Options and election 2014. .

Guest post !!!!!!!! 

General election 2014 result is on its brink. Psephologists present on every panel discussion in electronic news rooms and the entire hullabaloo over the social networks has not only given twists and turns to this election but it has become something more than an unpredictable package. 

Some people have rare air views; Atul Anand is one of them. It’s absolutely okay to take a stand. You must! It is highly imperative to stick your neck out and take a position. This friend of mine has his take on the election 2014 scenario.  

Do we really have to choose between BJP and Congress?

When I sat to write this guest post, I paused for a moment, I tried to think of some random topics. But I could think of nothing but politics, especially when we are nearing the results of general election 2014. I want to admit here that I hate those people who say “I hate politics” or “I am not interested in politics”. There is a saying which goes somewhat similar to “You may not be interested in politics but politics is interested in you” or “If you don’t want to change politics, the politics will change you”. So to those people I would like to say that please stop being ignorant and start exploring what is happening around you.

The media coverage of the general election 2014 was unprecedented. But let’s recall what the issues for this election were? Was it development or corruption? Or was it about unemployment? If Congress is corrupt then BJP or AAP is a sacred political party? The corruption by corporations would not count as corruption? Has Modi nothing to do with corporate loot in Gujarat? Well, these questions were not asked by media. The discussions around the election were largely about Modi vs Rahul Gandhi, Modi vs Sonia Gandhi, Modi vs Nitish Kumar or Modi vs Arvind Kejriwal. The media coverage was swarmed by the personal comments made by these politicians and Modi certainly had an upper hand there.  Modi has been projected as the suitable Prime Minister for this country for over last one year. He is definitely a much better orator than Rahul Gandhi. But what does he talk about? Recently he has been notorious for historical inconsistency in his speeches. I found hardly any substance in his speeches. He loves to talk in rhetoric; the rhetoric of Gujarat development model, the rhetoric of nationalism, etc. But does he discuss the details of Gujarat development experience in his speeches? Because the details of Gujarat development experience are ghastly. If this was not the case, the farmers in Gujarat would not have been protesting against land grabbing, Gujarat would not have Human Development Index lower than ten other states of India, Gujarat would not have one of the worst gender ratio in the country, Gujarat would not have one of the worst record in children with malnutrition cases. The ‘youth of India’ (which I think largely comprises of upper class/middle class Indians) see hope in Modi. But do they really know the Gujarat model of development? The claims of Gujarat development model are sham. Modi has been given out lands, natural resources and many other illegitimate favors to corporations such as Tata, Reliance, Adani, etc. Be it cheap land and loans at as low rate as 0.1% for Tata or gas deals with Reliance and Adani which cost huge losses to state exchequer.  Development doesn’t mean the development of only corporations. Gujarat has very poor record when it comes to development for all sections of society, the inclusive development. The poor of Gujarat haven’t benefited from the so-called development of Gujarat.

It would not be justified if we talk about Modi and we don’t mention communalism. It is a miracle that a CM who has been questioned about his shoddy role in Gujarat 2002 riots, becomes prime ministerial candidate of his party despite of oppositions from senior leaders.  This miracle happened with much needed support from corporations. Business knows no religion or caste. It has no morality. Modi knew it very well. Gujarat became heaven for corporations such as Tata, Reliance, Ambani and in return they gave Modi all kind of gifts, from favorable media coverage (yeah, our media is owned by these corporations) to chartered plane rides. The Muslims in Gujarat are still discriminated. Just outside the shining city of Ahmadabad you can find Muslims forced to live in ghettos. Hate-politics has been the favorite of BJP and RSS; they have mastered the skill of polarizing votes by branding the religious minorities as threat for ‘nation’. This is how Modi became ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat’. This is how a man who had no political ground in Gujarat, succeeded in replacing the senior leaders first at state level and then at national level. This is how another man, who was unknown to Pilibhit constituency, wins elections after he delivers hate-speech.

Modi calls Rahul Gandhi a Shehzada (Prince) but why doesn’t he talk about the princes in his own party. BJP has also got kinship. Whether it is Vasundhra Raje or Varun Gandhi or many other sons & daughters of political elites, they all got tickets either because of kinship or hate-politics or both. BJP is no different from Congress in almost every aspect. Both of them have got corporate backing. Both of them have got no problem with corruption. Leaders from both of the parties have presided over communal riots.

After this massive PR exercise and media advertising, if still Modi fails to become PM, I would like him to become an actor. He is great at acting. He can make fake claims about Gujarat development model. He can express fake concerns for the Dalits and the Muslims. He can even organize fake encounters.

I know for sure that this election has not been a battle between Congress and BJP, the two so-called national parties, rather it has been a battle among Congress, BJP and other political parties. It’s likely that BJP would not be able to get popular majority. In that situation, we can’t deny the possibility of a third front. After all BJP and Congress are not just the options we have got. 

Atul Anand