| | Mayawati's Historic Win
The great beauty of Indian elections is that nobody loses. Even when you are routed, you can boldly claim victory. Listen to the Congress spokesman after the UP rout:"The courage of Rahul Gandhi is laudable.We increased our percentage and the number of seats".
The politics of bombast is an escape latch when the field is crowded with so many parties. Behind the brazenness, however,there is no hiding the facts. The basic fact in UP was that the people badly wanted Mulayam Sing out.
The politicians give it a respectable term: The incumbency factor. It is actually a shameless admission that once a party is voted in to power, it turns autocratic and irresponsible, as if by right.
The people's dilemma is that all parties are equally avaricious and short-sighted, leaving no meaningful choice. So,in two-front states like Tamilnadu and Kerala they resort to the sea-saw game. In multi-party jungles like UP they play merry-go-round.
Mayavati this time seemed to be moving forward to something new unlike others who were looking backwards.
Keeping her dalit fortress secure,she extended a welcome mat to Brahmins and Muslims. The long ostracized Brahmins were flattered by the wooing The Muslims were in a mood to welcome any new guardian anyway. What a combination, though -Brahmins and Dalits!
The bigger question is; Will she use the bigger opportunity to build something substantive, or will she again be just another politician enamored of unnecessary evils like the Taj corridor complex?
Like the AIADMK in Tamilnadu the BSP is a one-leader party. This is a variation of the kind of weakness that cripples the Congress. No political party can rise to historical levels when one person is the fount of all wisdom.
If Mayavati puts her unchallengeability to constructive purpose five years are enough to make a mark. If she doesn't, the UP electorate will again play merry-go-round.
source: TJS George in Indian Express
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| | Posted 5/13/2007 5:43 AM - 84 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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