" I am from Mumbai. I left my job and am living in Jarnail Singh's (AAP MLA, Tilak Nagar) home for the past three months volunteering for AAP. My husband is the earning member from our family and is in Mumbai" said a lady on the famed Ravish Kumar's show. There were many more. The contributors to the landslide victory of AAP.
The euphoria is settling in. Did it really happen? A toddler party? Humongous mandate? Enough has been said and written. It's the D-day.
"Inquilab Zindabad"! He is roaring again. Why am I not feeling the same happiness I felt when he took his oath the last time around. Something's missing.
It's the same old wardrobe of the minister's, same simplicity, to the point that might make you think its de ja vu.
People shouting slogans. Common people clad in white caps. People in costumes..peacocks and what not.
'If someone asks you for a bribe...don't deny. Give it. Do a recording. And report it on the anti-corruption line number.' Not the same joy as last time. Am I depressed?
Inclusive governance. Constructive cooperation. Positive competition. All good. But no overwhelming feeling. Am I being a snob?
Ok. Got it. Bang on. So there are no women in the cabinet. That's what is causing it. My lack of joy.
Six women AAP candidates were elected in the assembly elections. None in the cabinet.
Few raised a voice on the social media against this. Were trolled.Called names. Were given justifications like competence, tokenism, merit, symbolism. None of the AAP leaders seemed to be answering.
I had thought, let's wait and watch. Not overplay the gender card. AAP should do a fine work. Should select a good cabinet. Everything will fall in place. It didn't. According to me at least.
It's not about reservation. It's about representation. Power of 49, they call it when elections come up (though it's not a happy number. It should be ideally Power of 51, if nature was allowed to work and not the infamous sonograms).
Questioning competence of women is plain silly and needed to be thought out before ticket distribution. Besides it smells of distrust.
Symbolism too is unwelcome, in the new brand of alternative politics that AAP stands for. But then there already is a Dalit and a Muslim in the cabinet. Is it not symbolism?
Giving the portfolio of women and children to a male (Sandeep Kumar) too is revolutionary. Probably giving education or public works to a woman could have worked as well.
I support AAP. Will continue to support it for all the right reasons. But will also continue to ask questions, when in doubt.
There were elaborate women's dialogues organised during AAP's campaign phase. Lot was discussed and promised on women's safety, women empowerment. What changed?
Stalwarts like Atishi Marlena, Meera Sanyal, Gul Panag carried the torch of women power. It was very inspiring. The women MLAs of AAP too are wonderful. It is likely that Bandana Kumari, AAP's MLA from Shalimar Bagh, could be deputy speaker. That's a consolation.
Will there be a cabinet reshuffle in the near future? What were the reasons for not including women in the cabinet? Will AAP come transparent on this? Arvind says we should shun 'ahankaar' or else we will be punished like Congress and BJP. Is this not an example of male ego? If not, please clarify.
Until them, using all the power at my disposal (49/51), will pursue this question.
The euphoria is settling in. Did it really happen? A toddler party? Humongous mandate? Enough has been said and written. It's the D-day.
"Inquilab Zindabad"! He is roaring again. Why am I not feeling the same happiness I felt when he took his oath the last time around. Something's missing.
It's the same old wardrobe of the minister's, same simplicity, to the point that might make you think its de ja vu.
People shouting slogans. Common people clad in white caps. People in costumes..peacocks and what not.
'If someone asks you for a bribe...don't deny. Give it. Do a recording. And report it on the anti-corruption line number.' Not the same joy as last time. Am I depressed?
Inclusive governance. Constructive cooperation. Positive competition. All good. But no overwhelming feeling. Am I being a snob?
Ok. Got it. Bang on. So there are no women in the cabinet. That's what is causing it. My lack of joy.
Six women AAP candidates were elected in the assembly elections. None in the cabinet.
Few raised a voice on the social media against this. Were trolled.Called names. Were given justifications like competence, tokenism, merit, symbolism. None of the AAP leaders seemed to be answering.
I had thought, let's wait and watch. Not overplay the gender card. AAP should do a fine work. Should select a good cabinet. Everything will fall in place. It didn't. According to me at least.
It's not about reservation. It's about representation. Power of 49, they call it when elections come up (though it's not a happy number. It should be ideally Power of 51, if nature was allowed to work and not the infamous sonograms).
Questioning competence of women is plain silly and needed to be thought out before ticket distribution. Besides it smells of distrust.
Symbolism too is unwelcome, in the new brand of alternative politics that AAP stands for. But then there already is a Dalit and a Muslim in the cabinet. Is it not symbolism?
Giving the portfolio of women and children to a male (Sandeep Kumar) too is revolutionary. Probably giving education or public works to a woman could have worked as well.
I support AAP. Will continue to support it for all the right reasons. But will also continue to ask questions, when in doubt.
There were elaborate women's dialogues organised during AAP's campaign phase. Lot was discussed and promised on women's safety, women empowerment. What changed?
Stalwarts like Atishi Marlena, Meera Sanyal, Gul Panag carried the torch of women power. It was very inspiring. The women MLAs of AAP too are wonderful. It is likely that Bandana Kumari, AAP's MLA from Shalimar Bagh, could be deputy speaker. That's a consolation.
Will there be a cabinet reshuffle in the near future? What were the reasons for not including women in the cabinet? Will AAP come transparent on this? Arvind says we should shun 'ahankaar' or else we will be punished like Congress and BJP. Is this not an example of male ego? If not, please clarify.
Until them, using all the power at my disposal (49/51), will pursue this question.
