General Elections 2019 are barely three months away. Soft elections speeches by all parties have already started reverberating. From television debates to public rally, all parties are now in campaign mood, and it is turning very aggressive too, as the day for the biggest festival of democracy draws close. Looking at the growing intense political fever, the season promises a more vibrant, aggressive and mud-slinging campaigns in coming weeks.
The ruling party does have the advantage, largely because the machinery and the freedom to announce schemes are always easier for the party which is in government. This year’s interim budget was a perfect platform for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to ensure that they provide some relief to the disgruntled farmers and middle-class. Piyush Goyal did not disappoint the public much as Arun Jaitley had done in his budget last year.
In fact, being an election year, the care-taker finance minister Piyush Goyal and Prime Minister Modi and his cabinet colleagues had no choice but to recognise the ordinary tax-paying citizens of the country by saying “thank you taxpayers” for the first time on the floor of the House. Further, the government announced that income up to Rs five lakh per annum will not be taxed. However, the expectation was to the tune of Rs eight lakh as the government did recognise while giving reservations that those earning below Rs eight lakh per annum fall into the economically weaker section of the society. According to this parameter and yardstick, the middle class who was waiting with baited breath, expected more.
With announcements made and the armoury ready for the BJP to use those in the upcoming elections, the party will steam ahead to ensure that people do vote for them. The expressions and words will surely be more aggressive and report cards will be flashed to recall the ‘short memories’.
The question now arises that whether it is too little, too late as the euphoria and ‘Modi wave’ which was seen in 2014 general elections seems to have subsided as employment and jobs in the market are scarce and due to demonetisation, many small and medium scale industries had to forcibly shut shops, leaving thousands jobless. Also, the measures and proposals announced will take its own time to percolate to the people and there will not be any immediate impact and can be termed as “Jumla” by the opposition.
However, the Union government to please the 12 crore farmers is implementing a dole of Rs 6,000 per farmer who has a land holding less than two hectares with effect from December last year. This means that the Union government will ensure the payment of at least Rs 2,000 for the first quarter though direct transfer in the banks as early as next month so that the farmers do remember when they press the EVM button.
The Union government is under tremendous pressure as the opposition, led by Congress President Rahul Gandhi has taken on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on issues like Rafale, unemployment, demonetisation and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which Rahul Gandhi relishes in calling it as “Gabbar Singh Tax”. On the other hand, the Union government has announced that the average GTS collection per month is Rs 97,000 crore and this January, the collection is likely to cross Rs one lakh crore.
In Goa, the closure of mining and ambiguity on its resumption, which ultimately crippled the economy of the State, still remains as one of the top-most concerns for the affected people. No tangible move has been made so far by the Union government on this and for Goa the doles offered by the Union government will not be enough to be translated into votes. Obviously, the anti-incumbency will also play a major role during this year’s general elections and if NDA pulls out a victory then it will be due to the weak and divided opposition.
