Friday, the 13th and the Assembly Election results

Friday, the 13th has ominous connotations associated with it and indeed, ominous it was this year in more than one ways.

It was particularly hard for the Communists whose last bastion was finally breached. Thanks to Mamta who had vehemently upped the ante against the Communist mis-governance all these years. Congress managed to scrape through in Kerala but fared poorly (in % terms) when compared to its allies - While Congress managed a hit rate was 38/82, its other regional allies fared much better with 20/24 and 10/15. Though Assam went to Congress' kitty again, the surprise package was the rise of a regional player - AIUDF which will be the main opposition party in the assembly now, displacing AGP and BJP. People are known to vote cyclically in TN and bring in the opposition, AIADMK in this case (in the previous assembly), with a thumping majority. In Puducherry, another regional player AINRC upset the Congress' prospects. 

There are basically two observations here. Firstly, regional parties still call the shots in many states. Second one, which comes as a corollary to the first is that national parties have still failed to make any significant inroads in some states. While Congress fares marginally better, BJP was unable to open its account in Kerala, TN and Bengal. 

Should this be a cause of concern? 

Most of the regional parties are family owned or owe their existence to one or two charismatic leaders. Take for example, National Conference - the Abdullahs, SP - Mulayam Singh, BSP - Mayawati, TMC - Mamta Bannerjee, DMK - Karunanidhi's clan, AIADMK - Jaya, Shiv Sena - The Thackereys, NCP - Sharad Pawar, INLD - Ajit Singh, RJD - Laloo etc. Barring the names I've mentioned, there's not even a second name worth recalling in these parties. These parties have grown by exploiting the issues related to a particular section of the society (Yadavs, Dalits, OBCs, Jats, farmers) or by creating an identity-crisis (Marathi manoos, anti-North, Kashmiriyat) hoopla. Their sectarian thinking always take priority over issues of greater national interest. No wonder then, that when these leaders or when members from these parties get inducted in the Cabinet they do a fairly pathetic job as they have their own petty interests to cater to. As a result any policy that needs to be implemented for greater good is stalled as it adversely impacts one or the other party's interests (read vote-bank), thereby preventing the Central govt from taking stern and rational decisions.

As the regional players get stronger and get more share of the seats in Centre, politics in India will reach its abyss. The way the regional parties successfully manage to whip up regional and ideological frenzies amongst masses, it will be foolishness to hope to see a wind of change in Indian politics soon. We sure do have quite a sizable youth population, but most of them are uninterested in the political system and can be goaded like a flock of sheep. We sure do have a very active media but they are busy making profits through paid news. We sure do have some of the best education institutes but education has still not reached the section of the society that actually exercises its right to vote and is easily manipulated.. 

Only if the collective power of all these agents of change - aware youth, honest media and education for all -  is harnessed in a constructive way, can we witness a better political establishment in India.

Long live the democracy !