Something is wrong on the political strategy of BJP despite having a decisive win in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. The party is facing State after State reverses, Haryana, Maharashtra and now in Jharkhand. The Karnataka win is by politicking and from the switchover political opponents.
An electoral win or loss is routine for any political party from a politically fragmented and incensed electorate in India. It is the culmination of hyped and distorted media, fake news and non-stop rumours floating the society. That aside, BJP was felt to be different from the corruption infested Congress party when they won the elections in 2014. Though a few reforms have been initiated, like liquidating more than three lacs fake companies, the failure in explaining the targets and results of demonetization has blunted the faith of the common man.
BJP has taken recourse to religious polarization, rather than address the economic woes, which seem to afflict the nation with lower all-round performance on the economic front. Infiltrations have not reduced and the time of reprisals on our recalcitrant neighbour has raised doubts over the integrity of the purpose, despite India’s resolute replies, appreciated by all.
If the reason for demonetization was suspect, the current imbroglio over CAA and the proposed NRC has torn the nation apart. The minorities needlessly are blamed for most of our deficiencies by a section.
Needless meddling into history will only add to the miseries, reminding our troubled past. Horrific statistics fill the social media as to how in the next three decades, India would convert into an Islamic republic, with the minorities speedily multiplying their numbers. I guess it is a far-fetched phobia that will never happen.
I must admit the successes India under Modi has made on foreign affairs. Whether in our abrogation of the provisions of Art 370 on J & K, or the CAA, protests are limited to only Pakistan, Turkey and Malaysia. The threat of stoppage of palm oil imports from Malaysia by the Indian trade put to rest its interference over J & K. China too quietly withdrew its demand for taking up J & K in the UN. Surprisingly, the US championing human rights protection all over the world merely stated that there is ‘robust discussions’ as should be in democracy over the CAA.
In the meanwhile, the variance between the Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that CAA and NRC will be carried out all over the country, the President dittoing the account and the PM contradicting the same in his yesterday’s rally does make it a confusion galore. Perhaps the homework was not done appropriately as the number of states refusing the NRC is increasing by the day. It may be unconstitutional for the States to oppose an Act of the Parliament. Still, if a majority of the states join in the fighting, it will be embarrassing for the Government to implement the same.
Weighing heavily on the Government is to reach a GDP of US$ 5 trillion by 2024. For achieving this, States must be taken together in its march for growth, which can begin with ending rhetoric and addressing core issues affecting the nation’s economy.
I hope the Government would convert the poll setbacks into exercises of introspection and speedy course corrections. I would end by saying, the others had no chance of winning, had you not become complacent or arrogant!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
In pic Hemant Soren the CM designate of Jharkhand
