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2018 Assembly elections: A preface to Lok Sabha polls

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To impose emergency or create an Emergency-like situation for political gains is one of the worst results of absolute power and majority rule. The majority always breeds suppression and autocracy. Excess of everything is bad, rather it ends in a curse. Opposition leaders fall prey to revengeful politics. The mum voice of public turns to a current of underwater waves and this unheard voice may become a game changer. As 2019 is nearing to dawn, the different political parties have started to beat their tambourines in their own ways with different beats but playing the same melody of ‘Kursi Rag’(The Chair Melody) with a common target alike Arjuna to get the ‘Kursi’. But to win over the audiences, all the drum beaters and the song party members will have to keep consonance in the rhythm. Will they? The answer to this question will decide the fate of these drummers.

Now the leaders of opposition parties, like NCP president Sharad Pawar, AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh and even Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray are levelling charges of creating Emergency–like situation against the present Modi government. According to the media reports, Uddhav Thackeray had alleged on August 13, 2018, that there was an Emergency-like situation in the country.

In 2014, people were fed up with the Congress regime and influenced with the lollypops of Rs 15 lakhs in each account and in the hope of regaining the system of ‘Ram Rajya’, voted for Modi as the BJP government came to power with a thumping majority. However, since more than a four-year span of Modi-raj, a lot of hot and cold water has flowed through the rivers of India. Public has enjoyed and faced the Jumle baji, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, assurances of doubling the farmers income and houses for all by 2022, sufferings of shivering in the queues before the banks during notebandi, steep rise in oil prices, forced linkage of Aadhaar Card with bank accounts, ration cards, sim cards etc etc.

On October 6, 2018, the Election Commission has announced the assembly elections for five states –Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. Out of these, the first three are presently ruled by the BJP. The results of these states will convey the mood of the people for 2019 Lok Sabha Poll. A poll survey conducted by C-voter for a leading news channel has projected Congress’s victory in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Earlier, the entire opposition had felt the need to fight unitedly to win over the ballot battle against BJP. But, when the bugle of the battle blows, the so-claimed unity is falling aground like a deck. In the line with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Akhilesh’s Samajwadi Party has also decided to move ahead without waiting for the company of Congress in these Assembly elections. Akhilesh Yadav said that he cannot wait any longer for the Congress party. It seems that the saying,“ United they stand, divided they fall’,  is not going to be an action line for the opposition in these state assembly elections.

Amid this lack of confidence among the anti-BJP herd, the BJP has blown its trumpet in Rajasthan on the day of declaration of election dates through a rally of  Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ajmer on October 6, 2018. The speculations of the Rajasthan is going out of clutches, Modi has a chance from this state to gear up the loose clutches.

Negating the developmental works of Congress and praising PM Modi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said, “For 50 years India suffered. Fifty unfortunate years when those entrusted with power did not do their duties responsibly. It was the Modi Sarkar, determined on the change that led the nation to progress – transforming and reimaging a New India, reaffirming the faith of millions.”

On the other hand, Congress seems to have adopted the Gandhian path of not criticising the opponent. As per agencies report on October 7, the former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said that Congress will go to polls on development plank and if voted to power it would continue with CM Vasundhara Raje-led government’s schemes rather bringing them to an end.

The question which arises here is, “Why the Congress leader is assuring to continue the developmental works started by Raje? Are the people of Rajasthan very much influenced and satisfied with these work?”

But, the other Chief Ministerial contender and the present State President of Congress, Sachin Pilot tweeted on October 3, “Met scores of upbeat, enthusiastic Congress workers and people from all parts of Rajasthan in PCC office, Jaipur. They bring in one common message – people are ready to root out this BJP government with people friendly Congress.”

However, due to a long political ground experience and a grip over Rajasthan politics Ashok Gehlot is the main stalwart of the Congress party and Sachin Pilot, a close youth associate of Rahul Gandhi has become the icon due to his strenuous efforts to raise the Congress party dashed to ground by losing all the 25 Lok Sabha  seats in 2014 elections.

There are some other election fighters also are in the race who are keen to change the election scenario of Rajasthan. A six-time MLA with RSS background, staunch critic of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, a stalwart BJP departed old Brahmin leader and President of his own newly formed Bharat Vahini Party (BVP), Ghanshyam Tiwari claims that his party will fight all the 200 seats and without his support no party shall be in a position to form a government. Media reports on October 7 stated Tiwari, “The Congress is not in a position to form the government and the BJP is set to face a historic defeat in the state. Forming government in Rajasthan would not be possible without BVP.”

The Brahmin leader is sailing in the hope of getting the upper caste votes, especially the Brahmin Community. He said, “The BJP has betrayed people of the upper castes and its base vote bank has slipped.”

But, Ashok Sharma, from Dudu constituency, presently working with a Hindi daily in Jaipur since the last 30 years, demolishing the hope of Tiwari, said,“ It’s right that some voters of upper castes – Brahmins and Rajputs have departed from BJP in favour of Congress party, but Tiwari is not gaining anything from this departure. Bahujan Samaj Party will also not get a sizeable share this time too.”

Another firebrand leader, Hanuman Beniwal claiming to fetch votes of farmer community especially Jat votes may swing the power balance. He is also stating that BSP may align with Tiwari and Beniwal and this alliance can change the political scenario in the state.

Sunil Kumar Meena, a scheduled tribe social activist who runs a coaching centre at Sardarshahar in Rajasthan said, “BSP is not in a position to win any seat on its own, better it should have formed an alliance with Congress. However, a large section of SC/ST communities are associated with Congress, but since the last few months, the people of these communities have also shown their inclination towards BSP. If BSP forms an alliance with Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal, it may fetch some sizeable number.”

Reacting on the claim of Brahmin leader Ghanshyam Tiwari, Meena said, “Ghanshyam Tiwari will not get a major vote share of his community as Brahmins will not depart from BJP. He may get a minor share.”

A political analyst, Ved Pal, former Vice-Chairman of Agriculture Development Bank, said, “Certainly the Congress will win the race with a huge margin for its failure to fulfill the voters expectations by the BJP government. Jats and Rajputs have turned their face backwards. The leaders like Ghanshyam Tiwari and Hanuman Beniwal can retain their individual seats only. They have some followers on social grounds but have no mass following on political platform.”

Stating figures about the decreasing share of BSP, Ved Pal states, “BSP got 7.60 per cent votes in 2008 assembly elections, it further decreased to 3.43 per cent in 2013 with a win on only 3 seats and now it seems to touch zero level.”

 

By Jag Mohan Thaken


(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

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