Delhi state election results are out and in 1 voice they signal the end of an era. It signals the end of 3C's that has been the bane of Indian politics since independence: Coalition, Congress & Corruption.
Let me explain:
Coalition: If there was anything that frustrated Indians for the last couple of decades; it was the lack of majority in the State and Central Assemblies. Fractured mandates led to cobbling together of multiple parties with their own individual, materialistic agendas to come together and form a government. This government would then for the next 5 years indulge in policy paralysis, frequent break downs and no cohesive development. The all too frequently used excuse would be Coalition Dharma . Power just for the sake of power with no responsibility was what coalition politics espoused and ultimately India paid the price for it.
Slowly but steadily people started seeing through these charades and to the dismay of the political parties, people have started by large giving an mandate that is often biased towards one party which allows it to take power. People want results and excuses are not acceptable. So to the general consensus is now more on giving a majority mandate. Congress party famously said in the 1990s as it recognized that its vote bank was eroding that "Coalition Politics is here to stay" . But after 20 years of failed experiments, stagnating growth rates and rising overall inflation that is no longer the case. Voters have been giving a clear cut mandate mostly across all states and even at the General Elections. So it is the beginning of the end for coalition politics.
Congress: The Grand Old Party of Indian Politics. Congress was at the forefront of the fight for Indian Independence and as such has a lot of history associated with it. It's contribution to India and Indian Politics cannot be discounted at all. Some of the greatest thinkers, strategists and the tallest leaders in the nation have been from Congress. The party has a rich and varied history no doubt, but it has been loosing touch with its cadre and the people in general over a period of time.
The party has lost relevance. It is sad that the once might party has been humbled repeatedly over the past few years that it has no longer any connect, appeal or even support with the majority of the Indian populace. The party has shot itself in the foot by adapting to coalitions when the regional parties started emerging and cutting into its votes base instead of introspecting and improving the internal party dynamics. Even today the rank and file within the party move heaven and earth in the service of one family and there is no 2nd generation of leadership within the party. The party high command rules through pseudo control. i.e. they rule without taking any responsibility to the bottom line.
The once grand party and the leaders of yesterday have been replaced by sycophants and dynasties of today. There has been no new blood inducted in the congress. All the top leaders of the party are either generational politicians or industrialists or power brokers. For the party which claimed to be the face of the common man for decades, ironically there is no common man in it. Perhaps this explains the meteoric rise of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The aam aadmi does not want the hand of Congress any more...
Corruption: It has been the bane of Indian politics and the institutional governance for decades. Maybe since the independence. The babudom or babugiri mentality carried over from the Britishers era and never really changed. The sense of entitlement and the arrogance of the post was made worse by the institutionalization of corruption where by it became a fact of life for the common man.
The rise of AAP was laid on the foundation of this mounting frustration with the system. The maverick party has gotten itself a thumping majority mandate on the basis of the high voltage campaign run by the party on the issues of corruption and crony capitalism. While the party has miles ahead to go in its journey, one thing they can be credited with is that during the 49 day tenure that they had in Delhi last year, corruption was on a record low in Delhi. It is refreshing change in Indian politics. If the AAP can make a dent in the corrupt ways of Indian system then it will mark a huge change in the way the system works and maybe just maybe the system will then work for the people rather than the other way round as it is happening so far...
Tell me your views on this...
Cheers,
G
Let me explain:
Coalition: If there was anything that frustrated Indians for the last couple of decades; it was the lack of majority in the State and Central Assemblies. Fractured mandates led to cobbling together of multiple parties with their own individual, materialistic agendas to come together and form a government. This government would then for the next 5 years indulge in policy paralysis, frequent break downs and no cohesive development. The all too frequently used excuse would be Coalition Dharma . Power just for the sake of power with no responsibility was what coalition politics espoused and ultimately India paid the price for it.
Slowly but steadily people started seeing through these charades and to the dismay of the political parties, people have started by large giving an mandate that is often biased towards one party which allows it to take power. People want results and excuses are not acceptable. So to the general consensus is now more on giving a majority mandate. Congress party famously said in the 1990s as it recognized that its vote bank was eroding that "Coalition Politics is here to stay" . But after 20 years of failed experiments, stagnating growth rates and rising overall inflation that is no longer the case. Voters have been giving a clear cut mandate mostly across all states and even at the General Elections. So it is the beginning of the end for coalition politics.
Congress: The Grand Old Party of Indian Politics. Congress was at the forefront of the fight for Indian Independence and as such has a lot of history associated with it. It's contribution to India and Indian Politics cannot be discounted at all. Some of the greatest thinkers, strategists and the tallest leaders in the nation have been from Congress. The party has a rich and varied history no doubt, but it has been loosing touch with its cadre and the people in general over a period of time.
The party has lost relevance. It is sad that the once might party has been humbled repeatedly over the past few years that it has no longer any connect, appeal or even support with the majority of the Indian populace. The party has shot itself in the foot by adapting to coalitions when the regional parties started emerging and cutting into its votes base instead of introspecting and improving the internal party dynamics. Even today the rank and file within the party move heaven and earth in the service of one family and there is no 2nd generation of leadership within the party. The party high command rules through pseudo control. i.e. they rule without taking any responsibility to the bottom line.
The once grand party and the leaders of yesterday have been replaced by sycophants and dynasties of today. There has been no new blood inducted in the congress. All the top leaders of the party are either generational politicians or industrialists or power brokers. For the party which claimed to be the face of the common man for decades, ironically there is no common man in it. Perhaps this explains the meteoric rise of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The aam aadmi does not want the hand of Congress any more...
Corruption: It has been the bane of Indian politics and the institutional governance for decades. Maybe since the independence. The babudom or babugiri mentality carried over from the Britishers era and never really changed. The sense of entitlement and the arrogance of the post was made worse by the institutionalization of corruption where by it became a fact of life for the common man.
The rise of AAP was laid on the foundation of this mounting frustration with the system. The maverick party has gotten itself a thumping majority mandate on the basis of the high voltage campaign run by the party on the issues of corruption and crony capitalism. While the party has miles ahead to go in its journey, one thing they can be credited with is that during the 49 day tenure that they had in Delhi last year, corruption was on a record low in Delhi. It is refreshing change in Indian politics. If the AAP can make a dent in the corrupt ways of Indian system then it will mark a huge change in the way the system works and maybe just maybe the system will then work for the people rather than the other way round as it is happening so far...
Tell me your views on this...
Cheers,
G
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