Shiban Khaibri
Congress could not deliver at the hustings and lost all the four prestigious Assembly elections, the introspections by its leaders about the “causes” of the drubbings are underway. These results have opened up many issues of importance which each party that was in the race need to note in its own way. The winners need not go into the soothing of complacency and the losers should not be completely written off. If, at the outset, any thing that is emerging from these debacles the Congress has faced is, that Dr. Manmohan Singh appears to have become a scapegoat for which he contributed himself in a major way and still does not decide to call it a day which he was even expected to do earlier in the Tainted MPs ordinance issue. The Party’s vice President Rahul Gandhi is sought to be projected as the Party’s Prime Ministerial candidate and the urgency to anoint him as early as possible is being felt increasingly in the party. Is Rahul Gandhi in a position to come forward and lead the party from the front and start to fulfill the dream which his father could not make come true , ie; to cleanse the party of the unelected but powerful voices, the coterie of sycophants and yes- men advisors, the tainted and the non performers? He can speak about this issue but cannot shoulder the responsibility as he reportedly did not agree on more than one occasion even to be a member of the Union cabinet. The fact of the matter is that he appears to be set to wield power but without sharing responsibility. This dual control both in administration and the party has created a mess for the government and the party both. His patent electoral speeches led the audience confused, if not bewildered, as to what actually he was up to, so much so, that the people were seen getting restive on many occasions and leaving the rallies addressed by him half way about which his friend and UPA2 ally Omar Abdullah too made a jibe. Another very important ally NCP Chief Sharad Pawar has strongly blamed “weak leadership” for the poll drubbings. He has praised the able, strong and assertive leadership of the Late Indira Gandhi, thus revealing more than hiding about the leadership of Manmohan Singh. Samajvadi Party, another core ally of UPA2 has found an opportunity to fish in the troubled waters by “inviting” the veteran Sharad Pawar to the elusive Third Front “for a possible non- Congress alternative” at the centre. Another important ally of the Congress — BSP Chief Mayawati rues for not having adopted “a different strategy” had anti Congress wave been anticipated by her party. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyer expressing satisfaction on his party getting rejected and battered by the people, has predicted losing the decisive battle of 2014. Over half a dozen Lok Sabha MPs from the Seemandhra region in Andhra Pradesh have demonstrated open dissidence and declared withdrawal of support to their own Party led UPA2. More and more mocking from its allies and bitterness and opposition from the political stalwarts from within is what Congress appears to be all set in. The State poll results show a severe anti Congress feeling and, therefore, can well turn out to be a trend setter for 2014 general elections, if some dramatic developments do not take place in the mean time.
Notwithstanding the Congress Party’s introspection to find the reasons of such a drubbing in the four states’ polls, it can be argued that while on the one hand, the BJP fought these elections merely and solely on the developmental plank, the Congress on the other hand, kept clinging to their age old rhetoric of “communalism” and harping on issues which people have not only forgotten but are averse to have any more of it to listen to, were lavishly used by that party. The communal – secular card played by the party proved utter failure as the people, especially those sections of Indian society which Congress wants to appease and pamper as a prelude to secure and sustain its proven vote Bank, saw through the trick and voted against the party. Spine chilling price rise and inflation, unemployment, corruption, problems like water power and roads, schools and shelter, safety of women, medical facilities, infrastructural backwardness, adulteration in eatables and host of other problems and difficulties faced by the people, have lost any interest even academically in the worn out cries about the “dangers” to the country from the “communal forces”. The grave threat from the terrorist organizations to the Indian people was not highlighted in as much as the elusive threat from the “communal forces”, hitting at the main political opponent, the victorious BJP. The fear psychosis tried to be implanted in the psyche of the minorities did not work or yield any harvest. The much hyped Food Security Bill, the biggest flagship of the Congress, coupled with the Land acquisition Bill etc. too did not work even in the remotest and the most backward areas of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Outgoing CM Ashok Gehlot had even promised free ration and free medical facilities and age old pension to larger sections plus other freebies but that was turned down as they could not believe those who had promised a massive turnaround of the economy in just 100 days if voted to power in 2009 elections to the Lok Sabha. “We care and work always for the poor”, had been the choicest election rhetoric of Rahul Gandhi but not even in one election rally, did he ever touch the issue of the price rise and rising inflation or any other mundane issue concerning the poor for whom he claims his party had always worked. “We send money but that does not reach you” another choicest part of his speech smelt arrogance as “We” denoted something of the sort of giving away alms from ones own pocket. Why at all should there be poverty and poor even after 65 years of our independence to feed with virtually free ration is the central question?
One most important happening on the political horizon took place in the form of the debutant Aam Admi Party putting up a magnificent show in Delhi Assembly polls by winning 28 seats and emerging as the principal opposition party. The nascent Aam Aadmi Party, to be precise, did not expect to touch the levels of triumph that high and the event shall be remembered as a memorable watershed in the history of Indian democratic system as having risen from the roads and a mass movement against massive corruption and for the institution of all powerful Lokpal to contain if not completely eradicate the menace. The dilemma is that the highest seats getting BJP at 32 is short of 4 members to be able to rule Delhi, Congress with just paltry 8 has offered unconditional support to AAP to form government to “keep communal forces out” as that party could go to any extent to contain BJP from ruling Delhi as of now. The position taken by AAP leader Kejriwal is “neither to extend nor receive” support despite the veteran Kiran Bedi advising him to form government with the BJP or support that party to govern. Even Prashant Bushan has opined for issue based support to the BJP in forming the government. The people in Delhi are eagerly awaiting cheap electricity (and not paying the high electric bills as directed by Kejriwal earlier), onions at Rs. 10 a kg, cheap but safe clean potable water in adequate measure, reduced metro fares, cheap eatables, medical and educational facilities and host of promises especially made by AAP to the young who are reportedly having phenomenally voted for that party.
If for reasons not known, Kejriwal is unwilling to take up the reins in his hands, much beyond the ethics and principles can be seen by the people in his “neither giving nor taking” stand. Inevitable President’s rule or most expensive and unaffordable fresh Delhi polls might compel AAP voters to think that they should not waste their vote for the second time. If AAP has to maintain its credibility, it must form government in Delhi and really do something for the people who wanted and still want a change, change to better their lot. The ball is in the court of AAP.
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