Results that 'Modi'fied my thoughts...

This article was also published in The Ethiopian Herald, dated 25 May 2014

Respecting people's verdict: Dr. Manmohan Singh, outgoing PM (right)  greets new PM of India, Narendra Modi
(Photo obtained from the face book page of Mr. Binoy Job, Media Director, PM's Office)

As the largest polls and the longest wait for results are over, India gave a landslide mandate for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led alliance.  Out of the 543 parliamentary constituencies, 337 were won by the BJP and its National Democratic Alliance, wherein the BJP alone ows 283 seats. With this, the party has received a mandate to rule the nation as a single party, not bothering much on its pre-poll, post-poll alliances. The BJP’s leader, 63-year-old Narendra Modi, who is incumbent Chief Minister of Gujarat State, would be swearing in as the 14th Prime Minister of India on 21st of May. 

The Modi typhoon has literally uprooted the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) of the Indian National Congress (INC). The alliance had to satisfy with a meagre 59 seats out of which the INC’s share is 44. Compared to the elections of 2009, the NDA has marked an increase of 196 whereas the UPA has slid by 175. Majority of surveys predicted a clear victory of the NDA, but not a massive sweep of this sort. Out of the total votes polled, the NDA has procured 38.9 percent, the UPA 23.4 percent and the rest, who are not party to any alliances received 37.6 percent. 

The landslide victory of the NDA has led to an opposition without a leader. This is because no single party in the opposition, even not the INC, could manage to get the stipulated 10 percent of the total seats which is 54.

‘Modi’fication

The current election results have brought in a new turn in the Indian politics. At first, the whole nation has endorsed Narendra Modi’s leadership. Charismatic seniors are not scarce in the BJP; yet the Modi wave has eclipsed all. Modi’s tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat was both praised for the progress brought to the state; and criticized for his autocratic style. Modi‘s fondness towards the rightist faction of the BJP, namely the Sangh Pariwar, a consortium of Hindu nationalist organizations, is a concern both inside and outside his party; as well for the religious minorities. Yet, no criticism could tar him, but the victory has only made him brighter. During the election campaign, while requesting the Muslim voters to 'give one more chance for the BJP', Modi was tactfully painting his pro Hindu ideology with slight tones of secularism. While seeing this mammoth victory, we should assume that his tactics worked well. 

Now, the victory can also be reckoned as an overwhelming popularity accrued upon him for being a backward caste member whose life had a humble beginning as a tea vendor. Definitely common man in India must be seeing him as a counterpart, a source of hope that knows the ebbs and flows of a modest life. 

Another major impact of the election results is the historic downfall of the INC, the one that enjoys the credit of ruling India for the longest term. The party has recorded its slenderest win. Before, the party’s biggest decline was in the 1974 elections, when people reflected their ire against the autocratic imposition of emergency by Indira Gandhi. Even then, the party could gather 154 seats, which only furthers the shame of 2014.  

Major reason for such extermination should not be anything other than the anguish people have against unbridled corruption at all walks of governance during the past two terms (10 years) of UPA rule. When a ruling party approaches elections after two continuous tenures of rule, there should also be an influence of a natural degree of anti-incumbency sentiment. For majority of enlightened voters, it was also not a pleasant thing to accept the typical dynasty leadership of the INC. Altogether such facts played a detrimental game for the party.
  

Criticism upon Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister candidate of the INC was that he had no genuine political experience except the qualification that he is a dynasty’s link. A bit of his political maturity and composure was but visible while addressing the media immediately after the election downslide, when he, as the vice president of the party, readily owed full responsibility of the failure. 

404 to 44; 2 to 283

In the history of elections in India, the credit of winning largest number of seats is still owned by the INC.  In 1984 elections the party bagged 404 seats supported by sentimental erosion following the assassination of Indira Gandhi. At that time the BJP was thrashed to mere 2 seats! It’s quite ironical that after three decades, the INC is shrunken to 44 and the BJP, swollen with 283. A single party majority to rule India is also for the first time in 30 years.

