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Bajaj Auto managing directorRajiv Bajajcreated quite a flutter in the business world when he openly endorsedArvind Kejriwallast year. Bajaj, who's known to take the road less travelled, did this at a time when Kejriwal was seen to be anti-business and going after crony capitalism in a big way. On the day of this historic win in the Delhi election, Bajaj told ET'sSatish Johninan email interview about why he admires the the Aam Aadmi Party leader. Edited excerpts:
What can you tell us about Arvind Kejriwal?
Rajiv Bajaj:I first met Arvind in December 2013 at an event that honored us both as Indians of the year. Thus my association is recent and my meetings with him have been few and short. But my admiration for him is enormous, because I've found him to be one of the most scrupulously honest, stunningly intelligent and uncommonly brave people that I've ever met. I believe that he has every quality to inspire a new breed of politicians who will serve India as it deserves to be served.
He's perceived as anti-business--do you agree or disagree? On his economic policies, do you think he has one and how's it different?
Rajiv Bajaj:I have seen no evidence of Arvind being anti-business at all. I think that this perception of him, if true, owes itself to his short stint as CM last year.
In that short period of time, he could immediately implement only those actions that had a short execution lead time. Had he continued in office I'm certain that we would have seen him act in equal measure on longer-term issues as well.
In any case I personally believe that our economic policy should be where our heart is--a little left of centre.
So I'm unlikely to find fault with what I currently know to be Arvind's approach.
Do you think the results can act as a break in momentum for theNarendra Modigovernment and slow down economic reforms?
Rajiv Bajaj:I would think not. AAP's endeavour, rooted in Arvind's concept of Swaraj, as articulated in his book of the same name, is primarily to enable, through bottom-up empowerment, the prosperity of every Indian.
The positive sentiments and tangible benefits arising from this approach can only dispose us all even more favourably towards bold, progressive economic reforms. I see bottom-up Swaraj complementing the top-down initiatives of the NDA.
Will the BJP be tempted to move in a more populist direction?
Rajiv Bajaj:I can't speak for the BJP but I will ponder this: If populism was still king, why hasCongresslost its kingdom?
Will this make it harder for the Modi government to push through reformist legislation in the Rajya Sabha?
Rajiv Bajaj:As I've explained above I, on the contrary, believe that Swaraj will create an environment that will be even more conducive for development.
When people see real improvements, however small to start with, in various aspects of their daily life, it will whet their appetite and strengthen their resolve to dream bigger. Just like a child needs a father to give him wings and a mother to give him roots, India needs both a strong father and a nurturing mother
What are the expectations of big business?
Rajiv Bajaj:The management guruPeter Druckersaid that if you want something new, you have to stop doing something old--not START something new but STOP something old. In the same vein, I would imagine that businesses big and small would first and foremost hope for respite from all the time-honoured pains that continue to hobble entrepreneurship in India.
How did Kejriwal's campaign strategy work in his favour?
Rajiv Bajaj:Fundamentally, I believe in the wisdom of the marketing guru Al Ries who said when in trouble narrow your focus, because less is more. To my mind, Arvind narrowed AAP's focus, concentrating all their resources in Delhi, thereby creating a perception of being a committed and competent Delhi specialist. This counterintuitive wisdom is hard for most to fathom because they cannot, for example, bring themselves to sacrifice Maharashtra and Haryana in order to win Delhi. But under all great Davidian success lies such Goliathan sacrifice
The extent of the win--do you think it had more to do with his opponents running a negative campaign?
Rajiv Bajaj:In other recent state elections too negativity was evident, but that doesn't seem to have had the effect that we have witnessed in Delhi. So there are always multiple reasons for such a startling outcome, but the true success factors are those that differentiate themselves by being reliably repeatable.
Is AAP a start-up that's confined to Delhi? Do you think it can spread its influence to other states in the south and west?
Rajiv Bajaj:This only time will tell, but as we say in business, first one should create a deep excellence, then only seek to give it the width of scale. It is important to stay grounded in what makes us successful in the first place, resisting the temptation to grow, for often there's a fine line between growth and greed
Members of your family played an important role in the freedom struggle. Do you think industrialists and businessmen should start playing an active role by lending their strength to political movements?
