Aam Aadmi Party's unprecedented success and Arvind Kejriwal becoming the chief minister of Delhi have significantly changed the poll equations and much more is in the offing. With fast approaching general elections, India is gearing up to elect its
At a time like that, AAP's debut convinced the public that they are being cared for. Ultimately, what people are looking for is purposeful politics and not just ensuring power to someone, because they don't have an option.
Kejriwal's success can also be attributed to the timing. Indians fed up with the failure of political parties to check increasing corruption in the country were looking an able alternative and a positive change.
While Kejriwal is struggling hard to prove that the system is bad, Modi is hell bent on proving how he can give the best system.
However hard Modi tries, it's not easy for people to disconnect him from RSS or Hindu ideology.
Unlike Modi, Kejriwal may be backed by a grassroot party, but that does come with some hidden positivities.
This is Kejriwal's first step in people-centric projects, Modi has to his credit many schemes that are part of Gujarat's edvelopment that had made it a model state in the country.
Though not with his words, Kejriwal is projecting himself as a formidable PM option for the country with his actions. Though his poll promises were labelled as unrealistic, he fulfilled a few of them, thereby gaining people's trust.
Kejriwal isn't an admirable orator like Modi, who can seamlessly strike the right chord with college students and farmers alike.
The tough job for Modi would be to regain faith in urban youths, whom Modi had identified as his vote bank. In fact, a year ago he had begun forming a strong team of youths through his Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG) initiative which had
Political inexperience cannot be a measure for poll success and Kejriwal's win in Delhi assembly polls is a testament to that.
Unlike Modi, a politician to the core, Kejriwal is an IIT graduate, who turned into an activist, before taking a plunge into politics.
The question is: Is that sufficient to convince voters that he is the alternative for BJP's popular PM candidate Narendra Modi?
He hasn't taken police security and has refused to take official 5-bedroom residence. Instead, he is happy with his modest two-bedroom home.
India's common man has begun to identify with Kejriwal's humble mannerism and simple ideals. The day he became the CM, he banned red beacon lights for government vehicles.
If Modi's is a rags to riches story, Kejriwal's is a story that goes into India's history pages as a man with a difference.
When Kejriwal routed three-time Delhi CM Sheila Dixit with a huge majority, he showed that he has arrived. Despite his denial of being the PM race, experts can't resist terming him an able competitor to Modi and Rahul.
This time it's going to be a different game altogether. The competition is heating up and challenges are aplenty.
Till now, there were very few options for PM. Narendra Modi of BJP and Rahul Gandhi of Congress- one nominated by the party and another yet to be designated.
Arvind Kejriwal vs Narendra Modi: What sets them apart