BJP is My Choice This Election

by DJ Phukan

The main theme of the Indian general election of 2009 is whether India will get a stable government or will be governed by a disastrous “Chutney” government by the purely opportunistic third of fourth (af)front formations.  Any stable government can only coalesce around either the BJP (NDA) or that of the Congress (UPA).  Many people have speculated that the Congress and BJP have similar economic policies so that voting one or the other is the same. However, I disagree and will also lay out why I prefer the BJP over the Congress.

Governance Track Record:- The Congress’s 50-60 year track record gave the infamous “Hindu Rate of Growth of a pure 2-3%”, vacuous slogans of “Garibi Hatao”, Emergency, supporting Bhindranwale, causing unrest in Assam, J&K and North East for short sighted political gains. Two of its leaders Indira and Rajiv Gandhi perished as the Frankenstein tiger that they mounted for political gain ate them alive. The BJP led NDA proved in its 6 years that it could govern a pluralistic nation (despite mistakes like the Gujarat riots, Kandahar). It provided excellent economic growth.  It pushed Pakistan back from Kargil, removed our nuclear ambiguity and kicked of the greatest infrastructure program of late-the Highways and Power project ( which alas the UPA Government has let languish) and also laid foundations for a new relationship with the West. Most of all, the BJP led NDA ably showed that the TINA ( There is No Alternative) to Congress was a myth.

Small States and Administrative Reform:- The BJP is the only major party that has pushed for devolution of  power from the Center. It thus won regional allies like the AGP, Akali Dal, Shiv Sena, INLD, JD(U) and until recently the Telegu Desam and BJD.  BJP led NDA led to the formation of Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Uttaranchal.  It may be well worthwhile to create smaller states  from Uttar Pradesh as well as Bengal ( North Bengal into Kamtapur and Gorkhaland), Andhra Pradesh ( Telangana) and Maharashtra ( Vidarbha).  The Congress after 1967 has not been amenable to meet people’s aspirations..  Its track record on Administrative Reform has been abysmal as its tendency is to centralize power in Delhi to dish out the loaves and fish of office.

Cadre Based versus Opportunity Based:– The BJP and the Left are the two of the major cadre based political parties ( BSP may be the third formation in the near future). Cadre based parties have deeper support, connect better with their voters and drive change more effectively due to their grass roots structure.  Congress today is largely an opportunistic legacy of what was once India’s Grand Old Party held together by the Gandhi family name.  If the “Gandhi” ceases to bring votes and power, the party will likely whither.

Liberalization/Free Economics:- The Congress claim that Manmohan Singh and Rajiv Gandhi kicked of the liberalization.  However, Morarji Desai tried to open the economy up in the short lived Janata Government (undone by Charan Singh and the Congress) way back in 1979.  If that liberalization had been done then, India would be on world stage where China is today.  Mrs. Gandhi promptly undid any liberalization back in 1980 with her socialism slogans.  The Congress leadership including Manmohan Singh was socialist economists .  The only reason they opened up the economy was Narsimha Rao ( arguably the best Congress PM, we had) believed it was the only way to go back in 1992.  When the liberalization succeeded, Congress promptly morphed opportunistically into Free Market economists.  The BJP due to its trader, Jana Sangh and Swatantra Party roots has always been largely a Free market ( with a few protectionists in its midst no doubt) party.

Given these differences, I support the BJP led NDA in the 2009 election.

DJ Phukan is a North American based NRI. These are his personal views.

April 30, 2009 | Filed Under Contributions 

Comments

7 Responses to “BJP is My Choice This Election”

  1. anan on April 30th, 2009 9:21 am

    Congratulations Mr Advaniji and Wish you best of luck today. You will win with thumping majority of more than 100000 votes at gandhi nagar.We will see you as Prime Minister of India after May 16.

  2. Krishna Tarway on April 30th, 2009 9:29 am

    तथास्तु !!!

  3. V Rao on April 30th, 2009 9:34 am

    - We must strongly object (and we all must) to the use of the communist/socialist propaganda machine invented phrase ‘Hindu’ rate of growth. It is a lie! That is the communist/socialist/Nehruvian rate of growth. The true Hindu rate of growth is what was achieved when the real liberalisation happened (during the NDA rule), the fruits of which the UPA regime reaped : near 10% growth! SO, just like the manufactured phrase ’secular-communal divide’, let us all correct thinking Indians object to the phrase ‘Hindu’ rate of growth. It is a derogatory phrase, deliberately invented by those who hate Hindus.

  4. Krishna Gurung on April 30th, 2009 3:02 pm

    Agree 1000%

  5. Vivek Singh on April 30th, 2009 6:00 pm

    This is the one and only choice of Each and Every responsible People of India.Friends only two phases of elections left more so keep this spirit high in same manner.
    Under the Leadership of Great Advani ji India will emerge as a superpower of world.
    Jai Hind

  6. Nikhil Kumar on April 30th, 2009 8:50 pm

    The most distressing thing about all this is the apathy of common men towards the fate of this country. Do we suffer from mass amnesia?? Now the congress which has been touting itself as the harbinger of modernisation, has come out with its three biggest achievement till date-independence, constitution and nationalization of banks. Can you believe it, as if independence was their paternal property that they gifted us and should i say anything about the remaining two????

  7. Arjun on May 1st, 2009 1:58 am

    Of what use is an NRI’s opinion?!