Election 2014- India votes for a change

Indian voters have emphatically voted for a change . The corrupt and the inefficient have been voted out . The congress has been decimated . It is an unprecedented rout for the congress .Congress has drawn a blank in Delhi and Tamil Nadu . As expected in the combined AP (Seemandra and Telengana)it is almost a rout for the congress,securing just one seat. As expected states like TN,WB and Odisha were not much affected by the Modi wave . Regional leaders in these states were effective foils to BJP and Modi. These three local stalwarts winning 89 (37,34,18)seats between them is an impressive tally by any standards .Congress may not even get the opposition party status ,since its tally falls below the mandatory 10 % of the total seats to claim the opposition party status . It is good to see Rahul and Sonia owning up responsibility for the massive defeat of congress .This should pave way for examining their conduct in the last 10 years and take restorative measures to bring the party back to limelight .India badly needs congress as a strong and viable alternative in future elections.It is up to Congress to enumerate its deficiencies and overcome them .

For a party that ruled the nation for the last 10 years it is surely a dismal performance . Out of the 48 seats congress has managed to win, 21 seats (12 & 9) have come for 2 southern states of Kerala and Karnataka ,where congress is the ruling party. This means from the rest of the country,congress could get a meagre 27 seats . In another congress ruled state Maharashtra the BJP has almost trounced  the congress.In Maharashtra congress has managed to get just 1 seat ,a drab performance . In  J&K also Congress and Farooq Abdulla's NC have drawn a blank .It is no surprise that the DMK had to face the 'Modi and Lady' brunt .The AAP making a foray  in to the national scene too early, has also learnt the political turf at the national level is very different . In fact in one of my earlier posts when AAP made a dramatic debut in Delhi assembly elections ,I had stated this could happen if AAP enters the national scene too ealry.

Most importantlyBJP winning 73 out of the 80  seats in UP , 31 out of 40 in Bihar and 42 out of 48 in Maharashtra is impressive . In Chattisgarh, Goa, Rajasthan and Gujarat it was a clean sweep by BJP. BJP front has opened account in TN and WB securing 2 each in these states,two states mostly unaffected by the Modi wave . The only aberration for BJP could be the defeat of Arun Jaitely in Punjab . However Jaitely is a Rajya Sabha member and could be inducted in to the cabinet .

The most important fall out of this election is, after 1984 elections a national party has secured a clear majority to form the government . This is good for the nation .The clear majority will ensure there is no 'governance paralysis' .But regional parties like AIADMK,TMC,BJD,TDP and TRS have emerged stronger and can not be written off .The communists continued their downward slide .

Congress has to do lots of introspection . Turning a blind eye to all round corruption,Administrative inefficiency,not lending ear to regional leaders ,snubbing regional leaders of their own party and that of allies, disregarding regional sentiments with contempt and dynastic politics have derailed the congress government.Will congress learn a lesson ?.Every state wants their regional leader to be all powerful . It is a regional pride. whether it is a national party or a regional party,the local leader should have a say in national politics .A local leader of a regional party becomes popular when his clout becomes indispensable at national level . Similarly in the case of a national party ,there should be a strong and charismatic regional leader to combat the regional parties . Jayalalitha ,Mamta and Navin Patnaik have proved they are strong regional leaders .In the absence of such charismatic leaders in national parties in each state ,it would be difficult to sustain the party as a force to reckon with at the regional level. Congress has time and again failed to learn this lesson despite severe drubbing at the hands of strong regional parties . Even during the Nehru era ,perhaps the only period during which congress had a truly national presence ,there were strong charismatic leaders at state levels . The present day congress leadership is wary of strong state leaders and systemically stymies state leaders .This could be a fall out of the dynastic politics . In fact it should be the other way .Congress should promote strong regional leaders .At this juncture Congress needs articulate leaders at all levels through out the nation to build the party again at grass root levels . Perhaps they may have to reinvent the wheel . The classic example of a strong regional leader upstaging at the national level could be none other than Modi .

BJP should live up to the expectations of the people of India . They should ensure a corruption free ,transparent ,efficient ,matter of fact government that is development oriented fair and equitable to all sections of the people . The general public also expects the elected representatives to be humility personified and shun arrogant superiority to disdain the views of others as unworthy. I hope on 24 th May when the baton change hands, the new set of sprinters would take the nation forward .Congress along with other parties should play the role of a constructive opposition and try to rebuild its lost glory.

Congress party in Tamil Nadu

The congress party in Tamil Nadu is isolated and sidelined by all the other major parties in forging an alliance for the 2014 elections which is hardly a month away. DMK its former ally does not want congress as an ally . AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha says 'Oust congress to make India strong '. Until recently congress had a piggyback ride of  these two Dravidian parties alternatively ,ever since the 1969 historical split in congress . It is worth mentioning  even before the split in 1965 elections ,congress in Tamil Nadu lost power to DMK , due to price rice, anti Hindi  agitations and  strong anti incumbency factors. 

