The greatest election mankind has ever witnessed has come to an end. The administrative machinery has performed a great job in collecting and delivering the verdict. That India can deliver a vote count of more than 300mn votes with a high degree of accuracy and within five hours or so of the start of counting (the trends were clear by then) is something we can all be proud off – the election commission can take a bow.
Now, it is time for analysis. In many senses, this election marks a turning point in the fortunes of our country. Though Dr. M Singh will start as the PM, it is highly likely that he will not end the five years as one. Rahul Gandhi is more than likely to take over somewhere along the way. This election will then mark the ascent to power of the first PM of India who has been born in Independent India. One of the advantages this may have is that we will be able to approach relations with our neighbours with none of the color that leaders of the earlier generation did – since there is no emotion involved.
A disquieting factor however is the likely continuing decrease in the quality of political debate. It may be postulated that politicians of post independent India maintained some (often very high) level of personal regard for those in opposing ideological camps. Even within the same political parties, differences of opinion were sorted out with some civility. Witness the case of Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel. Often the two stalwarts would not see eye to eye, but managed to work within the boundaries of decency. Presumably, this was in part because of the shared ideal of building an independent India, and the realization that others had, in their own ways, contributed too. I see this now disappearing – though surprisingly, this is visible in the quality of the PM’s response to the opposition campaign against him and his rule.
The quality of the political debate will also suffer because of the absence of the left front as a force in Parliament. Whether you agree with them or not, the Left did throw up a view point that was based on a certain ideology, and stuck with it. Those who revile them would do well to consider the effects of dilution of government ownership in banks – in the context of the global banking crisis, and the effective nationalization of most banks around the world. The stock market (not known for being very sagacious or far-sighted,) will, of course, celebrate the dilution of ownership and control that is now inevitable. This is only one example.
The Congress has much to celebrate. The Family is now firmly back, with a new heir apparent – who has bought in a sense of self-confidence to the party. While one could differ on the causes of the outcome, there is no taking away from the fact that Rahul Gandhi’s gamble of going it alone in the state of UP will be considered a success. With this result, the Congress ruling Family is back to its winning ways. Expect to see the party gain in strength from here on for some years.
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