Congress facepalm: Why did Shinde give Kejriwal a way out?

Even when the Congress wins, it loses.

After its ignominious defeat in the recently concluded Delhi elections after which it gave AAP the backing to form the next government, the Congress for the first time, really had Kejriwal on the back foot.

Whatever the intentions behind Delhi Chief Minister's two-day dharna, described as BJP leader Arun Jaitley as 'theatre of the absurd', it didn't turn out as he would have hoped. The media and the middle class, both turned against him and the discourse around him changed from 'reformer' and 'political alternative' to 'vigilante' and 'political anarchist'.

Shinde was reportedly castigated the Congress Vice President for letting the AAP off the hook. PTI

Kejriwal himself was in a bind by the tail end of his dharna. Not only was he not getting the mass support he wanted in quite the same numbers, but increasingly violent confrontations between activists and the assembled Delhi police were threatening to create a very real law and order situation. He had also aroused the ire of the more patriotically minded by deriding Republic Day celebrations in the capital as little more than a 'lot of processions'.

The Congress, on the receiving end of unpopular sentiment for so long, was well placed for the first time in ages. But then, Kejriwal was given a face saving way out by Lt governor Najeeb Jung, an opportunity that the Delhi Chief Minister grabbed with both hands. And now the party is reportedly upset.

This Economic Times report quotes a Congress source as saying, "We had him by his jugular when we allowed him to slip away. A good opportunity to corner him was lost because the matter was seen as a law and order issue rather than a political problem."

This comes in the wake of reports last night that indicated that Rahul Gandhi had been upset with Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde over the same issue.

According to a NDTV report,  "At a meeting held at his home last evening, Mr Gandhi, 43, reportedly made it clear to senior Congress leaders including Mr Shinde that a compromise should not have been purveyed to Mr Kejriwal. Sources say the Prime Minister, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Mr Gandhi had not been consulted about the truce offered to Mr Kejriwal by Mr Shinde."

Since then, Kejriwal has not only touted his massive climb down (settling for two policemen going on leave as opposed to the suspension of five policemen) as a 'victory for democracy and the people' but he looks to be well on his way to putting this incident behind him and moving on to his next populist measure. According to the Economic Times, he has started fast-track investigations into alleged corruption in Delhi Jal Board and the execution of schemes related to Commonwealth Games 2010. Both decisions can have serious implications for former CM Sheila Dikshit.

It is unclear what exactly the Congress could have achieved in terms of populist sentiment even if the dharna had dragged on, impeding Republic Day celebrations. The anger against them at this stage is too strong for them to possibly undo. But in terms of exposing their conqueror before the people of Delhi and indirectly showing them exactly what 'alternative' they have chosen, they have lost the opportunity.