I'm amazed at the report that erstwhile Team Anna is talking about contesting Delhi Assembly elections.

Kejriwal told volunteers that their first focus will be on Congress-ruled Delhi. He also asked volunteers to start working in all the 70 constituencies in Delhi, they said. [Source]

That's the MOST INEFFECTIVE way to remove corruption in India, the causes of which are largely controlled by the parliament. The key laws affecting corruption are those governing elections, all India services and industry (including investment).

All socialist laws originate in the centre, and states merely implement based on the dole they receive (from the centre). States definitely control land management and other matters which are associated with corruption, but states do not originate the socialist system.

Kejriwal is wrong on two fronts: (a) Lokpal is not the solution to corruption but even if it were, it must be implemented by the parliament, and (b) corruption is not an ADMINISTRATIVE problem. It can't be resolved merely by wielding the reins of administration of a socialist state (notwithstanding the hype about Modi's Gujarat: the reality is otherwise).

Kejriwal also talks a lot about gram panchayat level local government, but Delhi is perhaps the most extreme example of urbanisation in India. It needs strong local government, but of an entirely different sort to what Arvind talks about (see BFN).

Justice Tewatia called me on Saturday night this weekend and informed me that he had personally spoken to Arvind Kejriwal about my book last week. But clearly Arvind and his "people" are not paying attention to what I've been saying.

Let me summarise, below:

DON'T get into active politics without preparation. The key preparation is (a) right leaders and (b) right policies. Then the right strategy. DO NOT START at the state level. It is pointless. Even if you win, you'll be able to do NOTHING.

Yes, you've done the RIGHT THING by committing to politics. That's a necessary first step. But in itself, this step means nothing. Then begins the preparation – to succeed.

Related posts:

1. Rahul Gandhi will remove corruption! Whom is he trying to fool?
2. A talk in Delhi, 15 June: Impact of Governance on Entrepreneurship – by Shantanu Bhagwat
3. A must-attend talk in Delhi on 12 January on free banking – by Lawrence White
4. How to remove corruption from India – the ACTUAL solution
5. Remove corruption
6. Shashi Tharoor’s excellent talk (but shame that he promotes corruption big time)
7. First step in removal of corruption: State funding of elections
8. State funding of elections on the agenda? A great opportunity to fix corruption at it source
9. How corruption works – a case study of BJP’s expertise in corruption
10. Updated record of the IIT Delhi event