Coalition ‘Tamasha’: Are National Parties Losing the Plot?
by RK Misra
Tumkur (Bangalore) - 12th March-2009, The launch of Third Front.
This could be one of the most important and decisive day for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. It may be the first step towards our suffering in the hands of “Opportunistic Coalition”, conveniently disguised as the 3rd Front. This is a group of desperate political parties, with no ideological commonalities, coming together with only one agenda - how to control Delhi and serve their own vested interests.
Most comically, every constituent of the so called Third Front has a prime ministerial candidate. It seems the only reason, these parties are coming together, is the chair of the Prime Minister. Left being the only possible exception, as they have mastered the art of enjoying power without sharing the responsibility.
Left parties are a desperate lot, having been thrown out of power by UPA and with a real prospect of loosing heavily in West Bengal & Kerala. They are at the forefront of this Third Front ‘Tamasha’. Left leaders are accumulating frequent flier miles at an alarming rate running from one state capital to the other, begging regional satraps to put together this ragtag coalition with no common ideology or an agenda for the governance.
Both national parties and their respective coalitions, namely NDA and UPA, may not get enough seats to form the government on their own on May - 23rd. If so, this so called Third Front, whose constituents have mastered the art of opportunistic politics, will come to power and take this nation downhill.
This is not the first time that we are faced with such a dire situation. We have a short memory, and history may be about to repeat again.
In 1977, a coalition in the name of the “Janata Party” came to power but it disintegrated in just 2 years despite people’s disdain for congress and Mrs. Gandhi for imposing the emergency from 1975 to 1977. She was back in power in 1979 with a majority.
1984 was the last time when this nation gave a clear mandate to a national party when Rajeev Gandhi came to power with an absolute majority on a sympathy wave in the wake of the assassination of his mother, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. But he was done in by the Bofors scandal and his confidant, Mr. VP Singh.
1989 saw our first experiment with the coalition politics. Mr. VP Singh, who became the prime minister in a coalition government, ended up creating unimaginable social unrest in the name of “Mandal and Mosque”. He also succeeded in bringing the nation to the “Brink of Bankruptcy”.
VP Singh was defeated and now long gone, but we are still suffering the scars of “Mandalization of Indian Politics”. We also had to pledge our Gold to avoid the payment default to international lenders, due to the economic mismanagement of Mr. VP Singh and his coalition partners in the preceding 2 years.
1991, people were fed-up and they gave congress the mandate to rule. Mr. Narasimha Rao ran the government and initiated economic reforms. The period from 1991-1996 was reasonably stable except for the episode of JMM being bribed to buy their loyalty to support the congress government.
1996, the nation again suffered the unstable coalition governments. We endured 3 Prime Ministers in 2 years including Mr. Devegowda who was ousted before he could settle in the power seat. Mr. I K Gujral followed as he was no threat to anyone and he departed without doing much, as was expected from him. Ms Mayawati brought down Mr. Vajpayee’s government when he lost the no-confidence motion by just one vote.
1999, people, fed-up with the coalition drama, gave NDA, led by Mr. Vajpayee, a decisive mandate. He ran a successful coalition government. This was the first time after 1989 that a coalition government completed full 5 years and credit goes to Mr. Vajpayee’s statesmanship and acceptability among the NDA partners.
2004, it was “India Shining” which got NDA out. But this time UPA coalition government had to use the crutches of the wily left parties. All through, left played truant and held the government to ransom. They enjoyed the trappings of power without sharing the responsibility of governance. This coalition did more harm than good as governance, development and reforms took a back seat while the government was busy managing coalition partners.
As we can see, ragtag coalitions have not worked in this country but unfortunately since 1977, we have to suffer them after every 5 year stint of a stable government. We seem to be heading in the same direction this time around too. But Indian electorate, especially the so called educated middle class seems to be apathetic and blissfully unaware of the looming danger.
But why only blame the electorate? What choices does he have?
I feel the blame for this dire situation lies with the National Parties too. They have been steadily loosing their vote share (BJP had 22.2% and Congress 26.7% in 2004 election) and they may loose even more this time around. But national parties have done precious little to stem this decline.
They have behaved like regional parties raking up emotional and religious issues, which no longer pay dividends. They practice dynastic and caste politics fielding candidates based on their caste and religion. They are devoid of a national agenda, a slogan which will appeal to the majority of this nation. They have no fresh ideas. They do not have role models who will appeal to the youth and the middle class.
National parties have failed to acknowledge the fact that the economic resurgence of India has created a class of society, a large potential vote bank, which believes in the politics of good governance & development. Since national parties do not have what appeals to this class of society, they have chosen to ignore them.
This has alienated their largest potential vote bank - the Middle India, 40 Crore strong and growing, which is educated, secular and wants good governance. This Middle India has lost faith in the current political class and thus have chosen to disengage. This explains the shrinking vote share of the national parties as they are not adding any new voters and at the same time they can not compete with the regional parties which survive and thrive on opportunistic local agenda including caste, region and religion.
Whichever of the 2 national parties chooses to reform itself and is able to engage with this Middle India by having an agenda and role models who appeal to them, will have the last laugh. If they don’t, soon they may no longer remain national parties.
