Why BJP Failed: My Views
Posted : May 19, 2009 at 5:06 am [IST]
I think BJP has some solid reasons to lose the battle to Congress. And its leadership has no reason to be morose much. BJP still remains the strong opposition with 116 MPs that the country badly needs. However, BJP must introspect critically and frankly as a democratic party that must establish a principle of threadbare discussion before a decision but no dissention after the decision is made. BJP must take corrective measures. Let them find solution and solace in Gita. If one looses, there must be a reason.
I and perhaps many like me, have a leaning towards BJP for a simple reason that Congress with all the generosity of bringing in Manmohan from outside remains dynastic. And a country of billion must not tolerate such dynastic institution and its manifestations even after all its historicity. For example, I just can’t digest the hundreds of institutions in the country named after every one from one family.
However, BJP inflicted pain to many of its sympathizers in many ways.
I am a middle class retired person and I expected BJP as opposition to behave in responsible manner as major party in opposition. I was shocked to find the dismal performances of its members in parliament that is relayed live on small screen whenever the parliament is in session. Except for just few, BJP had hardly any great speaker. It makes major mistake in not allowing persons such as Arun Jaitley or Ravi Shankar Prasad to get in the house.
I wondered how the members suspended for misuse of MP fund or for taking money for asking questions could be mostly from a disciplined party such as BJP.
I lost my interest in BJP when it started opposing Indo US Nuclear deal for silly reasons. How can all the technical experts and intellectuals be wrong? Why can’t BJP be principled party with sensitive ears for comments?
BJP must make a difference by making its MPs full time servant of the people. Most of them are moneyed and don’t require additional jobs. They must be present in the house when in session for full time. They must study the subject under discussion. The leaders must held small meeting to hear each member speak on a particular subject that is coming for discussion in the house on the next day. They must serve their individual constituency in facilitating in implementation of all government projects. They must visit each and every village and work for the people there when parliament is not in session. They must see that the entire fund they get must go for specific projects of education, employment or healthcare in transparent manner.
BJP has two major strengths that Congress lacks. However, it has not been able to use it fully. BJP has RSS that has huge cadre base that can provide useful support to BJP. It’s not dynastic. But BJP has failed to sell this democratic feature. It must build its organization in every constituency with good young and competent leaders interested in social services. It must preferably select the best out of them as its candidate in next election rather than imposing outsiders everywhere. As a party, BJP and all its group associations must concentrate on education and healthcare to the deprived class in rural India. BJP can no more be winner with Hindutva. It will have to be a rightist party alone and attract minority rather than annoying them. It also can’t live in past and keep on opposing the new trends of the youths in society.
One more thing must be clear. In years to come it will be more difficult to win against the incumbent party.
Let it be understood that the incumbent political party will have many advantage in the election in future with development and mainly popular policies as main foundation of governance. The memory of the recent past remains distinct. People don’t see what the opposition will do for them if they vote it to power.
Let us not forget that UPA right from the very first day had started with vote bank policies. Congress did that through reservation for OBC including creamy layers and offered pretty lucrative doles for minority group too. Every political party for getting it branded as secular supported those but the benefits went to Congress.
Some other steps that made Congress popular with poor and farmers were: the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme; the increase in the Minimum Support Prices for food grains and the master stroke of the loan waiver to farmers. Considerable raises in the salaries and wages and perks through sixth pay commission made all the government employees more than happier to vote for the ruling party. In five years, UPA must have spent Rs 600, 000 crore or more in the populous subsidies for the people.
A party in opposition can’t get these advantages. Voters hardly bothered of the UPA’s dismal performance in adding power generation capacity, in road construction or huge corruption in NHAI projects that financed the election budget of the alliance party which got appointed its minister for this specific task.
And so BJP must prepare itself for facing this situation. BJP leadership must enthuse and motivate its chief ministers and its legislators’ real hard work for next five years without any break, if it wishes to win the race. And this is what Advani must accomplish before handing over the reign to the ablest person of the party.
- Indra
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