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The three weeks of political battle in the election process in
the world’s largest democracy, ended with negating all the
pre-poll surveys and exit polls. The ruling Democratic
Alliance (NDA) headed by Bharatia Janta Party (BJP),
unexpectedly, could not achieve a target of 272 which is
required to make a government in Indian Loc
Saba
(Federal Parliament) of 543 seats.
As I am doing my analysis, BJP only managed to win 192 seats
while unpredictably Congress Party gained 219 from 539 seats.
Another surprise is the 128 seats secured by Samaj Wadi Party,
Bhojan Samaj Party (BSP) and other left wings, which has made
all the exit polls wrong.
The high-flying modern slogans, ‘Feel Good’ and ‘India
Shining’ used by BJP in the election campaign might have
attracted the print and electronic media but these tools could
not win the hearts of ordinary farmers and labourers. Even in
the major cities like Mumbai and Delhi, BJP could not attract
the majority by its election agenda.
BJP tried to reintroduce Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a new Gandhi
in this campaign. The entire election has been associated as a
Vajpayee-brand. However, Vajpayee’s long career experience
and political devices could not motivate the majority to vote
in BJP’s bank. Putting the Ram Mandir issue on low profile,
induction of Muslim politicians in the front row, promoting
Indo-Pak friendship, all these cards could not bring BJP’s
majority in the Loc Saba.
BJP frontline leadership in their speeches criticised Sonia
Ghandi for her foreign background. Yet the coming
results show that this card also did not provide any gain to
BJP, oppositely, it went against BJP and counted as negative
campaign. Congress party is yet to achieve a clear-cut
singly-party majority to form a new government, grabbed many
seats from BJP’s constituencies and gained more seats than
expected.
On the other hand, the Congress Party the oldest Indian
political party has ruled about 45 years in the past
maintained their traditional style of election campaign.
Perhaps, the political gurus in Congress understood the fact
in that part of the world political dynasty still counts in
politicians’ credentials. Congress brought Priyanka Gandhi
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 probably impressed the ordinary people of
India
in the changing world. Sonia Gandhi and other frontline
leaders of Congress party focused on tradition election agenda
of poverty, jobs, rising prices, power and development. And
today’s results endorse Indian voters’ needs of daily life
are more important than claims of the high-tech achievements.
Sonia Gandhi has been considered as an inexperienced
politician in Indian traditional politics but she turned out
to be a dynamic leader for making a united voice of the
Congress Party. She travelled all over
India
and conducted quite a large number of election gatherings.
Sonia Gandhi has been found more focused on common issues of
the common people like poverty, jobs, electricity, water and
the basic necessities of daily life. Though this time BJP did
not use the Hindu-religious card but Sonia Gandhi and her top
line key players openly recalled, in their speeches, the
religious and sectarian violence and clashes during the BJP
tenure particularly in Rajasthan.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, recognised as an honest and visionary
leader, has very boldly and open heartedly accepted his
party’s defeat. According to latest news, the BJP has
decided in its cabinet meeting to sit in opposition and
Vajpayee will submit his resignation to the President tonight.
As the results are coming, the Congress party is now holding
the number game in Loc Saba and its traditional allies and
left wings also hold enough seats in the house. BSP leader
Mayawati and Samaj Wadi leader Mulayam Singh Yadu have also
said in their statements they would not support any
communal-base party and would support Congress Party, if asked
for support.
So, it seems that in coming hours, India will make history by making the first non-native woman as
country’s Prime Minister.
(The
writer is Sydney-based journalist and political analyst. The
writer concluded above analysis at the ending hours of the
election results).
Concluded
on 13th of May, 2004. |