Rajiv Bajaj:For myself I can say this: I'm as likely to engage in politics as Arvind is in making motorcycles.
Arvind Kejriwal is scrupulously honest, stunningly intelligent & brave: Rajiv Bajaj - The Economic Times
What can you tell us about Arvind Kejriwal?
Rajiv Bajaj:I first met Arvind in December 2013 at an event that honored us both as Indians of the year. Thus my association is recent and my meetings with him have been few and short. But my admiration for him is enormous, because I've found him to be one of the most scrupulously honest, stunningly intelligent and uncommonly brave people that I've ever met. I believe that he has every quality to inspire a new breed of politicians who will serve India as it deserves to be served.
He's perceived as anti-business--do you agree or disagree? On his economic policies, do you think he has one and how's it different?
Rajiv Bajaj:I have seen no evidence of Arvind being anti-business at all. I think that this perception of him, if true, owes itself to his short stint as CM last year.
In that short period of time, he could immediately implement only those actions that had a short execution lead time. Had he continued in office I'm certain that we would have seen him act in equal measure on longer-term issues as well.
In any case I personally believe that our economic policy should be where our heart is--a little left of centre.
So I'm unlikely to find fault with what I currently know to be Arvind's approach.
Do you think the results can act as a break in momentum for theNarendra Modigovernment and slow down economic reforms?
Rajiv Bajaj:I would think not. AAP's endeavour, rooted in Arvind's concept of Swaraj, as articulated in his book of the same name, is primarily to enable, through bottom-up empowerment, the prosperity of every Indian.
The positive sentiments and tangible benefits arising from this approach can only dispose us all even more favourably towards bold, progressive economic reforms. I see bottom-up Swaraj complementing the top-down initiatives of the NDA.
Will the BJP be tempted to move in a more populist direction?
Rajiv Bajaj:I can't speak for the BJP but I will ponder this: If populism was still king, why hasCongresslost its kingdom?
Will this make it harder for the Modi government to push through reformist legislation in the Rajya Sabha?
Rajiv Bajaj:As I've explained above I, on the contrary, believe that Swaraj will create an environment that will be even more conducive for development.
When people see real improvements, however small to start with, in various aspects of their daily life, it will whet their appetite and strengthen their resolve to dream bigger. Just like a child needs a father to give him wings and a mother to give him roots, India needs both a strong father and a nurturing mother
What are the expectations of big business?
Rajiv Bajaj:The management guruPeter Druckersaid that if you want something new, you have to stop doing something old--not START something new but STOP something old. In the same vein, I would imagine that businesses big and small would first and foremost hope for respite from all the time-honoured pains that continue to hobble entrepreneurship in India.
How did Kejriwal's campaign strategy work in his favour?
Rajiv Bajaj:Fundamentally, I believe in the wisdom of the marketing guru Al Ries who said when in trouble narrow your focus, because less is more. To my mind, Arvind narrowed AAP's focus, concentrating all their resources in Delhi, thereby creating a perception of being a committed and competent Delhi specialist. This counterintuitive wisdom is hard for most to fathom because they cannot, for example, bring themselves to sacrifice Maharashtra and Haryana in order to win Delhi. But under all great Davidian success lies such Goliathan sacrifice
The extent of the win--do you think it had more to do with his opponents running a negative campaign?
Rajiv Bajaj:In other recent state elections too negativity was evident, but that doesn't seem to have had the effect that we have witnessed in Delhi. So there are always multiple reasons for such a startling outcome, but the true success factors are those that differentiate themselves by being reliably repeatable.
Is AAP a start-up that's confined to Delhi? Do you think it can spread its influence to other states in the south and west?
Rajiv Bajaj:This only time will tell, but as we say in business, first one should create a deep excellence, then only seek to give it the width of scale. It is important to stay grounded in what makes us successful in the first place, resisting the temptation to grow, for often there's a fine line between growth and greed
Members of your family played an important role in the freedom struggle. Do you think industrialists and businessmen should start playing an active role by lending their strength to political movements?
Rajiv Bajaj:For myself I can say this: I'm as likely to engage in politics as Arvind is in making motorcycles.
Arvind Kejriwal is scrupulously honest, stunningly intelligent & brave: Rajiv Bajaj - The Economic Times
