Politics is in the air. Statements made by important leaders cutting across parties are aimed at garnering votes. The 15th general elections are scheduled for April–May 2009.
Too much should not be read into the outcome of elections to the legislative assemblies of states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Delhi, not to mention Jammu & Kashmir and Mizoram. The electorate of the world’s largest democracy has strange ways of surprising psephologists and political pundits.
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| Paranjoy Guha Thakurta |
The Bharatiya Janata Party realized this the hard way. Five years ago the BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance were overjoyed after winning the assembly elections in MP, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, defeating incumbent Congress governments in these 3 states. The right-wing Hindu nationalist party thought its “India Shining” campaign would counter anti-incumbency sentiments. Party strategist, the late Pramod Mahajan, wanted elections in early-2004. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee demurred, for the 14th elections were not due till September. But Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani went along with those who felt early elections would help the party. The rest, as they say, is history. The BJP and the NDA were taken aback that their ad-campaign had actually backfired on them and put off voters.
This time round too, there is a section within the Congress that is arguing for early elections, but for a different reason: the economic downturn. Those with this viewpoint argue that the economic situation might worsen in the coming months. The high inflation rate, especially the spurt in food and fuel prices, has already hurt the aam admi. And who does not know that the poor go out to vote in much larger numbers than the rich or the middle classes? Hence, there is a section in the Congress that thinks the party should “cut its losses”. This view is, however, not subscribed to by many in the party, and certainly not by the allies of the Congress in the United Progressive Alliance, notably the Rashtriya Janata Dal (led by Lalu Prasad Yadav) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (headed by Muthuvel Karunanidhi), both of whom seem to be down in the dumps.
Ever since the Left stopped supporting the Congress and the UPA, the Communists have been going hammer and tongs against the government’s economic ideology. The worldwide recession has given the Left an opportunity to take credit for not allowing ardent liberalizers like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram, and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia to integrate the Indian economy more closely with the financial systems of the US and the rest of the world. After supporting the government for over 4 years, the Communists have intensified their attacks on the Congress for following pro-rich, market-friendly economic policies.
Realizing that the “grand old party” of India is in danger of losing votes, its president Sonia Gandhi has sought to “outperform” the Left in claiming that the credentials of the Congress in supporting the underprivileged remain intact. It’s worth quoting a few paragraphs from a speech she made at a conference organized by the Hindustan Times on November 21 before an affluent and influential audience in the country’s capital:
“If you allow me the liberty of showing what is to you that proverbial ‘red rag to the bull’. Let me take you back to Indira Gandhi’s much reviled bank nationalization of 40 years ago. Every passing day bears out the wisdom of that decision. Public sector financial institutions have given our economy the resilience we are now witnessing in the face of the economic slowdown…We will not be thrown off course by the winds buffeting us from abroad…There is no need for overreaction, let alone for panic. There is no need for us to get back into the era of controls. At the same time we cannot allow things to spin out of control…In the changed scenario, liberalization must be pursued within a framework of sensible but not heavy-handed regulation.
“What concerns us most today is that this economic upheaval could grievously affect the most vulnerable sections of our society…The poor have had nothing to with the hubris of the rich. Their lives are spent close to the edge, simply trying to make their ends meet after a hard day’s toil. They have nothing to do with the fancy-sounding financial instruments – derivatives and credit default swaps – that have ensnared so many and which very few even fully understand... Should they then become the victims of the unchecked greed of bankers and businessmen? Should the avarice of a few be allowed to inflict misery on the many?”
Whereas the tone and tenor of the UPA chairperson’s speech was clearly to occupy the high moral ground at the expense of the Left, on the same occasion an important prediction was made by the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and head of the Telugu Desam Party who suffered an ignominious electoral defeat in May 2004 because his government’s policies were perceived to be in favor of the rich. Today, of course, N. Chandrababu Naidu is a chastened man. At the HT conference, he said: “It is most likely that the next Prime Minister would be a lady of a regional party.”
Was he referring to the general secretary of the All Indian Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the lady who lives in Poes Garden, Chennai, who (like Naidu) was humiliated by the electorate? Probably not. The chances are that the person he had in mind is the woman who was sworn in as Chief Minister of India’s most populous state for the 4h time in May 2007? No prizes for guessing her name!
The author is an educator, an economic analyst and a journalist with over 30 years of experience in various media—print, radio, television, Internet and documentary cinema.
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Your honour,
We got Married 05/03/2002, and have a daughter born 09/07/2005. My wife and she’s family given me 498a/34 IPC, FIR NO.276, date 31/08/2009, P.S.: BAGUIATI, it’s not true case, believe me. My wife are engaged/Affair with a boy (Sandip Samanta, S/O. Shankar Kumar Samanta S.B.I. Manager) his house front of my house, all the matters are know every person in my village, and also they given me written about my character. When my wife goes outside form my house near about many vory gold and cash 1.20 lack Indian rupees taken. Not taken my daughter, daughter is now in my house. My wife doing the 498a case’s date 31/08/2009 and I arrest 06/09/2009, court give me bail at 19/09/2009 my 1st court date is 16/10/2009 done. 2nd court date is 04/01/2010 done. Next court date is 07/07/2010 at Barasat court. Some proof (20 pcs. s.m.s., picture with the boy and a c.d.) has me about my wife and the boy that they are in illegal relation. Believe me I and my family love much more to my wife. They (My wife family) are very very poor and live in a bosti Address: 70/H/8 Manicktolla Main Road, Kolkata – 700054, Beside 5 Star Club, my mother see 1st time and she arrange my marriage, and Mother told me they are very poor so what? After marriage she is my family member, believe me not a single word is wrong. Before marriage my family not see my wife’s family, now we understand/also see that she’s family are very bad. My wife, she’s family and the boy they are misusing this law. Now my wife’s family understands all the affair matter. But my wife still now not agree she wants to marry to the boy. My wife left our only solitary daughter to me who is 4 years old having severe "Ashtama Disease, depends on INHEALER, here political Hide & seek game is going on & the father of the parents (THE FATHER OF THE BOY WHO HAS ILLICIT RELATIONS WITH MY WIFE) are rich, so they are spending money to everywhere with a view to be escaped. Now I decided that I’m not taken back my wife. I take a lawyer his name Mr. Kamelash Nandi. I don’t know what happened next? Now I went to punishment the boy. If possible please help me. Please investigate the matter and relief/save me and my family. And . My wife given me U/s. 125 Cr. P. C. Case NO.167/2009, date 16/12/2009. 1st Class Judicial Magistrate at Sealdah. 1st court date is 15/01/2010 done, 2nd court date is 12/02/2010 done. Next court date is 26/02/2010. I attend but judge toll that order is ready, you take the order at 01/03/2010. Ohe order is giving to your wife Rs. 1500/- P.M.
Thanks
Dear Sir/Madam,
Actually I’m 100 percent victim, so I went to knowing my matter all the Indian and others. I write my matter to our local P.S., Local Councilor, all M.P., M.L.A., Minister in W.B. and Other States, C.M. in W.B., CBI Department, CID Department, All the I.P.S. AND I.A.S. OFFICERS. Governor in W.B, and President in India. P.M. in India, National/International Human rights department, AAP KI KACHEHRI – KIRAN KE SAATH, Kolkata Police, and all police officers in W.B., my nation, all of the news channels, and all press, and many more, (anybody can’t help me/proper investigation/do not take any action/I think they all are sleeping WHY?) absolutely you also, I think you can help me, so I write to you. I’m Punishment + harassment Without Crime.
I hope you would care to me, your prompt action shall be highly appreciated.
With kindest regards,
Dipak Kumar Adhikari
Tegharia(Dhali Para),NandanKanan. P.S.: Baguiati.
P.O. Hatiara. Dist.: North 24 Parganas. Kolkata-700059 Email: dipakadhikari_59@yahoo.com PH. 9836149983
W.B. India.