Victory  of AAP in Delhi assembly is certainly praiseworthy and astonishing,  particularly on the background that the party was born only a year  ago. AAP has certainly sparked the imagination of a large section of  population. It has brought in visible change in the participation of  a section of society which otherwise was indifferent to the election  process due to its cynicism towards political parties. This is  apparent from the increase in voters' turnout. It is also healthy to  see social activists trying to find solutions to bad governance by  participating in the elections rather than only raising issues.

It  is Mahatma Gandhi who said "Be part of change you want to bring  around". In that respect, AAP's success is welcome and very  healthy for democracy. It has proved that citizens are constantly  looking for better alternatives. In a democracy, the only way  citizens can throw out an ineffective government is through  elections. Hence, there is no alternative to elections. While social  activists have a definite role in today's society, a long term  solution for the country's governance lies when more good meaning and  educated people join the polity through election process.

Many  of the persons elected from AAP have no special social background.  Neither are they from political families, sons of politicians nor any  special achievements to their credit. Their win demolishes the  argument of winnability put forward by established parties while  foisting criminals on the electorate. The so called winnable  candidates put up by established parties were defeated by AAP  candidates by huge margin.

Hence,  the message to established parties is that they shouldn't decide for  voters and leave the decision to them with a candidate with a clean  image and commitment to serve.

The  statements coming from AAP leaders after the victory need some  analysis. While there is every reason for AAP leaders to be euphoric  about the victory, their body language and attitude smack of  arrogance. The victory was unexpected to general observers and many  had discounted the party to be a fringe one.

On  that background, every AAP member has a right to be proud and elated.  However their apparent desire for a reelection is not understandable.  While reelection may be a definite possibility given a fractured  mandate, it should not be the first choice of a party which has taken  up Aam adami's cause.

Elections  in India are a costly affair. It not only costs money, it also leads  to productive time being diverted. When asked about the cost of  reelection by a TV channel anchor, Arvind Kejriwal remarked " So  what? It only costs between Rs 50 to 100 crores". This is  certainly not expected of a person who is basing his claim to govern  based on ethics, honesty and interest of aam adami.

AAP  leaders are also claiming that only their party has won and everyone  has lost. While AAP's success cannot be ignored, their claim that  only they have won and everyone else has lost is not true. AAP has  got 30% vote share of Delhi's electorate with a win in 28  constituencies.

While  this is certainly significant for new party, it is also a fact that  almost 70% of electorate have voted for other parties. If we take  into consideration 70% voter turnout, AAP represents 21% of total  Delhi electorate. BJP which has got 34% of electorate vote has won 32  seats and is the single largest party.

BJP  was expected to do much better in view of anger against Congress  government but by virtue having won the largest number of seats and  leading vote share it cannot be considered to be a loser. Note that  amongst them the two national parties got 60% vote share.

Governance  in India is complex and hence should not be reduced to a farce. It is  easy to attract voters by promising cheap water and electricity but  far more difficult to deliver on those promises without making  governance suffer. While voters in Delhi have certainly voted against  mis governance, they might have been swayed by AAP's promises. Voters  from other states like Rajasthan have seen the damage that such  promises inflict.

While  India needs wholesale change in polity, arrival of small new  political parties may not augur well in the long term.

The  two national parties need to deeply introspect of the state of  affairs and bring about radical changes. The parties should not only  represent aspirations of new India, they should by their own conduct  and transparent communication be seen to be doing so. Both the  national parties have been built over decades through sacrifices made  by past leaders.

The  answer to Good governance in India does not lie in multiple regional  parties but lies in two or three strong national parties with people  of character, commitment, intelligence and above all a desire to  serve the country.

The  country's problems cannot be solved by giving subsidies and doles.  The only way, the country and thereby its citizens can progress is  through inclusive, balanced and high growth. It requires a vision  shared by all its countrymen. We may have to make sacrifices in the  short term.

The  national parties therefore have to make a course correction. They  need to have a comprehensive review of their organization and  leadership at the helm of affairs. Neither of the two parties can  call themselves a cadre based party. It is the cadre who takes up the  issue and lead agitations like the one seen in Delhi in the recent  past. There is a tendency in both parties that elections can be won  through "M" power i.e. money, muscle and media.

In  that respect, Delhi's election is a wakeup call. Parties should  immediately draw a code of conduct and ethics which lays down among  other matters, maximum times a person can contest election, entry and  retirement age, the period he / she has to spend in party affairs  before taking to electoral politics and also how government will be  accountable to party. In today's politics, there is no oversight of  party over government.

Student  movements gave birth to many new leaders. It was a breeding ground  for new political leadership. Unfortunately, it does not exist today  in its true sense. The space occupied by AAP today was a natural  space left vacant by national parties.

While  there are limitations of every government in meeting all aspirations  of its citizens, voters can understand the difference between an  honest attempt and bad governance!

Hence,  it is time for both national parties to overhaul their organizations,  being in gender equality, weed away vested interest, put up  candidates of integrity and clean image.

It  is a long drawn process and may take one or two elections.  Alternatively, they may ignore the message and get wiped out from the  electorate map of India.

The  author is a Mumbai based Chartered Accountant