Chandan Mitra could not have painted the picture more accurately. In its misplaced euphoria “the Congress does believe it is on a comeback trail having outwitted the Left on the nuclear deal and outflanked other adversaries on the populism index. With time the “feel good” factor generated by the budget may evaporate once farmers realise that all their loans are not actually going to be written off; that no government can order private moneylenders to stop recovering dues. Prices, which have been rising steadily for the last few years, may start galloping upwards adding to anti-incumbency sentiment”.
If the government dares the Left to withdraw support over the nuclear deal, the Congress can climb the high moral ground and claim it sacrificed political power in order to deliver nuclear power to every homestead. Indians, being confirmed suckers for the “sacrificial lamb” theme, will return Congress to office, hopefully minus the shackles of the disruptionist Left.
However, the Congress seems to have brushed certain unpalatable facts under the political carpet which the voters will hopefully remember. It was the Congress that disregarded the peoples’ choice and denied APJ Abdul Kalam a second term in office as the president. Then again, it went all the way to ensure that prosecution of a corrupt Mayawati was not sanctioned by the Congress nominated Governor of Uttar Pradesh. It was the Congress that inducted tainted politicians as ministers in the central cabinet; obligations of coalition governance notwithstanding.
When people, especially in rural areas, troop to the polling booth, caste rather than economics is on their mind. This is not necessarily the ideal situation, but true never-the-less. The Congress can thank their political partners like Laloo Prasad Yadav, M Karunanidhi, Mayawati and Arjun Singh for ensuring that the damaging caste system is kept alive in the country. The system they tolerated all along will ensure that their ambitions of absolute power at the centre are effectively curtailed.
If the government dares the Left to withdraw support over the nuclear deal, the Congress can climb the high moral ground and claim it sacrificed political power in order to deliver nuclear power to every homestead. Indians, being confirmed suckers for the “sacrificial lamb” theme, will return Congress to office, hopefully minus the shackles of the disruptionist Left.
However, the Congress seems to have brushed certain unpalatable facts under the political carpet which the voters will hopefully remember. It was the Congress that disregarded the peoples’ choice and denied APJ Abdul Kalam a second term in office as the president. Then again, it went all the way to ensure that prosecution of a corrupt Mayawati was not sanctioned by the Congress nominated Governor of Uttar Pradesh. It was the Congress that inducted tainted politicians as ministers in the central cabinet; obligations of coalition governance notwithstanding.
When people, especially in rural areas, troop to the polling booth, caste rather than economics is on their mind. This is not necessarily the ideal situation, but true never-the-less. The Congress can thank their political partners like Laloo Prasad Yadav, M Karunanidhi, Mayawati and Arjun Singh for ensuring that the damaging caste system is kept alive in the country. The system they tolerated all along will ensure that their ambitions of absolute power at the centre are effectively curtailed.
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