Will the release of Manish Sisodia help AAP to resume its tarnishing image
Prabha
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has finally been granted bail by the Supreme Court, which expressed its displeasure with the actions of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), reprimanding them for keeping him in jail for an extended period. The court also criticized the lower courts, questioning the need for prolonged detention. However, what impact will these stern words have? Will they undo the time Sisodia spent in jail? Will ED officials start adhering to the Constitution with newfound integrity? Will lower courts begin granting bail according to the law, without succumbing to political pressure, and only sending the accused to jail in truly exceptional cases?
Unfortunately, the reality is likely to remain unchanged. The ED will continue devising new ways to prolong detention, and the courts will persist in their current practices, with bail being granted only in rare instances. Occasionally, the Supreme Court may issue strong remarks, but the status quo will endure. Over the past decade, a system has evolved that shows little regard for the Constitution and the rule of law. Without a comprehensive review and fundamental reforms, this system will continue to operate unimpeded.
The cases of Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are distinct. Both leaders were in government when the liquor policy was formulated, and serious allegations have been made against them. The court has ruled that they cannot be detained for an extended period, emphasizing that no law or investigative agency’s actions can override the fundamental right to civil liberty guaranteed by the Constitution. No one’s civil liberty should be suspended indefinitely on the basis that an investigation is still ongoing. It’s not within any officer’s authority to decide how long someone’s civil liberty can be restricted. As the guardian of the Constitution, the court can and should intervene in such cases, as it has in Manish Sisodia’s.
Following his imprisonment, Sisodia resigned from his post. Now, it falls to Arvind Kejriwal to decide whether he will bring his most trusted ally back into the cabinet once Sisodia is released. While Kejriwal remains the Chief Minister, claiming to manage the government even from jail, the real question is whether he will reappoint Sisodia as Deputy Chief Minister.
However, it might have been more prudent for Kejriwal to step down after Sisodia’s release, allowing for the formation of a new government under Sisodia’s leadership. This would have ensured that Delhi had a fully functional government, rather than one being managed from behind bars. Continuing as things are could damage Kejriwal’s image and is unlikely to benefit the people of Delhi or provide any political advantage.
Kejriwal’s imprisonment right before the Lok Sabha elections, and his brief release for campaigning, had little impact on the electorate. Despite an alliance with Congress, AAP failed to win a single seat in Delhi and managed only three in Punjab, where Congress secured seven seats. This suggests that Kejriwal isn’t garnering any sympathy from his time in jail, serving as a warning for his political strategy.
In the past three elections, AAP and Kejriwal were not marred by serious corruption allegations. Leaders like Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh did not face jail time, and extravagant spending on luxury items at the Chief Minister’s residence was unheard of. However, the recent revelations, including the images of the opulent “Sheesh Mahal,” have severely damaged Kejriwal’s reputation. The public is struggling to reconcile this Kejriwal with the one who once criticized ministers for living in large bungalows and advocated for living in modest two-room flats. Moreover, the foundation of the party was started with the fight against corruption but now Kejriwal talks only about schools and not about eradicating corruption. He is fooling the people of Delhi by giving “freebie” culture .
People are now seeing a different Kejriwal, who once demanded the resignation of any leader accused of corruption but is now in jail himself without resigning as Chief Minister. The administration in Delhi is in disarray, with ministers who aren’t in jail either holding press conferences or blaming the Lieutenant Governor and bureaucracy. How can the public trust that the situation in Delhi won’t worsen if AAP wins again?
With Delhi Assembly elections due in January-February, if the current situation persists, AAP may face significant challenges. The atmosphere today is markedly different from that of the 2013, 2015, and 2020 elections.
It might be necessary to remove those AAP leaders who, despite holding government and party positions, are engaged only in the politics of accusations. These leaders spend their time finding ways to clash with the Lieutenant Governor and bureaucracy instead of working collaboratively. AAP needs to rebuild itself and move beyond Kejriwal’s current approach. This doesn’t mean sidelining Kejriwal—he remains a major leader, and the party will continue under his leadership. However, the mindset that has guided the party since 2013 must change. A more cooperative approach, rather than constant conflict, is needed.
It’s clear that the party is transitioning from an emergency ward to the ICU. Kejriwal must let go of his lust for power, take a lesson from Rahul Gandhi, and reconnect with the people. The work he should have done in 2015, when the country was looking to him, was sidelined by his pursuit of power—and in that pursuit, he surrounded himself with “five-star” leaders.
