Page 25 - June2018

politics

a strong contender to emerge as the
single largest party. In such a scenario
it shall have to work with coalition
partners and give them their due. It is
well known that some of its existing
coalition partners are feeling uneasy.
The TDP has already moved out, the
Shiv Sena has been threatening to do so
and the Shiromani Akali Dal has made
its annoyance public. Yet, the Modi-
Shah team has the capability of turning
the tables. It has launched a massive
advertisement campaign with the
slogan : Desh ka badhta jaata vishwas......
Saaf niyat, Sahi vikas. At present, Shah
is having long discussions with the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS),
from where it draws it cadres, to evolve
the party’s strategy during the run-up
to the next general elections. Although
that he led. The party also did not have • Moral grounds Lal Bahadur Shastri had re- the RSS leadership shall not like it, the
any qualms about taking support of signed as Union Railway Minister owning moral party would do well to tone down its
the infamous Reddy brothers who are responsibility for a train accident Hindutva campaign.
known to head the ‘mining mafia’ in For the Congress and the numerous
the state. nate, it is losing its sheen. After a virtual other parties lined up on the stage in
After failing to get the majority by bull run across the country, except the Bengaluru, it would be a fatal mistake
merely a handful of seats, the party South, it got stuck at the gateway of if the thinking is that opposition to BJP
adopted unholy means to grab power. southern India. The party shall have to or Modi as prime minister could ensure
In this regard the role of the NDA ap- rethink its strategy and possibly lean them deliverance. Firstly, the diverse
pointed governor rightly came under over some of the regional parties to get parties shall find it difficult to sort out
criticism. He not only acted in haste their support. their own differences and the very sur-
in inviting Yediyurappa but gave him The photo op at the swearing in vival of some of these parties could be
a fortnight to prove majority. It was ceremony of Kumaraswamy, with at stake. Secondly, a negative campaign
evidently meant to provide an opportu- top leaders from an array of parties against Modi government is unlikely to
nity to him to indulge in horse trading (including sworn political adversaries), yield good results for them.
as there was no way he could have reflected a renewal of spirit to take on If these parties have to challenge the
proved his majority. Credit must also the Modi-Shah juggernaut. It was after BJP, these shall have to prepare a joint
go to the Supreme Court which asked long time that one could see smiles on manifesto highlighting the develop-
Yeddyurappa to prove majority within the faces of opposition leaders. The get- mental agenda. There is a general sense
24 hours. With the Congress wiser from together at the event certainly signalled of unease among the people due to
its experiences in Goa, Manipur and that most of these parties were ready unfulfilled promises held out before
Meghalaya, its leaders acted with alac- to join hands to contest the next gen- the elections. Issues of unemployment,
rity to prevent any poaching of their eral elections. better deal for farmers, foreign direct
MLAs by the BJP. For the Modi government, which investment and better infrastructure
Thus sworn rivals, the Congress just completed four years and entered would emerge as the major issues. The
and the JDS, joined hands to form the the last year of its rule, this is not good NDA government has already started
government with the larger party news. Even before the Karnataka publicising its achievements while the
offering unconditional support to the verdict, the party had suffered setbacks Congress and other opposition parties
smaller party to keep the BJP at bay. In in a series of Lok Sabha by-elections in are yet to utter a word on their vision
the process all political parties, includ- Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh - where for the future. One can only hope that
ing the BJP and the Congress, have lost it is the ruling party — besides other the political rivals would refrain from
credibility. states. stoking communal fires during the run
The broader political picture that By now it is almost clear that the up to the elections.
has emerged from Karnataka elections NDA is unlikely to retain its strength in
is that while the BJP continues to domi- the next Lok Sabha although it remains letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 june 2018 25 www.Tehelka.com

24-25 Opinion Vipin Pubby.indd 3 06/06/18 1:18 PM