Since then congress could not stage a come back in the state .The state was alternatively ruled by the two  Dravidian giants . But  until 1975 ,the congress in Tami Nadu had hopes of staging a strong come back. With the  demise of the tall Tamil Nadu congress leader K.Kamaraj in 1975 ,the downward slide started for Tamil Nadu  Congress .

After the 1969 split in Congress ,Kamaraj was on the side of the Congress identified as Congress (o) ,O indicated  organisation . The other congress led by Indira Gandhi was known as Congress (I), I indiated Indira . The Indira  congress was swept to power in 1971 with a massive two thirds majority at the national level .At the same election, DMK led by Karunanidhi almost routed Congress (o) in Tamil Nadu led by Kamaraj ,despite a strong alliance . 

The congress high command started ignoring and neglecting the Tamil Nadu unit of the party from 1969 ,since the state unit was controlled by Congress (o) after the split in party and Congress (I) had no significant base in Tamil Nadu at that time .Neither was the high command interested in developing a strong base at the grass root level. It was also evident that as long as Kamaraj headed the congress (o) in Tamil Nadu ,it would be difficult for Congress (I) to make  a headway in the state . The aversion for the Tamil Nadu state unit by Congress high command started from that  point . All disgruntled elements in congress (o) of the Tamil Nadu unit were in congress (I). There was no leader worth mentioning or some one who could match the stature of Kamaraj . 

Indira realised this and started a dialogue with Kamaraj before his death ,to bring all congressmen in Tamil Nadu together under her . Unfortunately before this could happen Kamaraj died . After Kamaraj the two factions of  congress in Tamil Nadu merged . But had the merger took place when Kamaraj was alive ,it would have been different.But factionalism surfaced in Tamil Nadu congress and  the in fighting was at its  best . There was a void in Tamil Nadu congress after the death of Kamaraj .There was no powerful leader with grass root support . Leaders like C.Subramanyam ,O.V.Alagesan  and others who were central ministers in Indira's cabinet lacked cadre support . The biggest mistake by congress was its failure to nurture a local leader with mass base . 

The congress was heading the central government. The high command thought as long as they head the government at centre ,it does not matter who heads the local government in Tamil Nadu .The maximum they sought from  Tamil Nadu was the support of 39 MP's ,no matter to which party they belong . They could get this by piggyback  riding the Dravidian parties .   Thus they started coaxing the regional parties at the expense of their own party to get the support of 39 MP's . This was utilised in the best possible way by wily politicians like Karunanidhi.

There was again a brief period of ascendency for the congress men in Tamil Nadu in 1996 ,when Moopanar broke away from Congress to float his own party called TMC (Tamil Manila Congress).In fact a young Moopanar was hand picked and  groomed by Kamaraj to revamp Thanjavur congess in his days . Moopanar had differences with the then Prime Minister P.V.Nrasimha Rao over poll alliance with AIADMK .He then left congress and started his own party . During this  period  the TMC had a semblance to the congress (0) led by Kamaraj at the time of the split . 

Unfortunately after Moopanar's demise ,TMC headed by his son G.K.Vasan decided to merge his party with the congress  and became a Sonia loyalist .Since then the faction ridden Tamil Nadu congress is on the slope down and never  made any serious attempt to build the party in the state .Neither did the high command allow any one from Tamil Nadu  congress to grow in stature .

I believe the biggest mistake TMC and Vasan did was to merge his party with the National congress . Congress in TN had no identity after the death of Kamaraj. Whatever identity it had as TMC was lost with the merger. For all practical purposes the people of TN  considered TMC  as state congress  party.  But by merging the party with  the Indian National congress ,the congressmen in TN lost whatever little say ,they had in national politics. 

Just an year after Moopanar floated TMC ,Mamta Bannerji who was also a member of P.V. Narasimha Rao cabinet  dissatisfied with congress functioning in West Bengal ,left congress and floated her own party Trinamul Congress  also known as TMC now. She maintained her identity and refused to merge with congress . One can see  how powerful a leader she is now . She started her party as an alternative to the West Bengal Congress unit  because she claimed the WB unit is a stooge to CPI-M and wanted to clean WB congress . She meant business and today she has replaced the CPI-M government at WB. 

Had TMC led by G.K.Vasan refused to merge with congress ,the erstwhile TMC would have been as powerful as Mamta's party and perhaps would have brought back congress rule in TN and replaced the Dravidian parties . The congress  high command nurtured both Dravidian parties than their own party . It is a grave mistake committed by the congress. Also congress high command never wanted any powerful  local  leaders. They all the time tried to stymie the growth of any leader at local level . Wherever the party had powerful  local  leaders,the party had fared well . Congress has  in a systemic way stalled the growth of a local leader . They fail to understand it is a question of local pride . Why Mamta is popular ? .It is a local pride . Perhaps the dynastic rule in congress give them a scare when a powerful  leader surfaces . 

