Outlook English - Print Subscribers Copy Outlook English, 18 June 2018

COVER STORY OPINI ON VINAY SAHASRABUDDHE BET AGAINST THE CHIMERA The people will choose performance politics over vacuous opposition offerings O verdict for change, for seeing a new political formulation estab- NE indicator of greater awareness among the masses is lished—and the popular push for this was so strong that elections the cases being filed in consumer courts. The number has delivered the same verdicts in ’96, ’98 and ’99. risen over the years and even less well-educated people Then came 2004. While the NDA government had worked are now taking recourse to such litigation, which is inc wonderfully, the failure perhaps was in the communication reasingly seen as a protective mechanism. Since the strategy. Having learnt their lesson on this front, the BJP today formation of the National Consumer Dispute Redressal is doubly careful. At a recent state BJP executive meeting, Commission in 1988, 49 lakh cases have been filed in the nat Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadanvis emphasised that the best ional, state and district level commissions—and 91 per cent of communication is person-to-person and booth-level activism, these have been heard and had their verdicts delivered. Perhaps and that fine-tuning the organisation will ultimately pay off. this also explains the tendency of consumers becoming more Besides, unlike in 2004, the BJP today alert about preserving warranty cards is far stronger in the states. With over and similar documents. This is an 20 states under BJP rule, the party is indication of greater awareness on in an advantageous position against the part of the people about how the Congress. Again, unlike in 2004, manufacturers or service providers the party plans to conquer areas not can hoodwink customers. The lesson currently under its influence; to use to be learnt is: people no longer allow the BJP president’s favourite term, any agency to take them for a ride. the ‘Coromandel states’ of West This lesson needs to be learnt by all Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra political parties, particularly by those Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have been who have neither a distinct ideology focused on for more than two years. nor any well-articulated agenda for Equally important is the fact that, national development. This is a lesson post-Karnataka bonhomie notwith- to those parties that are bereft of any standing, the opposition has inherent track record they can cite to gain AP limitations when it comes to being on credibility on the count of perfor- the same page at the same time and in the same mance in governance, but are nevertheless try- The BJP’s call geographical areas. With whom will the Congress ing to stitch together a ragtag alliance and to free politics go in Andhra—TDP or YSRC? And will it support pretend to be an alternative to the NDA. These from dynasties, the BJD in Odisha? And how about Mamata efforts, to say the least, are an abject insult to the votebanks and preparing to make common cause with the voters and their ability to choose. casteism Communists? Behenji (Mayawati) has already Those engaged in such efforts have started started asking for at least 50 per cent of the Lok daydreaming about 2019. But they must under- has had an Sabha seats. Even if one takes an extremely stand that 2019 is not 1977, not 1989 or even 1996, echo effect. generous view of the opposition’s efforts, the fact and certainly not 2004. The 1977 verdict against remains that the Congress may not be able to Mrs Gandhi was a resounding victory of the dictate terms always and everywhere. And if power is to be sac- saviours of democracy, who offered satyagraha and braved jail rificed, what would be the motivating factor for the Congressman? terms to end the draconian rule of the Emergency—and remem- Finally, the BJP’s confidence is reasonably based on the fact ber, the majority of them are in the BJP and the ruling establish- that its clarion call to free politics from dynasty-based parties, ment today. In 1989, V.P. Singh rode the anti-corruption wave. votebanks and casteism has an echo effect. Politics of perfor- Today, the gravity of the challenge of corruption is less as even mance is after all a term copyrighted by the BJP—and no other former middlemen agree that the power corridors in Delhi are party has even thought of challenging this. O free from agents and brokers. Even those who are not traditional supporters of the BJP agree that the Saaf Neeyat (‘clean intent’) (The writer is a Rajya Sabha MP and of the government leadership is unquestionable. 1996 was the national vice-president of the BJP) 46 OUTLOOK 18 June 2018

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