Political
Reforms
Mantra of success in Indian elections
The Congress party is jubilant, since it far exceeded its own expectations.
While Soniaji expected to get about 150 seats, Congress got 206 winning
candidates. BJP and other losing parties seem to have been in bereavement,
as if they lost the fourth battle of Panipat.
However, the game of politics is the most uncertain, unpredictable and
highly flexible. Those who were the losers yesterday could be the winners
tomorrow and who knows what will happen in the next elections.
So, what is the winning formula? While in some states, some leaders have
consistently delivered on longer term basis, in some other states, the
electorate seems to be changing their masters after every election. General
Elections 2009 has thrown up a wide split verdict from state to state,
even though Congress prominently gained. Yet there seems to be a clear
set of parameters, which could be packaged as a winning formula in the
elections. If certain policies and programmes are implemented honestly
and sincerely, the parties can expect to reap rich dividends at the time
of elections.
First of all, now it is clear that the development mantra has come on
top. Those heads of states who undertook development work honestly and
sincerely and where the benefits reached the masses have been rewarded
handsomely. The image, reputation and honesty of the top leadership coupled
with an aggressive agenda for implementation of the development work have
worked wonders in states like Bihar and Orissa. Chief minister of Andhra
and Mody in Gujarat too has been rewarded for his development agenda,
(though his Hindutva/(Commandal brand of politics failed to click outside
the state). On the contrary, Mayawati has been rightly punished for the
monuments she is building, and also for poor maintenance of law and order
and a sham development plank. So was the case with Khandoori in Uttrakhand,
where the only development seems to be in piling up files on the table
of the chief minister.
The second factor in success is the unity of command and leadership, which
also demands absence of factionalism, absence of multiple centers of power
and absence of backstabbing among different leaders in the states. A unity
by way of unquestioned leadership and absence of factionalism paid handsome
dividends for the parties in Rajasthan, Karnataka and Bihar for the respective
parties. On the other hand, Congress has not been able to gain much in
Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh due to their own factionalism.
The third factor is focus on the development agenda for last man in the
country. Gandhiji's Talisman in this regard is worth quoting
“Recall the face of the poorest or weakest man whom you
may have seen and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to
be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him
to a control over his own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead
to Swaraj for the hungry and spiritually starving million?”
Leaders
like Sh. Nitish Kumar in Bihar pushed an aggressive agenda for uplifting
the bottommost sections of society, besides providing good governance and
it paid rich dividends in elections. He asked for his ᭥hnatana or majdoori⠍
in his election speeches, and people gave it handsomely.
The fourth element in the success mantra is the establishment of law and
order and a secure environment for day-to-day life for the citizens. People
are fed up with the politician criminal nexus. While the people of Bihar
rewarded Nitish for restoring law and order, Mayawati had to face the music
for the poor law and order in U.P.
The next element is the role of youth and particularly the role of the new
voters. Congress which was working for getting support of the youth for
a long time, benefited, whereas BJP which largely ignored the young Turks
failed to elicit the support of as many young voters.
Honesty seems to have played its part, but honesty is a necessary condition
but not sufficient one. Chief Minister of Uttarakhand did seem to have a
clean image, but in absence of the development work to his credit and because
of poor decision making, he seems to have paid the price.
The decline of the regional and smaller parties also augurs well for the
future of two-three party system in India, one of the basic objectives of
this NGO, whose main focus is on creating a two or three national parties,
as is the case in the mature democracies in the West.
There are a number of other factors as well, which has played its role.
Not everything is hunky dory. The factors of Caste, Community and religion
can not be wished away, though their role is not always supreme. Secondly,
some governments (like in Uttarakhand) may commit blunders, thus providing
opportunity for their opponents. The positive and not-so positive factors
together play a role depending upon the circumstances.
It is for the parties concerned now to concentrate on the winning formula
to win the next elections. Let us also hope that the agenda set in 2009
elections is only the beginning of the new role of democracy for India in
becoming a developed country. The task is very onerous. But, people have
now tasted power; they have realized now the virtues of good governance;
and they appreciate leaders who take a proactive approach in tackling their
day-to-day problems.
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