Another blunder by congress is distancing itself from local sensitive issues . I am sure congress parties stand  would have  been different if they had a stake in the state on many sensitive issues . They care a hoot about local sensitive issues because it is not going to affect their party ,since they have no presence in the state. This is very evident on the stand of Karnataka congress on Cauvery row. The congress high command does not want to antagonise the Karnataka unit of congress ,because they have a stake in Karnataka.

If congress continues to treat state units this way ,soon congress will be wiped out in many states . The best part  is despite severe drubbing in TN congress has not learnt any lessons . Congress in TN is literally in a quandary.Now  it is very clear all parties in TN shun congress .Many electorates will also shun congress in TN .With regional  parties becoming stronger all over the country , the only way congress can make a come back in state is through the Moopanar or Mamata way . As long as the party high command ignores local leaders and local sentiments ,Congress in states would soon vanish .Another recent example is the plight of congress in Andhra Pradesh . The only solace is Rahul Gandhi wants to strengthen party base in TN. But will he succeed ? 

Practical Politics

I am amused at the events taking place in the country when elections are approaching . Look at what the Delhi CM Kejriwal says .He says he is an anarchist .The people of Delhi surely did not elect him to proclaim he is an anarchist.His party was elected to govern Delhi . To prove his point that few cops of Delhi police are to be suspended or dismissed for dereliction of duty he has brought the entire Delhi administration to a stand still .And he threatens to continue this fight for another 10 days . He also says about disrupting Republic day celebrations . The entire Delhi cabinet led by the CM is on streets for the suspension of few cops of the Delhi police. I see this as a political ploy by Kejriwal .The police in all union territories are under the direct control of the central government's Ministry of Home affairs . Kejriwal wants to drive home this point and want law enforcement in union territories to be transferred to the Federal government .I agree with Kejriwal on this point .When there can be an elected federal government in all the union   territories why can't they have law enforcement agencies under them .

 Since   none of the  federal governments in union territories have raised this issue so far , Kejriwal is raising his pitch on this .But surely this is not the way to do it .I am afraid Kejriwal and his party are falling in  to the routine groove of all political parties. Most political parties resort to alarm the populace by their practical politics and later clamour to lead them to safety . Unfortunately AAP is also resorting to the same trick clamouring Delhi is not a safe place to live for women and kids .On this plea AAP wants Delhi police under the control of Delhi administration . Though I agree with the substance in the argument ,the means resorted to achieve this goal is highly condemnable. 

Kejriwal should understand he can not be a two in one . He can not be an anarchist and also be an administrator .It is very dangerous to note that he is exhorting cops to join his struggle .This is the height of anarchism . Mr.Kejriwal ,please be moderate.Else you might fall from the high pedestal people have taken you with a great thud.Kejriwal is silent on his Jan Lokpal promise with in 15 days .Politicians don't make any difference . The only choice before the voter is to elect the lesser evil as often said by columnist Cho Ramaswami.

Practical politics does not end with AAP .Look at Congress. Rahul Gandhi in a public meeting asks PM to  increase the cap on domestic gas cylinders from 9 to 12 . With in hours the cap on domestic cylinders is raised  from 9 to 12 . Though it is welcomed by all ,what is so glaring is the way the union government acts to the Rahul  Gandhi's dictum's .The kind of swiftness seen in making Rahul's declarations in action is astounding . Is Rahul becoming an  extra constitutional authority for the remaining 4 /5 months  the congress government will be in  power ?.Also I wonder what happened to the cabinet decision to reduce the cap on domestic cylinders from 12 to 9 Can Rahul Gandhi  over rule cabinet decisions in no time ? When the entire opposition wanted not the reduce the cap on domestic cylinders ,the government made sermons about economics and subsidies . Created a scare among the public to register their Adhar card with gas agencies .Every one stormed the gas agencies. What else is this other than practical politics ?

This does not stop with subsidies on domestic cylinders .A delegation of Jain community meets Rahul Gandhi with  an appeal for minority status at the national level .Next day Jains get minority status at the national level .While  I appreciate the swiftness with which decisions are taken ,is it not hoodwinking the gullible voters in an election year? 

The Maharashtra Congres government announces a 20 % cut in Power tariff with immediate effect at the cost of  Rs 7200 crore exchequre to the state government . It is always said economics gets a sound beating at the hands  of politics and politicians . The government may have to find a way to bridge the deficit caused by this lavish gift by the Maharashtra government . God only can save the electricity boards in this country . Why doesn't it occur  to those in power to spend this 7200 cores to increase power generation and become self sufficient ?.There will never be an end to populism by politicians .

Churchill once said  politicians should have the ability to foretell what is going to happen and also the ability to explain why it didn't happen.Seems our politicians are masters at this art. 

An anatomy of poll results 2013

The Indian electorates have proved once again they are sagacious .They have given a mandate that is acutely insightful and wise .People don't  tolerate parties that look at scams,price rise,corruption and nepotism with disdain .Electorates want a clean corruption free government . Congress,the only party  with a genuine nation wide presence is evidently on the decline and needs to do lot of  introspection. Now it is too late for any corrective action from congress before the ensuing polls in 2014 .

