Voters prefer BJP's promise of development over 'communalism Vs secularism' of Congress

16-05-14

NEWS ANALYSIS

By Kartik Lokhande
“My idea of governance is a ‘P2G2’ formula— pro-people proactive good governance: Narendra Modi.”
This tweet of Modi a couple of days before counting of votes, speaks about what has appealed to the voters in the country. Fed up with the politics of ‘Secularism Vs Secularism’ and veiled or direct appeals for voting on the lines of caste or religion, the voters in the country this time have preferred the promise of development and good governance over the so-called threat of communalism or secularism.
The Lok Sabha election this time proved to be historic for a variety of reasons -- non-Congress Government coming to power with thumping majority, charisma of a man called Narendra Modi working wonders for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) like never-before, almost all exit polls proving true in predicting win of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), young and educated voters coming out to vote in big numbers with commitment to effect the ‘change’ in Government, etc. But, one reason was above all -- this time the election was fought on the plank of development and good governance.

Of course, Congress resorted to the old trick of playing the card of self-portrayal as the only secular force in the country. Its leadership also kept on targeting BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and BJP for being ‘communal’. Congress and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, and all the top leaders of the Congress party continued their age-old attempt to trick the voters -- specially Dalits, Christians, and Muslims -- into the trap of ‘secularism Vs communalism’ debate. Sonia Gandhi made it a point to meet Imam Bukhari, Rahul Gandhi tried to flare up the sentiments using the Muzaffarnagar riots, Congress’ top leaders including Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan tried branding BJP for ‘murder of Mahatma Gandhi’, and all of them led by Sonia Gandhi said that the Lok Sabha election this time was a ‘clash of ideologies’.
While doing so, Congress forgot the repeated failures of such attempts in Gujarat for three consecutive terms of Legislative Assembly. For three terms of Modi, Congress targeted him over riots with an intention to cause polarisation of voters. In sharp contrast, Modi kept his calm and kept talking about development, economic growth, and good governance. With every term, the line of distinction between Congress and BJP leadership became clearer in the minds of voters in Gujarat. When Modi was anointed as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Congress did not change its strategy and continued resorting to the same old line.
As against this, BJP camp led by Narendra Modi kept targetting the Congress-led UPA Government by pointing out failures in governance and tackling security and economy related issues in its 10-year rule. Modi painstakingly toured the length and breadth of the country and focussed around only two aspects in his political speeches -- development and good governance. He also took up issues that appealed to the young and educated voters of the country, when he spoke about employment opportunities, growth of economy and resultant sweet fruits for all. He also spoke on black money stashed abroad, need to curb corruption and inflation. The years-old issue of Ram Temple at Ayodhya did not figure in the speeches of BJP leaders. In fact, BJP leaders spoke of extending the fruits of development to Muslims, and stronger Hindu-Muslim bond.
Through these and many such developments during the pre-poll campaigning, difference between the strategies of Congress and BJP was quite clear to voters. Besides, the first-time voters in younger generation had natural sympathy towards BJP as they grew up listening to criticism of Congress over corruption, scams, failure to rein terrorism, lesser employment opportunities, rise of prices of essential commodities, tremendous rise in cost of education, etc. These voters did not care about religious or caste politics. For them, the only things that mattered were affordable education, more number of jobs, high pay-packets, curbing corruption, secure life, and all-round development. Obviously, the party that appeared to be talking about all these on a positive note and promising ‘change’ caught their attention.
Against this backdrop, this Lok Sabha election proved to be historic on one more count -- voters preferring development and good governance over ‘communalism Vs secularism’ debate. Now, it is up to the BJP, under the leadership of Modi, to deliver what it has promised.