Thurs, Jan 2nd, 2013

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/01/02/arvind-kejriwal-vows-stamp-out-corruption-india

Standing strong before a crowd of tens of thousands, Delhi’s new leader, Arvind Kejriwal, was sworn in last Saturday following a massively successful anticorruption campaign.

Mr Kejriwal, 45, a former tax commissioner, formed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) last year amid growing resentment and anger over India’s widespread corruption.

Barely a year old, his party shocked Delhi and the nation after it won 28 of the 70 seats in the state elections earlier this month.

He became Delhi’s seventh chief minister after the Indian National Congress Party, which only won eight seats, agreed to support him.

Late yesterday afternoon, in its first major step towards fulfilling its election promises, the AAP announced it would provide almost 700 litres of water free to every household with functional metres everyday.

“It is duty of any responsible govt [sic] to provide “lifeline water” to its citizens,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted.

Mr Kejriwal has also promised to cut electricity prices in half after the party alleged power distribution companies plotted with officials in previous governments to over-charge Delhi for its power supply.

It is widely understood the new government would order an audit of electricity companies.

Supporters of the anti-corruption champion and Aam Admi Party (one dressed as Hindu Lord Rama) watch their unseen leader Arvind Kejriwal taking his oath of office as Chief Minister of India's national capital region from Delhi's Lt. Governor.

In a bid to rid the government of corruption, he has vowed to arrest anyone in his administration who demands a bribe and will also set up a hotline to report such abuses of power.

He has also done away with the VIP culture of Indian politics – reaching out to the public to be seen as a “common man”.

In breaking tradition, Mr Kejriwal was sworn in at the historic Ramlila Maidan, the venue of hundreds of political rallies in the past several decades. There was an open invitation to the public while the city’s elite were shunned.

It was only the second time that a chief minister has been sworn in at an open ground.

He used public transport to the reach the grounds on Saturday and has refused special security and government accommodation, rather opting for his modest home.

The AAP’s symbol of the broom has helped to consolidate its message: that it will “sweep the streets of corruption”.

In a society tainted by caste and class, the party’s symbol has also become a tool to relay the AAP’s ambition to expand past Delhi’s middle class.

The party’s success on a state level has left many contemplating the future of the party and Mr Kejriwal amid the upcoming general elections.

Riding on its successful debut, the party has announced it will contest next year’s election, but it has remained undecided about how many seats it would contest out of the total 543.

But as a political novice, the youngest chief minister of Delhi and the leader of a minority government, Mr Kejriwal faces huge challenges.

Some are skeptical of his potential success and whether the party would be able to fulfil its promises.

In the meantime, the nation is watching in anticipation to see whether the AAP will be a game-changer for India.