I feel there is a lesson from these election results to parties like BJP and AAP too .They can not take people for granted. Public are fed up with the huge scams that had rocked the nation,inflation,haughtiness and arrogance of politicians .Electorates are more watchful of the conduct and performance of the government . They should be wary of this .More than that it should reflect and manifest in their conduct and performance .But unfortunately  politicians world over always aim at something beyond political life .They aim at  power,glory,fame and felicity . The downfall for politicians start here. Political parties think the general public is credulous and can be  kept in line with populist schemes . Unlike yesteryears, the nation has a comparatively young educated and knowledgeable  electorate .Another threat for political parties could be  increased media coverge and sting operations .Any misdeed by the party or by a politician has  higher chances to get exposed visually . Added to this is the power and reach of social network sites .Our demography says we have the  highest number of youngest voters and all of them are tech savvy .

AAP became a favourite party for Delhites,because it raised many local issues . Along with that, their party wanted to cleanse politics.To clean politics they have entered politics . Practice is always better than percept  .As I said earlier they were more transparent in their dealings .They did what they wanted other parties to do . But more sterner tests await  AAP and Kejriwal. One hopes at least Kejriwal  will live up to his reputation and prove he belongs to a different stock.I say he is from a different stock because when all political parties were opposed to RTI for political parties he fought against it . AAP's huge sucess on debut is nothing new .New parties that promised cleaner politics and corruption free government  have had impressive debuts earlier also .MGR's newly floated party AIADMK promising a clean givernment trounced DMK on debut . DMK could not regain power as long as he was alive . Perhaps the AIADMK of MGR's time was the only exception .After his demise AIADMK also became a run of the mill political party.

But  for all other new entrants the initial euphoria  was all short lived since they were not special or different in any way .NTR started with a bang whipping up Telugu pride and gradually became unpopular with his antics .Vaiko promised clean and decent politics on debut,and there was great expectations. But his subsequent reversal of stands on alliances made him unpopular,though personally he is still Mr.Clean .Vijayakant raised great hopes on debut as a viable alternative for DMK and AIADMK .But it can not be denied there has been a steady decline in his popularity as a politician.Similarly  younger generation thought  AAP could be a viable alternative to Congress and BJP. Besides it could utilise  a nation wide fervent momentum created by Anna Hazare's movement .Since  Anna Hazare was not interested in jumping in to the political bandwagon,it was advantage Kejriwal. More over it is in line with the present national trend .For all practical purposes AAP could be compared to a regional party in this election . Championing local causes and local sentiments many regional parties have sidelined national parties in many states . Similarly AAP is akin to a regional party in this election .But AAP could end up with national ambitions .But  AAP has to be wary of few things.

AAP could be eulogised  and forced to test waters at a national level in the ensuing 2014 elections . This could be a tricky call for AAP and Kejriwal.AAP has to be  wary before venturing in to the national scene with great ambitions .That could prove to be its pitfall. It's popularity could nose dive and become short lived, if  AAP enters the national scene so early . This is because there are lots of greedy politicians, for whom politics is a career waiting to join AAP nation wide to cash in on AAP's popularity . AAP should bear in mind politics is still the last resort for many scoundrels . 

BJP could get voted back to power in states where they were holding fort . So it was pro incumbency in their case. But absolute power intoxicates .BJP should be wary of this . For the first time BJP has a nice opportunity to make its presence felt in southern states and become truly national in the ensuing 2014 elections.Be it Modi magic or otherwise BJP having accused congress of policy paralysis and lack of leadership for all  the mess ,has a point to prove . BJP should bear in mind ,if it manages to win hands down and form a national government in 2014 it is only because it is the only viable national alternative  to congress . 

Finally it is the Indian National Congress . True to its name ,still congress is the only political party in India with a national presence . But it is also an undeniable fact that congress is losing ground in state after state and its national presence is getting confined to limited pockets and completely wiped out in some states .Many regional parties have come to power in many states at the expense of congress . The list of states going out of the control of congress is on the increase.More importantly congress could never regain those states that it lost to regional parties for the last so many years .Now congress is in a critical juncture and is in the danger of getting wiped out in many more states .But because of its strong national presence until the last elections congress managed to become the single largest party at the national level. But this is no longer the situation . Congress is losing its remaining bastions at a faster pace than expected because of its poor governance,corruption,scams ,inflation,dynastic politics,snubbing local regional leaders,not respecting local regional sentiments ,lack of leadership running party from high command and by stifling voices of tall regional leaders of their own party .Congress high command has gone out of the ways to suppress the growth of their own tall party leaders . Despite drubbing by regional parties election after election congress has failed to learn its lessons . Congress thought it could perennially piggy ride on the back of strong regional parties . To ensure this, congress stooped to the level of intimidating regional alliance partners,using CBI to make unrelenting partners to tow congress ,waived and dismissed charges against regional party leaders through CBI to woo their support.

Now congress is likely to be wiped out nationally . But it is a pity that congress has still not learnt from its mistakes . How could a party be so insensitive to issues that invited nation wide criticism like coal scam and answer so irresponsibly about missing files,stage-manage a JPC probe,fail to control inflation.