Manifesto

Win and loss are integral of elections. But what is counted would be the way the winner uses the opportunity to rule.  The UPA decade was noted for proliferation of corruption. Hence the BJP election manifesto had a prominent place for anti-corruption drive, furthering the common man’s hope.  Launching public awareness programmes, furthering technology-enabled e-governance etc are among the party’s anti-corruption strategies. A pertinent question still remains unanswered in their manifesto: Awareness at grassroots or a thorough cleaning at the apex, which is needed for eliminating corruption? Let us hope that the BJP's manifesto won't be thrown to blatant verbicide. 

Outwardly the BJP manifesto would differ from that of the INC, but not at the crux. This is more in the case of foreign policy. The BJP manifesto about its foreign relations begins with a very complex, long sentence. One should patiently read it many times to get at least a grip on its tail. Though the party would hint a drastic difference from the Nehruvian one, ultimately everything lands on the same terrain, as has been proved during its previous tenures.  Don’t make a wild conclusion that a BJP rule would strain the Indo-Pak or Indo-Bangladesh relations. The BJP rules in the past have only opened new avenues for fostering such relations. But these are something that a pro Hindu party cannot overtly state in its manifesto. 

Expatriates have something to be glad at the BJP government. A major breakthrough in furthering links between the homeland and Non Resident Indians (NRIs) and People of Indian Origins (PIOs) was during the tenure of previous BJP government when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister.  The annual celebration, Pravasi Bharatiya Dhin for the NRIs and PIOs on every January 9 was initiated by him. For the first time, many proactive initiatives for furthering the investments in the country from Indians abroad were also taken by his government. 

The BJP and its NDA alliance have got a handsome majority and ample five years in hand. Narendra Modi’s first tweet about the landslide victory was that ‘good days are coming for India’. Now people of India eagerly wait to see how much, and for whom ‘good’ the ‘Modi’ days would be. 

It’s election time for India

Rahul Gandhi (left) and Narendra Modi: Battling chieftains
Photo from: en.wikipedia.org

Come 7th April, India, the largest democracy is going for voting. Placed 7th by geographical size and 2nd by population, India has got its election process equally extensive and complex. The voting would continue till 12th of May along 35 regional provinces (28 states and 7 union territories). Voting, one of the cardinal democratic rights would be enjoyed by 814 million people – a figure far above the total voters of the US and Europe. To reach the climax – the much awaited results – you have to wait till 16th of May, when the whole world would know about which party would rule India for the next five years. In India, parliament elections began in 1957 and the upcoming is the 15th.

According to the Election Commission of India, general elections this time would be held along 543 Parliamentary Constituencies. Along with this, elections would also be held to decide upon governments in three states including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim. 

Indian elections stand tall, owing to its mammoth proportion and highest levels of democratic values. This, along with the geopolitical as well as strategic significance of the country, gets the world’s eyes hooked on Indian elections and their results. 

Ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the main opposition, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are the principal contestants. 

A past story

The Congress holds the record of being the single party to rule India for the longest tenure. The party could rule India alone – without any alliance - during 1957 and 1962 under Jawaharlal Nehru; and in 1967, 1971 and 1980 under his daughter Indira Gandhi. In 1984 and 1991, congress once more got the majority to rule the country without any other’s support, owing to emergence of sentimental waves – during the assassinations of Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi respectively. 

Elections in India provide the best chances for its people to hold the whip hand and lash at erring politicians. For example, after imposing a period of emergency that curtailed freedom of all sorts, in 1977, Indira Gandhi’s Congress was reduced to a minority. Indira and her son Sanjay couldn’t even get votes enough for receiving back their procedural deposit money! In 1989, Rajiv Gandhi and his allies were sent to opposition benches after the explosion of Bofors scandal pertaining to defence purchase. 

Till recently, the Congress party used to boast that whenever their party was denied of a single party mandate, the country was left with unstable governments.  Their argument is but substantiated by evidences.  In 1977, 1989, 1996 and 1998 governments led by other parties toppled before completing stipulated five years. Many of them fell down even before a year. 

