What’s next in store for Indian Politics?

In recent assembly elections there has been a major drag in the ruling party’s political support. Today election results were declared for four states Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan which points out the ruling party, UPA‘s (primarily Indian National Congress) failure. The victorious opposition party BJP‘s mood is upbeat and is shining bright under the leadership of Narendra Modi. The UPA party’s president Sonia Gandhi in an interview said “This result calls for deep introspection. We have to understand to look at the many reasons for this defeat. We have to look into the way we did not take our message to the people.”

Indian National Congress not only has a very strong foot hold in the country but only has ruled the country for maximum time period. What has resulted in this quick transition in country’s political scenario? Will the trend in same in 2014 Lok Sabha elections as well? The following factors have been decisive off late and might affect the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as well.

1)      Policy Logjam: The ruling party runs a coalition government, with various regional parties offering external support. On multiple occasions it has been observed that Congress party’s policies are not always accepted by these regional parties and as a result the ruling party fails to delivers most of what it promises.

2)      Lacks leadership: Since 14^th Lok Sabha, over the last decade Mr. Manmohan Singh has been the Prime Minister of the country, but questions has been raised by many about his less vocal style of leadership. Though UPA is yet to declare its PM candidate for 16^th Lok Sabha election,  Rahul Gandhi is being seen as the top contender for UPA’s PM candidature. However Rahul , having made his political debut in 2004 have failed to emerge as a leader at least at the national level. Opposition party’s PM candidate Narendra Modi (who is highly popular for Gujarat’s success story and his strict administrative ability) is considered as a far better leader than Rahul Gandhi.

3)      Scam-tainted image: The country has witnessed several scams involving millions and billions one after the other under this UPA 2 governance like 2G spectrum, Common Wealth Games scam, Coal scam etc. The common people hard earned money is drained to Swiss accounts and in return they only get to see these billion dollar scams well presented in Television programs. People are now even tired of watching these much entertaining TV news programs and instead want to see programs about the growth of the country.

4)      Lacking pro-growth stance: In past few years the country has been going through a low growth trajectory. Price rise has been a persistent problem not mainly because of supply crisis but because of middle tier price escalation, lack of storage facilities, all of which can be avoided but nothing collective has been done in this regard. Job market has been dull and rising unemployment is not a good sign either.  

      If things are not sorted soon,the wind of political change will reach the other states in no time.Early elections are also possible if the ruling party fails to improve their governance.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela .. a star of his time

South Africa has a long history of racism, dating back to the 17th century on arrival of the first European settlers to the African continent. The black majority populations were dominated and subjected to all forms of political and economic discrimination. White government enacted numerous laws to ensure a system of total racial segregation known as apartheid, meaning "apartness" in Afrikaans.

Today Nelson Mandela is considered as one of the world's most quoted public figures and is known for dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalized racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. In apartheid South Africa his words and teachings, like those of other African National Congress activists - were banned. Books written about him were banned - unless they portrayed him as a terrorist. Media organizations were prevented from reporting on him or using his pictures. He was jailed for almost three decades, 27 years to be precise. But nothing could stop his fight against racism, such was his determination. He was the first black South African become president, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election.

He had received several honorary awards like Noble Prize, the Indian Bharat Ratna, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Soviet Order of Lenin and in South Africa he is often described as “the father of the nation”. He died recently died on 5th Dec, 2013 but the heroics of this legend will never be forgotten.