(Ishwari Bajpai is Senior Advisor at NDTV; he has been a journalist for 30 years, and has covered the elections since 1984.)
It's a slippery slope and the Aam Aadmi Party seems to be in freefall. Sunday's example, tweeted by Congress leader Ajay Maken, of VVIP entry and VIP parking at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi for the launch of AAP's anti-corruption helpline was perhaps the clearest sign of the more things change, the more they remain the same. AAP seems to have become just another party.
Sure it may still have and implement an agenda that is different, more radical and/or populist than the BJP or Congress, but the patterns of behaviour are just like the rest.
We should have seen it coming. The signals were there; we just did not pay attention.
As they roared back to power in February, you could have been fooled into thinking nothing had changed, the people's party were back and Delhi would have another jamboree at the Ramlila Ground. Yes, but not quite the same. No one, sorry, no one of importance, came to the swearing-in by Metro. Apparently, been there done that. Now it seemed the AAP was saying, "We are here for 5 years, we don't really have to go through these motions."
Apparently, he did not quite mean that, as his colleague said Adarsh Shastri yesterday in response to the Maken accusation of falling into the trappings of VIP culture. "We do not endorse VIP culture, but certain things are required for the smooth and efficient working of the government," he said. True, next they will need Lal Battis and police escorts as Delhi's notorious traffic stops them from reaching those important meetings that they need to attend.
Yesterday at Talkatora Stadium was just that - the system keeping in place the symbols of power. If AAP does not want to be overtaken by such a culture, it will have to be very watchful and very open to criticism. Neither, unfortunately, has been on display since it came to power.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
Delhi High Court Notice To BJP's Bansuri Swaraj On Petition Challenging Her Election No Interim Bail For Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal By Supreme Court In Row With AAP Over Flag Hoisting, Delhi Lt Governor Picks Kailash Gahlot 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court "Want To Ask Congress...": Mamata Banerjee Snaps At Ally In Rape-Murder Case Starbucks' Indian-Origin CEO, Recently Fired, Never Worked Past 6 pm US' UCLA Must Protect Jewish Students' Access To Campus, Judge Rules For 1st Time, Tricolour To Be Hoisted In Villages Of This Maoist-Hit Region Man Accused Of Raping Minor Girl Who Gave Birth To Stillborn Arrested In UP Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.