sg
Zhou Li (Creative Director) Undergraduate School of Economics Singapore Management University li.zhou.2012@economics.smu.edu.sg Damini Roy (Writer) Undergraduate School of Economics Singapore Management University damini.roy.2011@economics.smu.edu.sg Gautam Nagpal (Writer) Undergraduate School of Economics Singapore Management University gnagpal.2012@economics.smu.edu.sg
Hiremath Siddhant Sanjev (Writer) Undergraduate School of Economics Singapore Management University sshiremath.2012@economics.smu.edu.sg Riya Rajagopal (Writer) Undergraduate Lee Kong Chian School of Business Singapore Management University riyar.2012@business.smu.edu.sg
Rhea Chandra (Writer) Undergraduate School of Economics Singapore Management University rheac.2012@economics.smu.edu.sg Shivika Srimal (Writer) Undergraduate School of Economics Singapore Management University shivikas.2013@economics.smu.edu.sg