The possible setback in 2009 elections may make them deliberate on a strategy to engage Middle India. Lets hope that having lost the plot, old thinking politicians of national parties will make way for the new generation with new political ideas and ideologies, which will appeal to the 40 Crore strong Middle India. That’s the only route to survival for the 2 National Parties.
I have seen traces of this realization in the BJP and am witness to their openness to engage with the “Middle India”. Lets hope and pray that this tribe grows and succeeds, as “India Deserves Better”!
Comments
21 Responses to “Coalition ‘Tamasha’: Are National Parties Losing the Plot?”
Didn’t some of these guys get together just a year or two ago and call themselves “UNPA” or something like that? AFAI can recall, the wheels broke off even before they set in motion.
These guys are just like the vultures who come together whenever they sense a kill (elections). Come together - feast on whatever you can (win a few seats, that is) - go your own way.
The names says it all.. “Third” front. They are not even pretending to attempt the first and second spot!
A very good article by Lead India winner, but i am sure he backing the BJP is not what the Times of India expected.
This is the truth , the THIRD FRONT which was UNPA a few months ago is absolutely THIRD CLASS in an EMERGING INDIA
Let us be fair, if this is a Tamasha then the wesite of friends of BJP is not a platform to discuss Tamasha. This is an another threat to the unity of nation. take it seriously or get ready for gorilla terrorism.
Everybody is fed up with congress. People have vented their ire on congress in Mrs. Jayanti Nagarajan’s blog hosted by CNN IBN (a congress sycophant channel). Please see this http://ibnlive.in.com/conversations/thread/88736-20-3-1.html. Even these people could not restrict anti-congress comments. This is the right time to hammer well and nail congress forever.
Now NDA in general and BJP in particular pull up the socks and drive the point home. In addition they also have to come up with some innovative strategy.
I have a hunch that BJP will win anything between 181 to 190 seats on its own. But if they cross over 210 to 225 on its own, it will help to have a very good government.
BJP and Congress. Two is company, but three is ‘Silsila’.
As I am from Bengaluru, I know for first hand the greatness of the Gowdas and ofcourse as an Indian we can recognize that the left parties have some real leaders too along with the remaining crowd pullers in this ‘Silsila’ alliance.
The people will give them a vote if they can know that none of the constituents of the third front are solely in it for opportunity and power for power’s sake and inform that they are for India and declare that they will not be in the next government, ‘come what may’, but will sit in the opposition overseeing things with a responsible ‘ Big brother’ attitude in the opposition benches. If they do well and really stand up to this test, the people will surely vote them to Government some time.
Can the ‘ Third front’ take this challenge?
Vulture Front for supper.That best suites them.They will ruin the country if by hook or crook they position themselves in driving position.Congress and BJP both should save nation if that condition comes from these vultures.
Once again the politicians like (Sleeping Gowda)Devegowda, Mayawati, the Red Brigade is making the mockery of Democracy. They all are the Rain Frogs. There are 5 rounds of election, and these jokers will add one more round of election. It is the time that Indian voters must wake up and give a deceives mandate this time. Advaniji said rightly, the no one can form a government without Congress or BJP. So deraming about third fron is just a silly joke.
I strongly believe with the title of the article and not so with the author, surely INDIA deserves better and we should not compromise. Mr Mishra should come ou of his mediocracy and not beside with his version of ‘LESS EVIL’. We the middle class of INDIA don’t need BJP or Congress. We need a new class of political leaders who thinks country first. Please Mr.Mishra, I feel that all readers look upto you and people like you with hope to bring a ‘CHANGE’. We don’t want you to be part of the same ROTTEN political parties of the country.
MR. MISHRA. c’mon and stand up to the challange, we are with you.
The initiative role taken by CPM to form third front . They will uprooted from West Bengal and kerala in the forthcoming election . For this reason they are thing that they will cover up some seats with the other allies of Third Front .
But CPM is the most untrustworthy party of India .
If they get some ground in Orissa with the help of BJD they first try ti kick it up to BJD .Same way they will start conspiracy against Jay Lalita and Mamayboti , Chandrababu Naidu or Deve Gouda if get some strength in Tamil Nadu , UP, Andhra and Karnataka with these leaders .
They came to power in West Bengal first time in the year 1967 with the help of Ajay Mukherjee of Bangla Congress . But after getting Home Ministry Jyoti Babu and his party’s main work was to abolish Bangla Congress .They had applied a lot of undemocratic, unlawful and unconstitutional methods to abolish Bangla Congress .Many Bangla Congress leaders were beaten , injured and killed also by CPM backed criminals .
The above reward CPM had given to Ajay Mukherjee and Bangla Congress as Ajay Muherjee helped them to enter in West Bengal Ministry at first time.
Same treatment they are giving their allies like F.B , R.S.P and C.P.I in West Bengal now -a- days
No political party of India should believe CPM.
All political parties should be alert from this party.
