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In his latest televised expose, Arvind Kejriwal focused on BJP president Nitin Gadkari, sketching a narrative of entrenched collusion and corruption — of how Ajit Pawar allegedly sprang to assist Gadkari, swindling farmers of their rightful land and water. This "setting" between the big parties, he claimed, defined our politics, that "all of them", from Nitin Gadkari to Sharad Pawar, Sonia Gandhi to Mayawati, were like a family. Given these insidious networks of money and power, the idea of political "choice" has been an illusion (until he came along). While his self-belief is impressive, as is his decision to slug it out in the political fray, the method is getting repetitive, and the paucity of ideas increasingly clear.

Certainly, Kejriwal has positioned himself as effectively as he could possibly have. With Vadra and Gadkari, he has aimed at the most efficient spots to shake the system. If his organisation is thin on the ground, he has used the wide-eyed media to amplify his message. But for all that expert brand management, his political platform remains as enigmatic as ever. What is its social and economic philosophy? What interest groups does it represent? Is it left or right, libertarian or green? What are its priorities, apart from radical transparency and a maximalist Lokpal bill? Where does it stand on religious minorities? What compromises would be unacceptable? No matter what faultline of Indian politics you choose, Arvind Kejriwal's no-name party is impossible to place. Its stated principles involve righteously refusing bungalows, security, and cars with red lights, if such things are thrust upon them, and dotty visions of direct democracy, letting people set the prices of essential commodities, etc. They believe that corruption is terrible, that quality health and education are desirable. They have not expressed a substantive opinion, or beliefs that will translate into policy, on anything apart from insisting that they are not like the grown-ups.

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