K K Bakshi
A decade ago, when Aam Admi Party hogged the limelight as a new kid on the block, no political pandit had the grit and clairvoyance to predict its future on the country’s political landscape. Some thought that a new party with altogether a non-traditional approach could throw up an alternative system of governance yet there were some who treated AAP with disdain and felt that its emergence was merely a bubble that would go burst thereby anticipating its disappearance from the scene sooner than later. Anna Hazare – the father of the anti- corruption movement wanted creation of Lokpal to try corruption cases against the high and the mighty of the establishment. Arvind Kejriwal, being the product of this movement was shrewd enough to seize the moment and worked tirelessly to capitalise on the anti-corruption sentiment in the country. As he took plunge into the heat and dust of the electoral politics of the country, he began galvanising AAP cadre into high voltage action. ‘Lokpal’ though was the main theme of the movement yet he knew it very well that people could not be drawn to his fold just on the plank of corruption. He mobilised all his resources and chalked out a strategy that carried the blend of populism, nationalism and socialism. It is from here onwards that north India for the first time in its political history tasted the toast of freebies. Promises like free electricity, free water, free bus ride for women and other doles were made to the people only to win their votes in the upcoming election. Fortunately for Kejriwal the populist promises worked wonders and he succeeded in unseating one of the most powerful leaders of Indian politics from the throne of Delhi state. Not only did AAP manage to wrest power away from congress but also succeeded in handing down one of the most humiliating and crushing defeats to the oldest party. Emboldened by this new found winning formula, AAP started spreading its tentacles in the neighbouring states. Punjab was the second state to fall for freebies as people there failed to resist the temptation of alluring promises. Picking a leaf out of the book of AAP, Indian National Congress adopted the same model and followed it up with redoubled efforts and ferocity in the state of Karnataka where the gamble for it paid off and the party succeeded in snatching power from BJP in the recently concluded assembly election.
Karnataka’s favourable verdict has injected a new life into an otherwise moribund organisation and juggernaut of this electoral success is now being planned to be rolled into the states were assembly elections are to be held later this year. Sops like free electricity, free water, loan waiver for farmer’s, fixed monthly income for women etc. are being promised in such a brazen manner that all the economic experts and financial wizards are scratching their heads to figure out the loss that could acrue to the ex-chequer, should such promise come into effect. Experts in the field of economy have failed to fathom the permutation and combination that the parties use to fulfil their promises to the people.
Hence, some pertinent question arises out of the whole saga of freebies. Will such open loot of public money be going to open pandora’s box? Will not dependence upon the doles of the government throw up a society that will survive only on the mercy of the government as torpor and torpidity might creep dangerously into it? Shouldn’t political parties promise to the electorate that they would be trained and taught how to fish but would not be given any free fish? Shouldn’t these political parties shun being myopic for petty political gains and focus on empowering a common man financially by virtue of job oriented and see schemes which will not only augur well for country’s economy but will also help people lead a dignified and self- reliant life.
Time is running out for the parties to put corrective measures in place and work towards reforming their own systems. If practice of wooing the voters in the name of freebies is not immediately halted, our country could go Pakistan’s way sooner than later where economic mismanagement has hit the people very hard. Today people may sing paeans of these parties but tomorrow same people would be digging their grave once reality dawns upon them that nothing comes free and that there is nothing called “free lunch”.
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