Alliances

A bold alternative to the Congress monopoly for stable governments was given in 1999 when AB Vajpayee completed a five year term forming National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of likeminded parties with his BJP in the lead. Thereafter single party rule in India became a story of the past. The Congress too changed its strategy in favour of alliances, and it worked well. In 2004 and 2009 Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) succeeded in completing their stipulated five years with Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. 

On the battle grounds of 2014 general elections, the UPA’s major strengths and major weaknesses emerge out of this past ten years of its rule. Strengths are the divergence and vibrancy of progress its rule could bring in for preparing well the country to take the pathways of the new century. Weaknesses are the unbridled corruption and allegations against its leaders. Naturally, when stained with corruption, no progress can shine. Incumbent Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh; and the UPA chairperson and Congress party president, Sonia Gandhi, many among their ministers and some leaders of their regional factions are all shot with one or other allegations by the opposition. Such allegations got a natural acceleration ever since the drumbeats of elections began audible.  Hence the long rule the Congress and its UPA had made in the country has become boon as well bane for them. When elections make merits and demerits of parties a subject for public debate, this becomes more important. 

All optimistic

However, with the prominence of young Rahul Gandhi, son of Sonia Gandhi and the late Rajiv Gandhi, in the election fray, the ruling Congress and its UPA seem to have got a bit invigorated. With youthful Rahul’s leadership the party looks forward of removing the mud already splashed over it. With strong Narendra Modi as its Prime Minister candidate, the BJP and its NDA are also racing with added energy.  The BJP’s enthusiasm is based on the fact that Modi’s Gujarat model of governance is secretly praised even by its enemies. Some of the opinion polls held since 2013, though very much controversial, are also seen tilted in favour of the NDA. 

Arvind Kejariwal: Name reckoned
Photo from: en.wikipedia.org

As in every general election, this time too there are new entrants showing their strength. Emergence of Aam Aadmy Party (AAP) is an example. In fact, the AAP’s seeds were sown during an extensive campaign against corruption recently unleashed by a pious leader, Anna Hasare. The campaign gathered huge public support and could set a major national agenda against corruption growing in horrific proportions. ‘Mr. Cleans’ of the anti corruption campaign later got together under the leadership of Arvind Kejariwal – a product of Indian Institute of Technology - to form a political party – AAP. By name, the AAP is meant as common man’s party. The AAP’s win in recent state elections in Delhi, the capital region of the country, has become a bolt from the blue for the major parties. 

Its naivety is AAP’s major challenge, especially while the matter comes to deal with diverse political issues. For example, after being chief minister of Delhi for mere 49 days, its leader Kejariwal resigned owing to a difference of opinion with the Governor. Thus others got a chance for criticising the AAP as politically incompetent and immature. The party’s candidates are already in the fray in almost every constituency. Hence one should wait and see its influence.

First time

For the first time, during the upcoming elections, electronic voting machines would contain the option, ‘None of the above’ (NOTA). If political parties force people to vote for infamous candidates, voters can press ‘NOTA’ button. This button has hence prompted political parties to give extra care on their candidates’ credibility. Also for the first time, 11844 Non Resident Indians (Indians living abroad) have enrolled for a chance to vote. Quite interestingly, over 11000 of them are natives of Kerala, a state well-known for its excellence in literacy and political awareness. 

In India democracy is as vast as the three oceans encircling the subcontinent. Political parties form the vessels that float on. There is no bar on freedom of expression; you can sail to any extent. Myriads of media in the country – English and vernacular; national and regional; print and electronic – enjoy full freedom and play a critical role in ensuring a free and fair pole.  In the fuming political debates, allegations will be there, alternatives will also be there. The Election Commission is playing a judicious referee, who ensures dignity and high morale of democracy.

Political parties, their actions and motives are already well sifted and weighed in the conscience of exactly 814.5 million voters of India. On the Election Day, they would express their ultimate will through a right push on the button of their exact choice in the voting machine. 

- K.P. Sivakumar