Tathagata bhattcharya seeks to find if the tail can still wag the dog
Any exercise to determine the reason for the declining power of regional forces in shaping national equations of power will fall flat if one fails to factor in the fundamental point that identity politics has largely been rejected by the Indian electorate. While once-powerful forces like the Samajwadi Party (SP) in UP, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra have been the hardest hit, even a large national party like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to reel under this effect. Possibly, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is the only force that has defied this trend. But having said that, the facts that the Congress is swiftly gaining its foothold in Uttar Pradesh and that Mayawati is looking beyond the Dalit votebank are significant pointers as well. Regional parties are becoming limited in their sphere of influence. It is definitely not reaching Delhi as much as it used to.
The Indian democracy, in spite of existing pitfalls, is maturing. The electorate today is more unlikely to be swayed by calls to their identity based on religion, caste, community and language etc than 15 years back. An incumbent government’s performance, its ability to deliver development, security, healthcare and generate employment are more likely to determine its electoral fortunes.
The CPI(M)-led Left Front government’s abject failure in delivering the goodies mentioned above is paving the way for Mamata Banerjee’s expected triumph in the 2011 Assembly elections. The same phenomenon saw the 15-year-old reign of RJD end in Bihar. And till now, the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) government has performed. Notwithstanding the small base, the state government has to be credited for a growth rate of over 11 per cent and return of law and order. The Akali Dal, in spite of mainly representing Sikh aspirations, has become more inclusive and today represents Punjabis in general. And Punjab being an agrarian state, their pro-farmer attitude has helped them rise above identity politics.
However, without going into further innuendos, TSI takes a look at some of these forces and also a few who have managed to buck the trend.
Any exercise to determine the reason for the declining power of regional forces in shaping national equations of power will fall flat if one fails to factor in the fundamental point that identity politics has largely been rejected by the Indian electorate. While once-powerful forces like the Samajwadi Party (SP) in UP, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra have been the hardest hit, even a large national party like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to reel under this effect. Possibly, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is the only force that has defied this trend. But having said that, the facts that the Congress is swiftly gaining its foothold in Uttar Pradesh and that Mayawati is looking beyond the Dalit votebank are significant pointers as well. Regional parties are becoming limited in their sphere of influence. It is definitely not reaching Delhi as much as it used to.
The Indian democracy, in spite of existing pitfalls, is maturing. The electorate today is more unlikely to be swayed by calls to their identity based on religion, caste, community and language etc than 15 years back. An incumbent government’s performance, its ability to deliver development, security, healthcare and generate employment are more likely to determine its electoral fortunes.
The CPI(M)-led Left Front government’s abject failure in delivering the goodies mentioned above is paving the way for Mamata Banerjee’s expected triumph in the 2011 Assembly elections. The same phenomenon saw the 15-year-old reign of RJD end in Bihar. And till now, the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) government has performed. Notwithstanding the small base, the state government has to be credited for a growth rate of over 11 per cent and return of law and order. The Akali Dal, in spite of mainly representing Sikh aspirations, has become more inclusive and today represents Punjabis in general. And Punjab being an agrarian state, their pro-farmer attitude has helped them rise above identity politics.
However, without going into further innuendos, TSI takes a look at some of these forces and also a few who have managed to buck the trend.
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