For the BJP, the Third and Fourth Fronts, it is indeed egg on their faces, while the Congress has been egged on by the voters. Why EGG? Not because they chickened out, but because, perhaps for the first time, the Indian voter has voted for the EGG. It stands for Economics & Good Governance.
In the post Nehruvian era, Indira Gandhi won in 1972 in the flush of victory in Bangladesh. In 1977 the Janata Party won on a negative vote against the Emergency. In 1979 Indira again won on a negative vote against a tattered Janata Party. In 1984 Rajiv Gandhi was catapulted to power in a sympathy wave for his slain mother. The next election in 1989 was again a negative vote against corruption symbolised by Bofors. Next came the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, and another sympathy vote for the Congress led by Narasimha Rao. His tepid leadership resulted in another bout of unstable coalition governments elected in 1996 and 1998. The BJP led NDA assumed power in 1999 offering a viable option to the Congress and its off shoots. Its India Shining campaign didn’t click, and a Congress led coalition assumed office in 2004.
Then came a sea change. A diminutive dark horse, Manmohan Singh, became Prime Minister. He was described as a rubber stamp PM, as the reins of those who reign were in Sonia’s hands. Political pundits thought it was a clever move of Sonia to deflect opposition from her “foreign origin”. Who doesn’t have mixed motives? But I do believe that Sonia was humble in victory that time, and made a positive choice by appointing Manmohan Singh who had an excellent record of governance.
He proved more than equal to the task. He strengthened the country’s economy to the extent that it could withstand the financial crisis and slowdown that emanated from the USA and engulfed the world in 2008. Besides, five years of Good Governance was not marred by a single instance of corruption or scandal. Nor were there any riots or social upheaval. The Government passed the Right to Information Act (RTI) to encourage transparency in governance, and thereby root out corruption. It tackled terrorism head on, instead of succumbing to it.
Manmohan’s litmus test came with the Nuclear Deal. He did not wilt before the bullying tactics of the Left. He staked his Govt for what he believed was for the good of the country, and came up trumps. L.K. Advani did his utmost to depict Manmohan as a weak and indecisive PM. He failed. Manmohan was not the kamzor kari (weakest link). He was infact the mazboot kara (steel bangle) that all Sikhs wear as a symbol of strength!
The previous BJP/ NDA Govt had many achievements to its credit, which it portrayed as “India Shining”. It did not then realise that these achievements were largely limited to urban India and the middle class. The UPA/ Congress Govt redressed this by introducing the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, and wiping off the loans of debt ridden small farmers. As noted economist Swaminathan Anklesaria had then observed, this was a win-win situation. It put money into the hands of the rural poor, thereby increasing their purchasing power. This in turn benefited the entire spectrum of trade, commerce and industry. Some months ago Anklesaria had predicted that this time around it was rural India (Bharat) that was shining, and that augured well for the Congress Govt.
There is a legitimate criticism that while the inflation rate had been tamed, the Consumer Price Index (especially of food prices) was extremely high. Again the BJP did its damnedest to highlight the high food prices of 2009, as compared to when they demitted office in 2004. What they failed to understand was that the farmers/ agricultural sector were finally getting their due price for their produce. So that vast majority was smiling, even though some in urban areas and urbane surroundings were frowning.
Another factor that seemed to have benefited the Congress in 2009 was the way its erstwhile allies like Prakash Karat, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan, Mulayam Singh, and even Sharad Pawar, played truant; while Manmohan wore a look of injured innocence.
This time the Indian voter ejected Caste (Mulayam, Mayawati, Lalu, Paswan), Class (The Left) and Creed (BJP). It also voted out notorious Criminals – D.P. Yadav, Mukhtar Ansari, Shahabuddin etc. It chose another C – Mr Clean Manmohan.
I shall make a slight digression. In a previous election (1999) three former Finance Ministers lost – Manmohan Singh himself, P. Chidambaram and Madhu Dandavate. All three had impeccable track records. Even now in 2009, Chidambaram has just squeaked past the winner’s post. Finance and economic affairs was not emotive enough for an election.
But 2009 was different. It is the first positive vote in the post Nehruvian era. It is a vote for EGG – Economics & Good Governance. Incumbency was not a liability if one had the ability to govern well. In 2009 the Indian voter has come of age – emphatically rejecting the Cancers of Communalism, Casteism, Criminalisation, Corruption and Class.
The credit for this goes largely to Manmohan Singh. In equal measure it goes to Sonia Gandhi, who continued to repose faith in Manmohan Singh, to the extent of projecting him as PM for 2009. The humility, transparency and sincerity of the duo touched the heart of India. Jai Ho, it said. So far no mention of the dimpled darling - Rahul. He too played a key role in transferring the EGG to the voter’s basket. Again his affable nature appealed to the aam admi and the youth of India.
Sunday ho ya Monday, Roz khao andey! Indeed EGG is good for the health of the nation. JAI HIND!
MAY 2009
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