 Why is the congress high command inimical to local leaders of their own party growing in stature ? .Where ever regional parties are strong there is no congress leader to match their stature .Unless there is a strong regional leader with grass root support,it is difficult to  guide  congress back to victory in states where they have lost power .There is no  way a party can be run by bosses sitting at the party high command. Ignoring local sentiments,pride and aspirations have cost congress irreparable losses.Even during the Nehru era, when there were no opponents worth their name to congress ,congress had tall local leaders in states . Now there are strong opposition to congress in many states from regional parties .But there are no leader worth the name in congress in any of these states .Wherever there was a strong leader at the regional level,national parties have fared better .A strong local leader could develop in to a national leader .Narendra Modi is a good example. for BJP. Perhaps the dynasty politics of congress does not permit this luxury for congress  Because the party is stifling local leaders there is a paucity of second line leaders in congress .With the level of sycophancy in congress it is no wonder Rahul is promoted as the PM nominee for the ensuing 2014 poll . Even if there is a late realisation in congress ,five months is too short a period for congress to make amends and be a force to reckon with in the ensuing elections.

Let us wait and see what surprises the sagacious Indian voters would give us in the ensuing 2014 parliament elections .

Lessons learnt

I am not referring to the LLRC of the Sri Lankan government . I am referring to the the Lessons  learnt  by DMK and Congress  because of their inaction at a crucial time during April /May 2009  SL war. Now both parties are trying to make amends to the irreparable damages caused by them . Now both parties are trying to rebuild their image and get some acceptance  among the Tamil people whose sentiments were hurt . I called their efforts to mollify the Tamil sentiments  as LLRC(Lessons Learnt and Rebuilding Commission )  more as a pun. Nevertheless I don't  know if they are serious in their efforts .Because every move by a political party will have an hidden agenda . For DMK ,withdrawal of support to UPA is a face saving action , to claim  they are the real champions of the Tamils. Else they would be wiped out in the ensuing 2014 elections . For congress it is a question of survival of the UPA government . Having been reduced  to a minority government ,with DMK pulling out its support , congress is now trying to save its government by passing a resolution in parliament and also trying to make last minute amendments to the UNHRC resolution.

Sonia Gandhi now talks about her concern for the plights of Tamils in SL. Congress now says the intended resolution in parliament is for Tamils and not for DMK. DMK says there is no going back on its decision to withdraw support to UPA .They insist on including the word genocide in the resolution . Look how politically expedient these two parties are  !  Soon after the war when Rajapakshe said he 'fought India's war ' publicly,strangely these two parties reactions were marked by silence. Compare it with the Bangladesh war . India fought Mujibur Rehman's war then. Congress was in power at center then also . Indira Gandhi was hailed as 'Durga matha ' by Bengali's in India and Bangladesh. Why did India use a different yardstick this time ? .This stand of India at the time of the war is really  inexplicable .Congress knows for sure ,if it does not  act now, it is going to draw a blank in the 2014 elections in TN. Even cadres of the DMK and congress in TN were unhappy with stand  of their parties . But they were tongue tied,because of their  party's stand. This is evidenced by the bursting of  fire crackers  by DMK cadres soon after DMK pulled out of UPA . Though  congress cadres in TN did not show their happiness so explicitly they were also relieved that this could pave way for some explicit commitments by these two parties on the SL issue.

There is no denial of the fact there had been excesses by the SL army during the war. It needs to be probed by a dispassionate international body. More than that ,the rehabilitation of Tamils in the island  treating them with dignity,equal opportunities in education and employment ,and an official status for the Tamil language  are what the Tamils  demand. Almost 4 years have elapsed since the 2009 war ,but no respite for the Tamils is in sight. This makes even an unbiased observer to think there is a sinister design in the actions of the SL government.It seems there are neither plans for reconciliation nor any lessons have been learnt even after constituting an LLRC by the SL government.

The TN fishermen are killed or attacked  by the SL navy with impunity at regular intervals when they are fishing in Indian waters. It is surprising that the Indian government has not so far issued any stern warning to its so called friendly neighbor so far on this issue. It is disgusting that the fishermen are always referred to as TN fishermen and not as Indian fishermen. Are they not Indians ?.It is high time GOI should assert itself as a major power in the South Asia and stop looking at these issues with geo political concerns or strategies. Another important lesson to be learnt by DMK and Congress is that any party or government that doesn't care a hoot about the popular sentiment will be thrown out unceremoniously by the ballot power . One hopes the spontaneous uprise in TN will make the GOI see reason and look at the UNHRC resolution on SL as human-centered and not as a strategic issue. This is another lesson to be learnt by, our foreign policy makers .

Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi has been elevated by congress as its vice president ahead of the 2014 polls. May be Congress feels Rahul Gandhi is perhaps its best bet to  face the electorates in the 2013  assembly elections due in 7 states and the parliamentary elections in 2014.The incorrigible sycophants of Congress could see ony Rahul Gandhi as their hope to save their party from all its ills in the future elections .It is also true there is a paucity of young leaders  who could get acceptance at the national level in congress.I don't like to  blame the congressmen for their dynastic politics.It has become the order of the day in all fields.Congressmen have reconciled to this fact because only if they approve RG as their leader,they can also in turn promote their wards to succeed them. I wrote a post on 'Monarchy,democrcy and dynasty' in April 2009.A recent survey states nearly 30 % of our MP's are dynasts.I do not know if charisma can be inherited !.The only advantage could be legitimising leadership succession.In a democratic country any one can become the number one in a party, if majority of the party members are in his or her favour. But the question of his credentials comes only when he is judged by his performance.I agree we can not prejudge any one.It is said even in China the sons and daughters of those in power weild considerable influence and are known as 'Red princes'.Congress has made its choice. Now it is for the electorates to make their choice at the time of elections.Congress has just made RG as its vice president .I don't know why BJP should give knee jerk reactions and get jittery.Democracy gives us the feeling of making a choice. Most of the time it is about making a  chocie  among the worsts.There can be small choices among rotten apples.I also believe there are no safe choices.Every choice is beset with risks.Because we could be misguided in our choices and by the time we come to know about it ,it could be too late to correct.Then we have to find a way to live with it .He who has a choice has troubles and pain is the proverb.

Will national parties learn the lesson ?

Mulayam Singh's Samajwadi Party won 224 Assembly seats in the just concluded polls to UP assembly and in the process shattered both the so called national parties, the Congress and the BJP to obscurity.There is a lesson to be learnt for these parties.Unless there is a strong regional leader with grass root support,it is difficult to  guide these parties to electoral wins,in states.Regional aspirations have to be appreciated by these parties .There is no way a party can be run by bosses sitting at the party high command. Ignoring local sentiments,pride and aspirations have cost these parties irreparable losses at the polls.Imposing leaders from the top and ignoring regional sentiments have resulted in congress losing many states,over the years. In fact the growth and success of regional parties lies in the fact that people want their regional leaders to grow in stature.It appears in UP,like TamilNadu ,it is going to be either BSP or SP and never Congress or BJP .It must be remembered both Mulyam and Mayawati are local heavy weights and there are no one in Congress or BJP to match them. In national parties like Congress and BJP due to manifold dissident groups, each group tries to push down leaders who grow in stature by pulling strings at the party high command.

Wherever there was a strong leader at the regional level,national parties have fared better .Narendra Modi is a strong man par excellence for the BJP and that gave him the strength to deliver and he had won consecutive elections in Gujarat for the BJP.Late YSR was a popular congress leader of AP.On his strengths the party romped to power in AP.It remains to be seen the fate of AP congress  in future elections sans YSR . TDP & TRP are going to give a tough fight to congress in AP and it won't be a surprise if congress losses its stronghold in this southern state also . It must be borne in mind TDP & TRP are parties born out of regional aspirations and regional pride.Their leaders are still popular among the public in AP.After the demise of Kamaraj,Congress is yet to see a towering leader from Tamilnadu.The void is not filled up because the state unit is dictated by  congress's high command .It is no surprise congress could not unseat the Dravidian parties from power since 1967.Congress may fail again if it pursues the same policy of ignoring local sentiments and pride. The Punjab victory for BJP is because of its strong local ally Shiromani Akali Dal .Congress retaining Manipur or BJP wresting Goa from Congress is insignificant as long as the national parties did not make any headway in important states like UP and Punjab .

The only good fall out of regional parties becoming stronger is that the union government has become truly federal,since neither of the two so called national parties can get absolute majority of its own in any of the future elections to the parliament. Already the leftists have strong bastions in Kerala,West Bengal and Tripura.Congress making big inroads in these states would be a wishful thinking.Even if leftists fail in West Bengal,it would only be advantage Mamta,another firebrand regional leader,whom congress finds it difficult to contain.Down South Jayalalitha would be another strong leader eroding Congress chances in next parliamentary elections .At this rate,if these two parties don't mend their ways they would soon lose their national party status and become a party with stronghold in few regional pockets,which is also diminishing at a faster pace.

Ec's order to cover elephant statues is Laputan

Election commission ordering covering of hundreds of Elephant statues in UP ,since it happens to be the symbol of Mayawati's BSP is funny and laputan.I could not help my imagination running wild ,if the EC were to apply the same yardstick for all parties in all future elections, What would happen to the two leaves symbol of ADMK.Will the EC order covering all trees in TN at election time ,or how would EC prevent day break in TN,rising sun being the symbol of the DMK ? In all fairness the EC should have ordered everyone to wear gloves to cover their hands in UP and ordered all cycles to be off the road in UP,hand being the symbol of Congress and cycle that of SP !.The quixotic order of EC is illogical,on the face of it .The reason given for this funny order by EC is that ,it is ensuring a level playing field for all political parties!.The EC is in fact giving wide publicity to BSP's symbol by covering all the elephant statues in UP.EC has also ordered covering up all statues of Mayawati in UP .A PIL was filed in the Allahabad High court by a social activist against the EC order. I was eager to know how the courts look at this partisan and quixotic order of EC .But unfortunately the PIL was withdrawn ,since the PIL had technical shortcomings.EC has made another funny decision to use only women officials for poll duty in Goa ,since they would be immune to distractions.I am surprised to note,of late the EC is talking through the hat.

