Corruption is not the disease but the symptom

I wrote an article titled "The Worthless Incorruptible" soon after AAP was formed on Facebook (cannot find it anymore!), arguing that Kejriwal's witch-hunt activism, particularly against Sheila Dikshit, was not just dishonest but also unnecessary. Today, Kejriwal lost his own seat in the Delhi election. I am both happy and unhappy.

I am happy because my prediction proved right. Corruption is not the root cause of India's problems; it is merely a symptom. Unless our leaders address the core issues, any anti-corruption movement is bound to fail. India is plagued by over-bureaucracy. Kejriwal offered more bureaucracy instead of reducing it. Ironically, he himself got tangled in bureaucracy and ended up in jail on corruption charges.

I am unhappy because Kejriwal's defeat makes the opposition (to the ruling BJP) look less credible, especially given that no one knows what role the INC is playing. He is one of the most brilliant politicians of our time, rising from nowhere to challenge mainstream political parties and eventually governing Delhi and Punjab.

The good thing is Kejriwal will now have more time for politics. I hope he engages in constructive politics. He has the unique advantage of working mostly in the city of Delhi. Most political parties focus on rural India and ignore the concerns of urban voters. He needs to address real issues. For example, our cities are among the most polluted in the world. It is not that our governments lack the money to improve air and water quality; they merely lack political will.

(Posted on LinkedIn on the day of Delhi election results, 2025)