Congress gets a new life

Brij Bhardwaj. Dated: 12/15/2018 3:32:50 PM

The revival is unusual as it has happened in Hindi heartland in States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where BJP had strong following even in hay days of Congress, In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh BJP had been in power for fifteen years.

The Congress party has revived itself a feat not easy to perform. The revival is unusual as it has happened in Hindi heartland in States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh where BJP had strong following even in hay days of Congress, In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh BJP had been in power for fifteen years.
Another factor to be noted is that BJP had a superior election machinery guided by party president Amit Shah who is considered to be a master of the science of electioneering and winning polls, besides being rich in resources. There are several factors which made the victory possible. The first factor was that Congress fought as one man and there was no in-fighting which had been a regular feature of the Congress party
The Congress Party also picked up issues which damaged BJP image. For instance Rafale deal for the first time damaged the image of Prime Minister by linking him with Crony capitalism. The distress in agriculture sector made farmers angry. The low inflation led to farmers getting low prices and they were unable to get the MRP for agriculture produce. The schemes like home loans, building of toilets and agriculture insurance did not work as farmers who were unable to meet their immediate needs wanted relief and not schemes which will help them in long run.
As such the present election holds lessons for BJP. Talk of doubling farmers income or providing jobs by skill development schemes are not working. The claims about GDP growing did not help as it was not converted into jobs for young people. The fact that exports are not growing, small industries have not recovered from the impact of demonetisation. Someone has to answer why people were subjected to so much distress including few deaths if all the currency in circulation was to be converted into white money.
There is little doubt that hastily implemented GST had hurt the economy particularly small traders, handicrafts who are yet to recover. There was also as a result many sitting members were dropped many more who were fighting poll after getting tickets were also defeated. It included a chief Minister who launched many social schemes providing doles and cheap rations.
The lessons of current polls is that voters have become choosy and judge rulers at polling times. You have to provide good governance plus basics that is roads, electricity, education and health service. The aspirations are rising both in rural areas as well as urban areas. The biggest problem which is also the most difficult to solve in coming years will be of providing jobs.
It will require a composite approach as it will call for linking education with skills which can lead to job creation. Mere slogans like "make in India". Many believe change in cow slaughter laws alone can double our exports. At present farmers are being deprived of keeping cows which used to serve them during productive period and later provide capital to procure replacement.
It is no secret that farmers have to supplement their income by undertaking supplementary trades liberate it will be difficult to find jobs as farms start becoming smaller as the families become larger. The migration of rural population in urban centre is no solution as the capacity of cities is limited. As it is some of the fastest growing cities are in India.
New solutions have to be found as old methods of giving loan waivers or other schemes of giving doles will not work. The large population has to be made productive by educating them with new skills. Situations when thousands apply for a job of a peon or a constable has be avoided.
(Brij Bhardwaj is a veteran journalist and commentator)
—[IFS]

 

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