Such queer laws are passed by governments and its bodies from time to time.Kerala Women’s Code Bill 2011 has provisions to penalize parents who beget more than two children.The draft bill suggests a fine of Rs 10,000 or three months simple imprisonment for begetting a third child.It simply means a third child can land a parent in jail.The third child will also not be given basic amenities like free education and mid-day meal at government schools.Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer has protested against  this proposal of the Kerala government.Such outlandish laws are passed by governments around the world.Here are few examples. in Thailand, it is illegal to leave your house without wearing underwear. It is illegal in Switzerland to flush the toilet after 10 pm.

The EC brought in new initiatives like KYC ,know your candidate in its website ,giving details of all candidates including the declaration of assets by candidates. The details of criminal records of each candidate will be available in the public domain for the first time.While the general public appreciate initiatives  by the EC like KYC,it should not become a laughing stock in the eyes of world by passing crackpot orders like covering statues.

The sagacious Indian voter

Elections results of Tamilnadu,West Bengal,Kerala,Assam and Pondichery have manifold and diverse manifestations.Naturally when the mandates are diverse the ramifications of the results are likely to be diverse.The problems and issues were diverse among the states that went to polls.The election results have proved once again, the Indian voters are sagacious and no one should underestimate them.The elction results have thrown many upsets .The ramifications of these election results will have a Pan India cascading effect on national politics.

Except for a couple of forecasts,most of them predicted an hung assembly in Tamilnadu.But contrary to popular perceptions,it was a landslide victory for AIADMK front and an unprecdented rout for the DMK and the Congress.The Tamilnadu voters have given a decisive mandate and were acutley insightful and wise by giving an absolute majority to AIADMK. Despite all its neighbouring southern states have opted for coalition governments on one ocassion or the other,ever since the coalition and quid pro quid politics came to fore three decades ago, TN voters have always voted for a single party rule.The DMK congress combine did not find favour with the electorate on many issues.The freeby announcement by DMK front in its manifesto was neutralised by AIADMK matching them with an equally attractive freeby announcement.The worsening power supply situation in the state,especially during the summer had a telling effect on the voters. The massive 2 G scam had its share on the loss toll of the DMK front, albeit the DMK front tried to underplay its effect on the electorate.By and large the public believed the party top brass was involved in the scam.It was a huge setback to the DMK front.The Sri Lankan crisis and the fishermen issues are not issues of inconsequence as the Congress and DMK believed .There was rising resentment among younger generation about the way the DMK and the Congress handled these two issues. This was very evident in most of the social net working sites.

Now the AIADMK will take over the reigns from the DMK. The AIADMK should be wary of possible pitfalls in governance from the begining itself. One hopes Jayalalitha will ensure a corruption free government and zero interference by party functionaries or extra constitutional powers in administration. Jayalalitha should also control sycophants from repeating the nauseating flattery seen in the previous regime.Most importantly she should check fawners of her own party.The common public expects exemplary and impartial behaviour from the authorities who enforce law and order.Regarding the Sri Lankan crisis,though belated, the new incumbent government can, at least now, use its offices to influence the centre, to amend the wrongs done in the past.Similarly fishermen should not be subjected to continued harassment by our neighbouring country.These are two emotive issues that can not be ignored by any party ruling Tamilnadu.The new government should also work towards for a negotiated settlement of the riaprian rights of the state.Having made the freeby announcements now the Jayalalitha government has to deliver its promises,despite its assurances about a judicious and prudent fiscal management unlike its predecessor.When Lalu Yadav could turn Railways that was in red to a financially viable organisation,one hopes Jayalalitha will also be able to achieve this financial feat .

The left has lost its forts in Kerala and West Bengal. However in Kerala the defeat for the left was not as humiliating as in West Bengal.V.S has won in Kerala where as Budhadeb has lost in Bengal.The left front was ruling Bengal for close to 4 decades. But ever since veteran Jyoti Basu left the scene in Bengal,the slide for the Left front started in Bengal.Besides, when Praksh Karat took over from the veteran Harkishen Singh surjeet,as party chief , he appeared as an hardliner of party philosophies.But after he took charge, the party started loosing in elections and came under attack of his own party colleagues.He even went to the extent of calling Mamta a 'dumb doll'. But Nandigram and Singur provided the much needed spring board platform for the fiery Mamata to push the left front on to the backfoot. From then on she has only gone on strength and never looked back and has finally culminated in ahcieving her goal.The 'dumb doll' finally dumped the Marxists .But it remains to be seen how she fares.There could be trouble for Congress in store,as they have to now keep Mamta in good humour for their own survival at the centre.She is another moody and unpredictable politician, to be carefully handled by the managers of Congress.The downfall of the left front in Kerala could be attributed to themselves.The infight in CPM , the lack of support to its incumbent CM, from party high command and a possible error of judgement in excluding Muslim league from the LDF front have resulted in the defeat of the LDF in Kerala.Despite all this, many believed V.S would be a better CM than Ommen Chandy. The results also reveal the UDF has secured a very slender margin in Kerala.This was made possible simply because Congress forged a winning combine this time .The coalition arithmetics of UDF was right this time in Kerala.

