There’s a pervasive “culture of antagonism” prevailing in India today. The political narrative has taken a subversive turn. No longer one can read or hear a succint debate on the current issues affecting the lives of the people and the sacrosanct image of the nation. The national political parties are on a frenzied warpath.
While the national parties are engaged in slugfest for most of the time, the regional parties are not lagging behind in fighting to gain or retain the reins of power. The constant badgering taking place day in and day out is sickening. It has become the national sport, bypassing cricket, hockey and kabaddi.
I, for one, held much hope that the BJP would turn the nation around and make it tick, both economically and socially. But the four years that have passed since it came to power have turned out to be a long yarn. There’s more spinning of wool over the people’s eyes that there’s actual substance. The trial balloons it sent up have gone burst. When a party fails to deliver on its election promises, it seeks scapegoats.
One of the scapegoats that BJP has conveniently seized by the collar is the Congress, its arch rival. No doubt, the BJP comprehensively defeated the self-acclaimed Grand Old Party of India. Instead of harping repeatedly on the Congress’ mistakes and scams, which seem to be part of the baggage, one expected BJP to clear the way for a meaningful and inspiring governance, sans any of the erroneous or wayward rule of the Congress. Nehru is not spared, and his rule, with all its mis-steps, is ridiculed. No acknowledgement of any sort that Nehru strode on the world stage like a giant, and, in comparison, those in power now appear like pygmies.
However, the promise raised by the BJP seems like an an imaginary oasis in the middle of the Rajasthan dessert, so to say. The very fact that Narendra Modi was made the face of the BJP in the last general elections for his work in Gujarat, though the state has failed on its reality-check and Modi’s high-handed rule there itself has become subject to harsh criticism, is nothing but politcal claptrap.
If the Gujarat Model was good, how come it hasn’t been put into use at the national level? The lies about this model has come to haunt the BJP and Modi as its architect. Well, it was all PR that painted a glorious picture of Gujarat and Modi. Besides, the army of bakhts that were baptised into the BJP mantra of development and progress lent a massive push to the party and Modi through its successful managing of the social media.
In the electronic and internet age, social media has come to play a big role. Kudos to the young brains who manned and worked their skills in giving BJP a big mandate. But will these IT-savvy ground troops do a repeat in 2019? The party has been badly damaged, both in outlook and grace. It has lost the high moral ground it seemingly possessed in 2014 and, given the fact that Congress was hoist by its own petard, the BJP grabbed the chance with both hands.
Today, the BJP’s image lies in smithereens. The financial folly of demonetisation and the engulfing bank scams has wounded the party so much that it appears more of a ragdoll. No doubt the Modi magic helped Gujarat to retain its saffron paint, and surprised to snatch Himachal Pradesh. But the setback for the party came in the Rajasthan by-polls, losing the three seats.
By no means the Rajasthan win in the by-polls can be dismissed as a minor hiccup for the BJP, since the state is run by the BJP under the powerful CM, Vasundhara Raje. Didn’t Raje show herself as a weakling in tackling the Karni Sena over the Padmavati issue? I hope she has realized that the chickens came home to roost. Perhaps, it has also made Modi and company a little wiser.
In the context of the present bank fraud crisis, it must be said that Raje was close to one of the fraudsters who have run away from the country — Lalit Modi. Likewise, Nirav Modi was allegedly close to powers-that-be in Delhi. Not leaving the King of Good Times, Vijay Mallya, who with the help of Congress and BJP enjoyed two terms in Rajya Sabha. The blame game is on, so much so that the people are bewildered at the unfolding drama.
The Rajasthan victory definitely can be seen as a shot in the arm for Congress. The way Rahul Gandhi has emerged from the shadows and showing his muscles reminds me of Lord Alfred Tennyson’s famous poem, The charge of the Light Brigade. The Congress chief gives as much as he takes, a forceful change in strategy and gamemanship. He’s earning his strips.
Rahul’s gloves are now off, going on the offensive at every chance. No doubt, a big test will come at the forthcoming Karnataka elections. The pitch is already smeared with name-calling, as the slanging matches have just begun. The expected conflicting media coverage, both at the national and state levels, will surely be mind-numbing.
(Eugene Correia is a senior journalist, who worked for The Hindu, and Free Press Journal).
