The concept of Amrit kal (the era of elixir) of Indian politics was introduced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of 75 years of Indian Independence Day. This vision of Amrit Kal articulates the achievements of last 75 years and articulates the opportunities focused on the youth of the country for better jobs, growth and economic development so that the country becomes a developed nation by 2047. This vision was outlined in the budget speech of the Finance Minister while presenting the budget for the year 2023-24. It is a fact that India as country has achieved tremendous success as a cohesive, stable and largest democracy of the world. However, as in any democracy in the modern world the Indian democracy has its own pitfalls because primarily it is the route to capture power to govern the country and its people under the principle “for the people, of the people and by the people”
This general election 2024 to the Lok Sabha has given us the opportunity to assess the way our democracy is working and how it can be made successful by its political leaders and the supporting bureaucracy and legislature. Already a committee set up by the government under the Chairmanship of former President Ramnath Kovind had submitted its report on holding the parliament and assembly elections together so that the repeated bouts of elections cost the exchequer and stresses the people as well as the government machinery. Whereas, the ruling BJP is rooting for the one India-one election the opposition is smelling rat in it and is stoutly opposing it. How the country would move forward, it depends upon the results of 2024 parliament elections and the decks will be cleared for the rulers on June 4th 2024. Thus, the overall success of democratic governance will depend upon how the overall political scenario is emerging in the country and how our people react to it.
At the national level there are two main political blocks vying to capturing power at the Centre. The one is ruling NDA led by the BJP and the other is INDIA block is led by the Congress but many regional parties are too aspiring to lead the block and silently challenging the congress capacity to lead the alliance. Most of the regional parties in India are family fiefdoms like Samajwadi Party, DMK, and RJD of Laloo Prasad Yadav. The third force is of regional parties like YSR Congress of Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh, BRS in Telangana, BJD in Orissa and BSP of Mayawati in UP. These family based parties are fighting elections on their own and aspire to achieve their state and dynasty specific agenda. Some regional parties like Samajwati Party, DMK, Trinmool Congress and AAP are part of the INDIA block.
As the elections of Lok Sabha are nearing the fissures in the opposition blocks are becoming rather theatrical. Many leaders are changing sides with impunity and most of the parties of INDIA blocks are fighting tooth and nail with each other in states but keeping the facade of an alliance alive to capture power at centre in order to remove the BJP from power. To capture power to govern is all right but it should be preceded by a pre-poll pact on programmes and policies of the alliance but sadly today Indian politics is devoid of this. The opposition for last few years is exacerbating in their quest to capture power specially the congress and other dynastic powers like SP are feeling fish out of water without power and even do not blink an eye in shaking hands with anti national forces and foreign powers. A whole gamut of an ecosystem is in place to capture power with the assistance of pseudo-intellectual like advocates journalists etc
Let us examine sate wise how the theatre of politics before the public to assess their position. Whereas, NDA is apparently a cohesive unit and have same policy and programmes the case of INDIA alliance is at best is contradictory and is in disarray. Except in Tamil Nadu, where the INDIA block is intact as solidly led by DMK with Congress as junior ally, the situation however, in other states is self-defeating. For example, the Congress is fighting the election against CPM in Kerala accusing it of destroying the democracy but both the parties are fighting the ally Trinmool Congress in West-Bengal accusing it of destroying the democracy. In Tripura the CPM and Congress fought for 35 year as sworn enemies killing each other’s cadres are now united against the BJP. The Aaam Admi Party which owes its existence to an agitation against the then ruling Congress party is now having an alliance with the Congress in Delhi for the Lok Sabha elections and also it formed the government first time with its support. But both these parties are at loggerhead in Punjab and fighting against each other. The BJP is taking full advantage of this theatrics of opposition parties and is claiming to storm back to power. Many of the leaders are also facing serious corruption charges including having links with foreign powers to de-destabilize India and receiving funds for this purpose. In nutshell, as the line from William Shakespeare’s play Tempest, ‘misery acquaints a man with strange bed fellows’. The scenario for the opposition is like seeking shelter besides a sleeping monster!
It is hoped, the Indian people will give a verdict in the interest of strengthening the governance. Now a bit about a few new political parties like Uttarakhand Samanata Party which is charting out a clear people oriented positive state specific agenda to clean the politics of money, corruption and nepotism by contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and thereby force the national parties to have a change of course. It will work to mobilize people in a positive manner and act as pressure group against the big parties which ignore the real issues. The Samanata party believes that Indian politics has been polluted by the money bag policy which brings criminals in the politics and has decided to take plunge alone in Uttarakhand considering both the BJP and the Congress have failed to live up to the expectations of the people. The party has decided to support any party that forms the government at centre and oppose all anti-national forces bent upon de-stabilizing the country. All state specific parties if adopt this policy the country will progress in a bottom up manner. ( THE EMERGING WORLD)
