disruptive innovation of democracy

7/27/2019 Disruptive Innovation of Democracy

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Disruptive Innovation

of Democracy


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Disruptive Innovation of Democracy

-Uday Dandavate, October 18, 2013

While congress party of India and the BJP are preoccupied guarding

their own turf and aiming to encroach rival territories during the

forthcoming elections to Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh,

Chhattisgarh and Mizoram state assemblies, the true importance of

these election will be revealed by the ripple effect they could cause

leading up to the Lok Sabha elections early next year.

Studying the emerging patterns of election results of state assembly

elections over the past two decades it becomes clear that issues of

governance and regional identity increasingly influence endorsement

or rejection of the party in power by the electorate. The BJP has

already discovered from the recent Karnataka assembly elections

that the Modi factor was not able to salvage the reputation of a

government sullied in corruption- issue of governance in their own

state was more important for people of Karnataka than the Gujrat

model marketed by Mr. Modi in Karnataka. If this pattern were to

hold true voters of Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh

and Mizoram should be expected to vote based on the performance

of their respective governments and along issues of identity playing

out in the respective region. However the election in Delhi is

promising to be a different situation.


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Since 2011 Delhi has been at the center of global media attention due

to various spontaneous protests by citizens, reminiscent of the Arab

Spring. Be it the Lok Pal movement or the spontaneous outrage

against a rape of Nirbhaya, it is clear that citizens are increasingly

getting frustrated by established political parties. They are taking to

streets to affect change through spontaneous mobilization.

There are differences of opinion amongst intelligentsia about the

significance of Anna Hazares emergence on the national scene as a

catalyst of disruption in the political space. His detractors scoff at him

for simplistic thinking, lack of long-term vision, and for his inability to

grasp complexity of making a democracy work. When a group led by

Arvind Kejriwal decided to pursue electoral battles to bring about

change, Anna himself dissociated from this option and instead

decided to stay focused on grass root level outreach to educate and

inspire youth to participate in nation building. The parting of ways

between Anna and Arvind Kejriwal was touted by the skeptics as

dissipation and disintegration of the movement. No matter where one

belongs in relation to ones opinion of Anna Hazare or Arvind

Kejriwal, one fact remains- that citizens of remotest parts of India

have watched with great interest the upsurge of popular protests in

Delhi. The ripples of the events in Delhi have resonated with masses

in remotest corners of India.

The restlessness and eagerness witnessed during these protests is a

perfect opportunity for those of us who feel stifled by the congress

party and BJPs machinations of reducing our electoral options to


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electing Mr. Modi or Mr. Rahul Gandhi as a Prime Minister. One

aspect of the protests in Delhi was significant- established political

leaders were either absent or were driven away by the protesters

when they tried to join the bandwagon. It is clear that people are

craving for a future that does not involve parties and leaders who

have a vested interest in preserving the current corrupt system.

People in the street were particularly appalled by near unanimity

amongst the political parties in bringing to the parliament a bill that

overturned Supreme Court judgment disenfranchising criminal

politicians. For many of the progressive individuals who are involved

in grass root level movements and institution building, Delhi elections

provide an opportunity to demonstrate to the established political

parties, that when offered a choice, masses are ready to dump the

politicians who have been party to building a corrupt system of

governance.

Recent opinion polls indicate that, with two more months to go, Delhi

election is likely to see emergence of Aaam Adami party with

significant presence. The support for the party is growing amidst

Delhi voters. It is going to spoil the prospects of both the Congress

and BJP. If elections were held today the party would win 18 seats in

a 70-member house. This support to the AAP has grown significantly

within a month of two polls and will very likely change as the

campaigns of all the three parties gain momentum over the next two

months. Additionally, largest percentage of voters want Arwind

Kejriwal to be the Chief Minister of Delhi, followed by Vijay Goel of


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BJP. Congress party candidate Shiela Dixit is trailing behind both

Kejriwal and Goel.

Another significant opinion poll conducted nationally suggests that

Congress party will face a historical route if Lok Sabha elections were

held today. Though the BJP would emerge as the largest party, the

regional parties together will be the largest block in the Parliament.

Both these polls are indication of simmering discontent of masses

against the established national political parties. No matter how the

parties spin their media messages, no matter how last minute

government largesse is dished out to people, the nation is ready for

change. The nation is ready to test the untested and established

political parties should have reasons to be afraid.

What are the implications for those of us who want to reject the

corrupt, dynastic, top-down model of the Congress party and the

Hindu Nationalism packaged in unsustainable development offered

by the RSS? Delhi elections offer an opportunity to unsettle the

applecart. It provides the opportunity to clear the way for peoples

juggernaut. Its time to look closely at every candidate for his or her

individual merit rather than to vote for minions of the two dictatorial

leaders. It is time to make a statement that there can be a future

alternative that does not include either the congress or the BJP. My

request to the progressive forces is to work for the defeat of both the

Congress and the BJP and help people gain confidence in

experimenting with new possibilities. Let Delhi election be the catalyst


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of change that we all want to see in the long term. It is a perfect

moment for Disruptive Innovation of democracy in India.

disruptive innovation of democracy

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