Politics is all about perception. And the perception is that all’s not well within the Saffron party. However, attempts are made to sort out the issues within the larger framework of the party principles. Once a tea vendor becoming the Prime Minister, a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste community becoming President, a young man from a humble background becoming CM of a recently formed government in NE region are text book examples of empowerment of deserving people irrespective of the family, caste, culture, economic pedigree and a big slap to the culture of making it an absolute family affair which is long overdue for its discontinuation.
We account for one sixth of humanity and we are also credited with the honor of being the largest democracy on the planet. It is an irony that some political dynasties are calling the shots. For them, the national interest is not one of their top priorities. Some leaders and groups within the BJP have also failed to rise above personal and parochial interests. The party should sort out these differences in the larger national interest.
A new trend has surfaced among the opposition parties to pit Narendra Modi against Atal Vihari Vajpayee. Vajpayee was famously described a dove among hawks. He was a statesman among politicians. He mastered the art of winning people’s hearts by displaying highest level of sympathy and concern, yet he was firm on occasions like nuclear test and Kargil War. Again, he was an excellent orator which caught Nehru’s eyes in early fifties and though latter’s prophecy happened much later, but we saw Vajpayee rising to the highest office in the government in three occasions.
Coming to Modi, he took over in a time when the country was witnessing a downgraded economic sentiment, largescale corruption in all spheres, dampened aspiration among youth and above all the lack of development our country needed the most then. Of course, his style of politics does not match with that of Vajpayee but in his own way he has been highly effective, competent and successful in responding to many of the glaring issues which were ignored for decades. His diplomatic skills won India many friends. To sum up, both have been great leaders in their own ways, yet both converge on delivering good governance, reaching out to the farthest targets and furthering the national interest on many counts which make them out standing in their time.
In a few months, the country has to make a choice between the BJP-led NDA and the rest (the final shape of it is yet to come about). As far as NDA is concerned, Narendra Modi is its leader while who will lead the rest is a question mark. The NDA has much to show in terms of performance. Often the current dispensation has been accused of not being able to rein in the fringe elements indulging in acts of violence. Violent incidents have taken place but whether they enjoyed the sanction of the ruling party is not clear. Some predict BJP will rely more on hardline Hindutva agenda like construction of Ram Temple and cash in on the symbolic issue of name change viz. Gurugram, Prayagraj, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Station, Abdul Kalam Road etc, organizing Maha Kumbh in a grand way. Even recent announcement of Bharat Ratna award to Pranab Mukherjee is viewed by opposition parties as BJP’s way of reaching out to Bengal. Same impression is extended even to Bhupen Hazarika’s selection for the award as an attempt to pacify the anger triggered by citizenship bill issue. Besides,10% reservation for the economically weaker sections has also not gone down well with Modi’s rivals, but political expediency is preventing them from making it a big issue. It’s ironical that the opponents have refused to acknowledge the fact that the government had undertaken many affirmative measures/schemes to ensure financial inclusion, all-round welfare and upliftment of economically and financially disadvantaged sections.
In fact, in BJP, the inconsistency between the acts of the leader and the party ideology is almost absent whereas in Congress and its partners the discrepancy is conspicuous. Take the example of Triple Talaq Bill, opposition parties were stalling it on various technical grounds. Similarly, on the Ram Temple issue, Congress and its allies are yet to clarify their position. They have been pleading before the Apex court to defer the judgment at least till the conclusion of the next general election fearing the outcome would favor BJP electorally. More shockingly the productivity of Parliament has gone for a toss and the Opposition parties think what they are doing is their democratic duty.
This election offers a great opportunity for the people of this country to take the side of those who are aligned to nation’s aspiration possessing the capability and commitment to lead the country to its next round of reforms and developments across the spectrum and making us feel proud again by restoring the lost glory and not showering mandate on those who are absolutely comfortable sacrificing national interest and playing cruel jokes with a billion plus civilization by just resorting to gimmicks devoid of any enduring benefits. Nevertheless the fulcrum continues to remain the promises made by the leader vis a vis the ideas nurtured by the party collectively at least as perception driven in recent past, which means it’s not going to be a cake walk for the greatly confused poor voter to exercise his/her franchise in a complete chaotic political environment.
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