Friends,
While saying Coalition a ‘Tamasha’, it would be paradoxical to deduce that the National Parties are losing grounds. It is the other way round. Of course, it is a fact that the concept and the phenomenon of Coalition emerges when the national parties fail to carry with the peoples’ confidence nation wide, as a result of which Regional Parties come up highlighting on regional issues. But, in our constitutional framework, there is not much room for the Regional Parties and for that matter Regionalism. Regionalism, the way it is construed and propagated in recent times, is anathema to our constitutional ethos/spirit. Albeit, alround regional developments are implicit under the concept of Nationalism.
Therefore, the coalitions are mere political compulsions on the parts of the political parties to secure electoral success only, which cannot guarantee stable government and good gevernance. Such coalitions are also alien to our constitutional ethos.
In my perception and vision, I would conclude that the Coalitions are merely transitary phenomena, which are bound to meet their natural deaths upon the vital upsurge of the National Parties like the BJP and the Congress-I. I clearly see that India’s polity is fastly heading towards biparty polarisation on the basis of two distinct ideologies/visions in actions. And then, the concept and phenomenon of Coalition is all set to be considered as only a myth.
Thanks n regards,
(SUBHA BIKASH PANDA)
Advocate, Orissa High Court, Cuttack.
Cell: 91-9437033534.
Third front a VILLAN in indian politics..
Hindu vote bank ek badi roti ki tarah hai jo alagh-alagh jaati,bhasa aur pranton ke naam par banti huwi hai.,Kabhi jaati, kabhi bhasha, kabhi prant ke naam par neta esi roti ke ek tukade ki firak mein rahte hein.Yadi roti ka koi ek bada tukda kisi aur(rajnitik dal) ke pass chala jaye to phir unme foot dalkar neta uska kuch hissa hadap lene ki firak mein lage rahte hein.
Alagh-alagh choti-choti partiyon ka janam es baat ka saboot hai.Esiliye ye aaj aantakvad ke shikar bhi hein.
[...] re-appearance of the Third Front after the failures in 1989-91 and 1996-98. While my colleague RK Mishra wrote an interesting piece on this a few days back, among the best reads in today’s papers is [...]
Dear Friends
BJP should declare that they will not support the THIRD FRONT for PRIME MINISTER Post. It will will be better if they should sit in oppostion. They should not due the blunder in supporting the third front as it was done in past during V P SINGH government.
For talking to Navin Pattnayak, BJP High KAMAN should have tried to someone else also.
It might be from BJP, JDU or may be from Siv Sena.
Navin Pattnayak must have been included here for Orrisa. Lets AJSU be added to NDA again in Jharkhand. One must start talk on this.
When Mamta and Pawar are going to UPA again, specially with colision with Congress, it seems that Wife Husband are sleeping together on a same bed even after Divorse.
The main motive of CPM is to destroy India.s integrity .CPM is not only undemocratic , it is also harmful for whole India .
What is their Keshpur line ? To kill opponents with the help of miscreants . Their one Minister is openly telling that they will use all tyopes of Barbarism to abolish opponents from Keshpur .
CPM’s keshpur line is showing that the leaders of CPM is now living in Middle age .
CPM is the shame for Indian democracy .
They are openly bringing Hooliganism in society and acting against the law of India .
IS CPM BEYOND INDIAN LAW ? BEYOND INDIAN CONSTITUTION ?
If CPM get some seat in Orissa and if they get some seats in Orissa ,their first and foremost duty will be to throw dust on the image of BJD. Their main activity will be to abolish BJD from Orissa to increase the strength of their own party .
Thay have done it with all their alliance in West Bengal .This party is most untrustworthy party of India .They can betray to anyone at anytime for their vested interest .
They may get “Zero” seat in West Bengal , they want to cover up some seat with the help of Navin Pattanayak .
They have taken initiative only for their existence as political party in India . As after election they will loose a massive seats from West Bengal , Kerala and Tripura .
They want to stay in politics with the help of so called Third Front leaders .
I hope those leaders will realize true fact and oust CPM from Third Front.
If CPM get some seat in Orissa and if they get some Power in Orissa ,their first and foremost duty will be to throw dust on the image of BJD. Their main activity will be to abolish BJD from Orissa to increase the strength of their own party .
Thay have done it with all their alliance in West Bengal .This party is most untrustworthy party of India .They can betray to anyone at anytime for their vested interest .
They may get “Zero” seat in West Bengal , they want to cover up some seat with the help of Navin Pattanayak .
They have taken initiative only for their existence as political party in India . As after election they will loose a massive seats from West Bengal , Kerala and Tripura .
They want to stay in politics with the help of so called Third Front leaders .
I hope those leaders will realize true fact and oust CPM from Third Front.
“2004, it was “India Shining” which got NDA out”.
Surely not, Mr Mishra. It was an election, and people did not just vote against a slogan.
Let us not try to avoid the issues like this, and try to understand why people voted the way they did. Without understanding the reasons, the parties are doomed to repeat their history.
as said by sri arun jaitly, all other parties (except bjp and congress, i feel) are opportunistic with no base. I request people of india to just choose between bjp or congress. all these gali nukkad parties must be slapped by not getting any seat. if USA can go with only 2 parties why not india. let their be 100 parties but just choose between bjp and congress. atleast we’ll get rid of this dirty politics of all other small parties.