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BJP 4-0, Wake-up Congress: JAN SHAKTI DEVOURS ALL, By Poonam I Kaushish, 9 Dec, 2013 Print E-mail

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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