A congres win in Assam was a foregone conclusion. The outgoing Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi performed well to get re elected.Also AGP is on decline for the last few years. There was literally no opposition worth its name to Gogoi.It is a personal victory to Mr.Gogoi ,and Congress can surely gloat over it .

The congress has lost Pondichery to NR congress and its allies. NR congress, is a party floated by former congress Chief minister of Pondichery, N.Rengaswamy.He forged an alliance with ADMK and have won 19 setas in the 30 member assembly. The loss is again congress's own making.NR was the most popular and unassuming Congress chief minister of Pondichery. Under his regime Pondichery was awarded the best state to live in India by the vice presodent of India. But the congress high command felt otherwise.Due to internal bickerings NR was aksed to resign and was replaced by Vaithilingam as CM.NR floated a party just few months before the elections, on popular demand from party cadres, and forged an alliance with AIADMK and their front has won the elections this time.It is high time for Congress to understand they should respect regional pride and sentiments.A party can not be a run successfully by a stooge of the high command. A tall regional leader should head the state unit of the national party and he should have greater voice in party affairs, for a national party to flourish in states.Whenever there were strong local leaders for national parties,the party has fared better in that state.

It has been proved again and again,that the Indian voter is sagacious.When Indira Gandhi said 'India Marches forward' in the post emergency elections,the Indian voter thought otherwise and voted her out. When BJP under Vajpayee said 'India is shining' during the elections,after a five year tenure ,the BJP government was voted out. The Indian voter is not a charlie to be duped by wily politicians.

Quid Pro quo politics of India

The Indian general elections are scheduled to be held from 16th April 2009 to 13th May 2009, and the new government would be formed on 2nd June 2009.714 milllion Indians are going to exercise their franchise to decide on the next Indian government.As one of world's largest democracy,the Indian general elections would assume greater importance and the entire world would be anxiously awaiting for the outcome.This is especially so in the context of the turmoils surrounding India's South Asian neighbours.The combined India,Pakistan and Bangladesh got independecne 61 years ago.For most part of the 61 years, Pakistan was ruled by military and the voice of the general public was stifled.Look at the current turmoils.The army chief threatens the democratically elected president on governance.India played a role in the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.But Bangladesh also had its own share of political turmoils and military coups.Bangladesh's father of the nation Mujibur Rehman was killed with in 7 months of assuming office by a group of army officers.The recent revolt by the Bangladesh Rifles says 'all is not well' with Bangladesh also.The three decades old Sri Lankan crisis and the systematic annihilation of an ethnic race has made it almost impossible for the Tamil and Sihala community to remain together in peace, even if a political solution is arrived, at a future date, with in the constitutional frame work of an united Sri Lanka.Another South Asian country Afganistan is troubled by the Talibans and also the US troop presence.
In this context the Indian general elections assume greater significance.By far the Indian general elections are free and fair,considering the enormity of holding such a difficult democratic process,country wide,without much hiccups, is itself a challenging task.Barring the recent controversy,between the CEC and EC,the autonomous body conducting elections in India deserves praise.Ironically,despite so many deiversities the common Indian thread has become strong,after the rise of regional parties in Indian politics.The rise of regional parties have made it almost mandatory to give them a share in the centre's coalition politics.The federal representation has in a way served to boost the regional pride also.The era of coalition politics has forced the main contenders like Congress and BJP to accomodate the regional parties on a quid pro quo basis.This has strengthened the bond between parties.Another fall out of this mutually beneficial arrangement,is the national outlook of these regional parties.Regional parties are forced to accomodate the national political agenda of Parties like Congress and BJP with a view to cling on to power.This has forced many regional parties to put in cold storage many of their essentially chauvnistic and jingoistic agenda.One finds the democracy in India is growing stronger after every general elections.The quid pro quo politics is only making Indian politcal scenario more interesting with each party vying with the other to prove their vote bank strength and thereby increase their bargaining powers, in forging electoral alliances.
Indian electorate should exercise their franchise to elect an accountable government,a government with a mission to uplift the quality of life of all strata of people,a government that respects law,human rights,freedom of its citizens,a government that administers justice with equity and fairness,a government that is committed to tackle terrorism and other extrimist activities. Indian electorates are well informed and would surely use some yardstick to judge each political party and each candidate before casting their valuable franchise.As the noted Political Analyst and satirist Cho Ramaswamy often says,the issue before the Indian electorate is very simple."Choose the lesser evil".