Politics is increasingly resembling the cricket matches and the political dispensations, the cricket administration in the country. If the National elections are akin to five day test cricket, the State polls are like one day cricket and the by polls are 20:20 matches. If BJP is playing like ‘Team India’, some States are playing like the other cricketing Nations. Currently, the opposition quality is extremely poor in both and in both, only a few top order players count with the middle order just following instructions. If the ‘Team India’ wins almost everything played in India and has great difficulty winning outside, there is a parallel that cannot be missed. Occasional match fixing too rears its head with the investigating agencies and the Courts having a field day. The people like spectators, are mute most of the time, flamboyant at times, extremely passionate at other times and partisan to the core in the intervening times. Our political dispensations too have been in and out of the shadows of the Courts and the agencies like the cricket administration had in the past, coming out, a few days ago. Like cricketing teams have coaches, the political dispensations too have. The coach takes the credit, if the team wins, while the blame goes to the team for losing. Like cricket, the madness of politics and political jamborees continue year after year and the people are preview to new matches with new players thrown in along with the veterans.
The just concluded State elections in Maharashtra and Haryana had all the trappings of the above. Yet ‘People’ on the other side of those squaring up, singularly deserve the winning trophy, for it must be the only occasion when both sides, those in power and in opposition have said, they are happy and satisfied with the results, not counting the sabre rattling before the voting began. None spoke about the much-maligned EVM’s, let alone talk on their transparency or the lack of it. One wonders if the elections are more transparent now than they have been. The election commission must also be happy.
The real winner in these elections are the people, especially the rural people. They have shown the defectors, the satraps, However, big they are the door. The parties, those in power and outside it, must realise that they are not smart washing machines. Soiled cloth is not necessarily cleaned when the washing is done. People identify the muck and speak in no uncertain terms when their turn comes. A not so known congress candidate’s win in ‘Jath’ constituency in Maharashtra against a powerful satrap is a case in point.
The leader of NCP seems to be happy since his party won more seats than expected, apart from denting and halting a marauding BJP in its tracks. It is to his credit that he managed to create a second rung leadership that is young and committed not to speak of the opportunities created for those within and outside the family. Marathas again looking to NCP as the deliverer is the icing on the cake.
BJP is happy since they are almost back in the government. However, having lost some base within the Maratha groups and Vidarbha, would they seriously consider a Maratha leader from Vidarbha or western Maharashtra to wrest back the initiative? Similarly, will they look at a Jat leader in Haryana to do the honours? Will the ED and other agencies back off for now, since there exists a new axis of bargain, if the tried and trusted friends have other ideas? Will Vidarbha becoming the rallying point, ruffle other regions? The ruling party has been promoting ‘One Nation One Election’ theory. Though a good idea for optimising resources, the logistics could be unnerving. However, it may have to be re-thought since National issues may not necessarily fetch dividends in State elections, as recent elections indicate. The party may actually lose out if the theory is executed. Anti-incumbency factor may only exacerbate.
The elections have also proved that the caste system in the country is alive and kicking. The Maratha and the Jat pride factor was in considerable focus to be missed. Local issues must dominate the State elections for they improve the quality of life. Economy, employment, employability, quality of roads, power, food, health care are all important to rural folk as much as they are to urban people. 16 lakh people rendered coup de grace in the PMC bank crisis and all similar must be rendered every possible help.
The Sena must be happy since it realises, it has a lot more bargaining power now, than it ever had and that its all-weather friend cannot rule without it. It also must be doubly happy that after two generations, there is a potential ruler from within the family. The Congress must be happy since the opposition seems to be gaining ground. Without a credible leadership in Maharashtra and in spite of great infighting in Haryana, they still managed to edge back BJP and gain more seats than they had. The loyalists must be happy at the discomfiture of their parties. MNS the only party may not be happy. A strategy that seeks votes to be in the opposition will neither be allowed to be in the opposition nor in power.
A great number of senior and significantly influential politicians have bit the dust in these elections. They have all been predominantly defectors to other parties. Is it possible that they migrate back? Would it be possible to accommodate them so they do not bite the hand that feeds? Defectors and would be defectors, both need to introspect. One important lesson the elections have managed to teach those in and those out of power is to reinvent themselves. A second rung leadership must be encouraged to take over the reins. Infighting and providing a free gateway to the unfaithful has never won any war.
Can we seek Government formation quickly now that the game is over, for good governance is what people seek, though several permutations and combinations are likely possible with smaller parties and independents calling the shots? By encouraging the independents to grow larger than life, are we not value adding the jokers in the pack? Whatever be the case, a potboiler is in the offing. The BJP ran their campaign through a ‘Jan Sandesh Yatra’. Is it time to seek ‘Sandesh’ from people?