Political Diary
New Delhi, 9 December 2013
BJP 4-0, Wake-up Congress
JAN SHAKTI DEVOURS ALL
By Poonam I Kaushish
Cynics like me who thought that the
era of people’s power had been muzzled out by our feudal neo-rajas and a resigned dispirited ki pharak padhta hai attitude need to rethink hard. The five State
Assembly elections have underscored that Jan
Shakti is alive and kicking. Viva la
Indian democracy!
Whichever way one looks, these
elections billed as a mini-general election will perhaps blaze a new trail in
contemporary politics. Hopefully ushering in a new chapter in India’s
turbulent political history. It has seen the emergence of a mature electorate,
which has shunned the garbage of time-worn clichés and promises galore and
plumped for freshness and development.
Importantly, the BJP has everything to preen about for its
stunning victory in four out of five States – Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh barring Mizoram. Clearly, a big booster for its Prime Ministerial
candidate Narender Modi for the forthcoming battle
royale in mid 2014 and should help him get over his image deficit and gain
acceptability. Once again Party cadres
seem rejuvenated. In fact, they are already donning the battle gear for next
year.
Two, voters have turned the thumb-rule of anti-incumbency on
its head in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and plumped for its rulers. Both
Shivraj Singh Chauhan and chawalwale baba
Raman Singh’s historic hat-trick victories have sent a clear message that
performance and clarity of the numero uno State leadership has been rewarded, not ideology or
charisma of star campaigner Modi. Notwithstanding
that neither are expected to pose any challenge to NaMo’s leadership, acknowledged
as the first among equals
Undeniably, the low-profile ‘one-of-us’ grassroot leaders known
as humble, accessible and affable succeeded in being connected, committed and
successfully communicated their honesty and diligence to the well-being of
their respective States, winning on the power of their work in office. Leaders
who stood their ground and continued to focus on the development agenda
sprinkled with a heavy dose of personal integrity and honesty.
However, both in Rajasthan and Delhi voters anti-incumbency
devoured Ashok Gehlot and ‘decent genial Aunty’ Shiela Dikshit who was
‘broomed’ out in her VIP Lutyens constituency. In both States, the Congress has
been virtually wiped out.
Three, the day belongs to debutant rookie Arvind Kejriwal’s
Aam Aadmi Party which made an impressive debut by netting 28 of 70 Assembly
seats national Capital and city State Delhi
giving the BJP’s 32 a hard fought victory. Dismissed as ‘Kejriwal who? chindi and chiller the ex-income-tax
officer has shown stalwarts the door.
In a sense the AAP’s win is historic. It will change the way
politics is done in India.
The first indication was given by Congress’s Rahul Gandhi who confessed that
the AAP’s brand of a movement of the
people, by the people and for the people was the way forward.
Underscoring that no longer could Parties afford to be
complacent or traditional specially against the backdrop that 50 per cent of
the electorate between 18-35 voters do not connect with historical baggage nor
have the patience for inane diatribe or tu-tu-mein-mein. What they demand is a better deal for their
tomorrow, transparent and honest governance sans corruption.
Undoubtedly, for the Congress the results are a reality
check and a wake-up call. At two levels --- States and Centre. The defeat in Delhi and Rajasthan is a
clear ‘downer’, and that’s putting it mildly. It demonstrates that over
confident ‘shehzada’ Rahul failed to excite
or ignite the electorate which was looking for something more than past
laurels, populist packages (RTI, NREGA, Food Security and Land Bill, Education
For All), a new positive agenda.
Worse, for Gen Next and Gen Y, he sounded like a relic from
the past, family balidaan et al, who
droned on and on like a broken record of how the Congress-led UPA believed in
social inclusion, economic upliftment and
had done everything for the betterment of tomorrow’s India. Alas, he
failed to realize that the aam aadmi was
more worried about skyrocketing prices, rising inflation and something that
would elevate India
from its morass of slimy sleaze.
Moreover, Rahul strutted around as if he had already won his
crown. Worse by running 24X7 negative campaigns and his vitriolic attack on
Modi did not go down well with the masses. Add to this, his total misreading of
the electorate mood wherein he forgot that politics was not a Punch and Judy
show nor reactive verbose but Parties won elections when they provide a stable
coherent and a constructive agenda of governance
What next? Even as Congress managers shield the shehzada by foisting the defeat on local
leadership and issues, they must realise that the campaign floundered because
the Party is caught in the time warp of the 60s. It continues to cling to the
old feudal mould of one-person centric style in an era of inter-active internet
and computerised electioneering. The Sonia-Rahul duo constitute No 1, 2, 3….10
in the Party hierarchy. Sic.
Congressmen complain that it isn’t that the Party lacks
talent or initiative, but they are not asked to contribute. Worse, many General
Secretaries and State observers were too busy promoting themselves and creating
their band of loyalists instead of concentrating on those whom it projected in
the States.
But all is not lost. The Grand Dame has six clear months to
get its act together before the General Elections. Specially, in two major
states – UP and Bihar which together account
for 122 Lok Sabha seats. Towards that
end it needs to drastically overhaul its leadership, cut the flab and deadwood,
inject fresh blood and ideas succinctly, rejuvenate from the top to bottom.
Regardless of whether Rahul wants to lead the Congress and
despite his tall talk of “getting aggressive and changing the old traditional
order” a big question mark hangs whether our Indian Hamlet has the guts and
leadership to revamp a Party in crisis and give it an unifying purpose. Sadly,
the Party has put itself in a place where it cannot survive without him.
Quintessentially it needs to answer Chalna
hai, par kahan?
For Modi the overwhelming victories are a God-send and will
give the BJP room to manoeuvre as it endeavours for new allies. Already, the
TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu’s has sent feelers, AIADMK Jayalalitha continues as
friend, Mamata sits tight and Naveen’s BJD plays hard ball. Interestingly a section of the Muslims are
beginning to shed their reservations.
Paving the way for the Sangh to hit the Lok Sabha campaign
showcasing its victories in the four States. But it too must remember that just
by winning the Assemblies is no guarantee it can swing the Lok Sabha. Recall,
the Congress won these four States in 1998-99 but lost India’s Raj gaddi to Vajpayee.
Having raised expectations sky high with his pledges to take
India
down a path of corruption-free development it remains to be seen whether Modi
can deliver, how much and how it will impact his future if he fails. Equally,
while the reservation of potential allies against Modi would be on ideological
lines, the hesitation in accepting Rahul's stewardship of an alliance would lie
in his lack of experience, be it in governance, administration or political
management. Bluntly, na toh Congress main
daanav, nah BJP main devata.
Whether BJP has actually taken a lead over Congress only
time will tell. At the same time our two national Parties need to realize as the
AAP victory has shown, ultimately power resides with the people. A shakti that makes and breaks a
politician. Need I say more. ---- INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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