Gotta Ink that Finger

G of the AtoZ Challenge

It is that time of the year when roads are being repaired, repainted, beautified, built and passed to be built! It is that time of the year when the talk of the town is politics. It is when media starts being cautious about siding with only the ruling government.  It is when the report cards are being printed for the ruling alliance. It is the year of populist measures which may not be necessarily be good are adopted..food ‘security’ bill was passed, electricity rates were slashed, more slums were legalized…This is when politicians start giving a damn about the common man. Ladies and gentleman, it is election time!

The longest elections in the country’s history have been announced to be from April 7 to May 12 in 543 constituencies in India to elect Members of the Parliament in the Lok Sabha.  About 81.5 crore or 815 Million people of the country are eligible to vote in the elections at an expense of Rs. 3,500 crore. Parties are expected to spend Rs 30,500 crore or US $5 Billion in the elections.

Most priorities have not changed over decades and clean water, sanitation, electricity, employment, and roads continue to rule the roost in manifesto.  After being party to several huge scams running in tens of thousands of crores, curbing corruption is another promise by most parties.  Price rise, economy, security and secularism are other priorities this election.

Key alliances/parties are –

UPA – The United Progressive Alliance ruling alliance led by the Indian national Congress party is the incumbent party which was in power for the last decade.  It has largely promoted Rahul Gandhi a scion of the Gandhi family which has ruled India for the greater part of the history of independent India.  He is the youth icon and leader for Congress.  Many see him to be weak, dumb and ineffective and more so after his (in)famous interview with Arnab Goswami. It remains to be seen if he can prove his detractors wrong.

NDA – BJP is the largest party leading the National Democratic Alliance.  Narendra Modi is the face of BJP and is touted to be the leader who can bring real change based on the development he brought in Gujarat where is Chief Minister. However, the ghost of the communal riots of Godhra looms large even though the highest court in the country has acquitted him and it remains to be seen if the Muslims vote for him despite his promises of development and his success in Gujarat.

AAP – The newly formed Aam Admi party by maverick Arvind Kejriwal took the country by storm when they won the Delhi elections.  With several populist promises and a sincere image to root out corruption, AAP has become a formidable opponent to the established parties of Congress and BJP.  However, it is a new party with little experience and the question is, will voters who are disillusioned with the current stock of parties actually cast their votes for him despite its inexperience.

Additionally, there are several regional parties such as BSP, DMK, Shiv Sena, MNS, CPI etc. which have considerable presence in specific states and may or may not be allied to the key parties mentioned above. Any alliances they make with the party stalking a majority come with a wide range of terms and conditions. These alliances are sometimes formed after the polls.  This can make the government if it meets the majority with their help unstable and vulnerable as it caters to their whims and fancies.

Will the 2014 general elections change who is in that hallowed chair of power or reelect them?  I do hope everyone eligible to vote in India is responsible enough to vote and I urge the literati to be a little less cynical about how everyone is the same and just go vote to bring about a decisive majority, stability in the government and a government who will be responsible.  Remember, it is a privilege and a right to be able to choose who will rule us.