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Sonia
Gandhi, an Italian-born Indian, widow of the former Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi, thwarted all the pre-poll predictions
in the Indian election of world’s largest democracy.
A month ago she didn't stand an outside chance of beating the
ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Showing
confidence in the roaring economy, prospects of peace
initiatives with
Pakistan
and hoisting Hindu ideology over secularism, Prime Minister,
Atal Behari Vajpayee called the polls six month early. The
entire election campaign has been revolving around Vajpayee-brand.
BJP’s spin doctors brought high-flying and charming words
‘Feel Good’ and ‘India Shining’ as major tools in the
election campaign. Yet, all these cards could not bring BJP-led
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) a required majority in the
Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) to continue rule the
India
.
Compared to the last Lok Sabha result when (NDA) won 298
seats, Congress 135 and others 131, NDA could only gain 187
seats. Unpredictably Congress with its allies won 215 and
others (Samajwadi Party, Bhojan Samaj and left wings) secured
137 from 539 of 543 seats.
The election outcome proved all opinion experts wide of the
mark. The stock exchange went down and the over confident BJP
leaders shocked with verdict given by the people of
India
. This verdict shows how democracy works in
India
.
BJP’s political devices could not magnetize the majority.
Putting the Ram Mandir (Ram temple) issue on a low profile,
induction of Muslim politicians in the front row, promoting
Indo-Pak friendship and condemning Sonia’s origin as
non-Indian did not work. However, the outgoing Deputy Prime
Minister L K Advani who was expecting at least 250 seats
up to the end said that there was no anti-incumbency wave and
Anti-BJP feeling in the public. He blamed the
overpowering local issues and alliances for the reasons of
BJP’s defeat.
There is no doubt that the Indian economy has been elevated in
BJP rule but it is also true that the primary beneficiaries
have remained the rich and the urban middle class. The graph
of poverty, unemployment and lack of basic necessities has
been remained the same if not decreased. It is believed that
on the whole,
India
’s less privileged - the rural masses and the urban poor -
appeared to have found the BJP’s ‘Feel Good’ campaign
unacceptable and a joke.
On the other hand, realising the feelings of the common
people; 190 years old, Congress Party which had ruled about 45
years in the past, contested the election on traditional
election manifesto. Congress focused on the common issues of
common people, poverty, unemployment, utilities, electricity,
water and transportation. And the election result endorsed
that daily life necessities are more important than the
high-tech achievements in
India
.
An important factor in politics, especially, in South Asian
politics is the leadership or political dynasty. Pakistan,
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and now in India,
have proved dynastical background of a politician is one of
the main parameters in assessing politicians’ credentials.
Late but not bad, Congress gurus brought Priyanka Vadhra and
Rahul Gandhi – the children of Sonia Gandhi and late Rajiv
Gandhi – into the election race. This move ignited Congress
election campaign. The simple and plain language of Priyanka
and Ruhul which generally never work in Asian Politics
impressed the ordinary people of
India
and in the changing world.
Though the Gandhi family is not related to Mahatma Mohandas
Gandhi but dominated Indian politics since independence from
British colonial rule in 1947.
Jawaharlal Nehru
,
India
’s first Prime Minister headed the country from independence
until his death in 1964. He was followed by his daughter,
Indira Gandhi, who was killed by her own bodyguards in 1984.
Rajiv, her son and Sonia’s husband, took power and ruled
until 1989. Two years later, Rajiv too was assassinated.
Commenting on the victory, Sonia Gandhi thanked the voters for
their support. She said, over the next few days the process of
government formation would gather to bring a strong, stable
and secular government in India.
Now Congress party holds the number game in Lok Sabha and its
traditional allies and left wings also hold enough seats in
the house. BSP leader Mayawati and Samajwadi Party leader
Mulayam Singh Yadev have also said in their statements they
would not support any communal-based party and would support
Congress Party, if asked for support. It is clear Sonia Gandhi
will make history in Indian ruling politics being of
non-Indian origin and the daughter-in-law of longest serving
Indira Gandhi to be the Prime Minister of India.
Belonging to a working class Italian family, Sonia met Rajiv
Gandhi at a language school in Cambridge, England.
They married in 1968, since then Sonia settled in
India
with her husband. She absorbed herself in Indian culture and
found wearing Sari and speaking fluent Hindi. Sonia Gandhi
preferred to remain by the sidelines, content in her roles as
wife and a mother of two children till she actively got
involved in politics. She became the President of Indian
National Congress in 1998 and was then elected to the member
of 13th Lok Sabha, in 1999.
Sonia Gandhi, now 58 years of age, had been considered as an
inexperienced politician in traditional politics but she
turned out to be dynamic leader in making Congress Party a
united voice. She travelled all over India
and conducted quite a large number of election gatherings and
she focused on dealing and mixing with the common people.
The out going Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee very
ethically accepted his party defeat and without wasting any
time presented his resignation to the President. He said, he
would continue to work for brighter
India
and will help the ruling party whenever he will be asked. Mr.
Vajpayee’s highly valued remarks are being largely
appreciated within and out side India.
His peace initiative efforts with Pakistan
will be acknowledged. Sonia Gandhi has also said in her recent
statement that her government will continue to maintain the
dialogue process with
Pakistan
and deal with all the issues with Pakistan including the issue of
Kashmir.
Responding to the change in India, the Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri hoped
the new government in New Delhi would carry forward the peace initiative with
Pakistan. He said Pakistan
was looking forward to seriously and closely engaging with the
new government in India, to promote the process of peace and resolution of all
outstanding issues.
One hopes Congress with its allies will bring change in the
lives of the common person on the principles of fairness,
harmony and secularism. Also continue the under going efforts
of maintaining the friendly relations between
India
and
Pakistan
which has been a vital concern for the stability of the
South Asia
.
Concluded on 15th of May, 2004.
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