The electoral verdict of the four assembly elections clearly
pushed the country inches closer to the slogan CongressMukt advocated by the
BJP. Back in 2014, old critics lashed out at BJP and trounced the saffron
brigade for its vehement appeal to end the dynasty rule of the Congress. The
slogan was ridiculed, the idea was drubbed as a day dream. But the results of
assembly elections conducted through an extended phase of polling clearly
delivered a decisive mandate enunciating their choices. In all, Congress was
badly trounced. It lost miserably in Assam and Kerala. In Tamilnadu Congress
alliance with DMK was trumped by AIADMK and in West Bengal it became the second
largest party. The 131 year old, colossal Congress party with its eternal flow
of funds, extended grass root presence, huge popularity and resourceful cadre
support was believed to be invincible had bungled. Encumbered by decadence,
decrepit of visionary leadership, the legendary Congress party under the siege
of inept dynasty is bouncing towards an inglorious end.
The Grand old political party of India with a pan Indian
presence and control, now governs just 6 states- Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Karnataka, Manipur Meghalaya and Mizoram. With its huge electoral bastions
plundered by an aspirational national party and aggressive regional satraps,
Congress party gradually lost its relevance and presence. Congress party
suffered its first massive jolt in 2014 General Elections, when it failed to
clinch the position of the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha. Despite amassing nine successive defeats, the
party refused to resurrect. The reluctant leadership refused to concede and
understand the message delivered by the electorate. Consequently, its electoral
base, which largely included minorities and other groups slowly drifted away
and shifted loyalties. Moreover, the capricious and reluctant leadership of the
party could no longer match the spirited aspirations of the country bubbling
with demographic dividend. Commanded by a young leader, forever in making, the
party miserable failed to connect to the aspirational youth. Plagued by
recalcitrance, the hierarchy refused to cede ground to youthful ideas and new
leadership. The partisan leadership grudgingly held the authority, oblivious of
the ground realities, with loud rants and capricious promises reminiscent of
70’s the Congress is nearing decadence. It has steadily stumbled from the
position of a commander-in-chief to an opportunistic coalition partner. Its
desperation to be part of the Mahaghatbandan in Bihar and the conniving
alliance with the Left Front in West Bengal simply reflects its infamous
decline. Further subsumed by political opportunism, minority appeasement,
corruption, beleaguered local leadership Congress steadily backslided.
The current assembly elections marks emergence of a new era
in Indian politics. For the first time in independent India, a non-Congress
party is set to govern larger share of Indian population. Steady decline of
Congress is expected to continue. Himachal Pradesh mired in corruption is all
set to lose ground to BJP in the ensuing assembly elections. Uttarakhand too is
politically precariously poised with 8 rebel congress MLAs ready to join BJP.
If the dissident MLAs are allowed to participate in the floor test, the
Congress will lose the northern state. Manipur is staring towards political
turmoil. Congress may then be left with three states to govern. Even the next
round of assembly elections in 2017, Congress is not expected to make any
gains. Congress had faint chances of clinching power in Punjab, but poll survey
has already pronounced a sweeping victory for AAP.
Further this round of assembly elections had presented a
vivid picture of the evolving political scenario in the country. The resounding
victories of Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal and Jayalalitha in Tamilnadu
witnessed the emergence of ambitious regional leaders. Overwhelmed by the
unexpected gains Banerjee hinted at a central role and expressed her
willingness to work with like-minded parties to form a strong third front.
Similarly Nitish Kumar post-Bihar elections and soon after donning the post of
Party President called for a Sangh Mukt Bharat and invited parties to form an
alliance. Thus, strong regional players will over a period of time pose a
strong challenge to national parties. While Congress, having lost its sheen may
no longer be a strong contender, BJP must soon gain more ground and change its
stratagem to remain relevant. Already, parties like AAP are slowly making
formidable presence in the states where electorate are antipathetic to national
parties. AAP has already identified the gaps and aggressively campaigning in
states like Punjab and Goa for 2017.
The BJP with its stellar performance in 2014 general elections,
obtained a clear majority and soon evolved as a serious player. Though critics
undermined the convincing victory citing poor vote share (poor acceptability),
the party continued the impressive winning streak and silenced them. For the
past three decades, saffron brigade considered as a political untouchable.
Meanwhile the electoral debacle in Delhi and Bihar assembly elections believed
to be a fallout of political hubris, stung as a wakeup call to party cadres.
Undeterred by the electoral drubbing, BJP learnt its lessons and bounced back
with thumping victory in Assam. By opening an account in Kerala, it penetrated
the strong Left bastion and increased its vote share in Tamilnadu and
Puducherry. Though it couldn’t maintain the 2014 electoral vote share in
Bengal, its performance improved substantially (compared to 2011 assembly
elections). With crucial assembly elections scheduled for 2017, the party can
ill afford to be complacent.
Moreover with more scams being unearthed and more skeletons
tumbling out, Congress leadership is bracing for tough days. As congress party
begins to lose more states, funding would turn out be an acute problem. With
leadership showing no interest in reviving the party, the rut clogging the
conduits may hasten its stagnation and decline. Soon Congress will cease to a
lucrative alliance partner. Congress which is the largest party in Rajya Sabha so
far, effectively blocked passage of several bills. With 9 nine of its members
retiring, loses in the assembly elections will reduce their numbers. Similarly
the allies of UPA too will end up losing as many as 15 seats. Soon its clout
will be reduced in Rajya Sabha. In short, despite pleas for major revamp within
the party, the dynasty has been eloquently postponing the task. Bihar victory
has stalled the process of internal rejig within the party, if any. Slowly the
party might face the prospect of desertions from its staunch allies. Worse
still, the reluctance of Rahul Gandhi to project himself as a viable alternative
might propel party to its eventual decline and irrelevance.
@ Copyrights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment