ELECTIONS – 2013 - The Real TAKE-AWAYS - WHAT MUST BJP & AAP DO NOW

ELECTIONS – 2013

The Real TAKE-AWAYS

When Elections were announced for the four Assemblies of Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and  Chhattisgarh, BJP announced Narendra Modi as its PM candidate and also as its Star Campaigner. Aam Admi Party under Arvind Kejriwal also started operating like Never Before in the History of Delhi. Now that the Elections to all the 4 states are over and it is 4-0 in favour of BJP, what are the take-aways from these election Results for India and for different parties involved.

1.      Modi proved himself the BEST CAMPAIGNER in this Election – in any party, despite a few Historical and geographical slip-ups. Any Good speaker needs to be careful on such slip-ups. Modi is of course a fast learner in these aspects. 

2.      For the first time in BJP’s History, there is someone like Narendra Modi who can truly become a National Leader. There is of course a long way to go in that direction for Modi.  BJP must rally behind Mr. Modi and make him the National leader. 

3.      Modi must travel all around India, talk to people in every district of every state in English and Hindi - using more English in Non-Hindi states – and truly understand and represent every corner of the country – and not just Gujarat. India needs him – because, India needs a National Leader. 

4.      He must take Mr. Arun Jaitly and Mrs Sushma Swaraj in most of such tours around India. They may not have his level of people’s skills but their phenomenal knowledge of National and International affairs and Governance will be of great help to him and BJP.

5.      Narendra Modi is truly secular. I have no doubts what so ever about his secular credentials – however much Congress and their allies might like to drag in 2002 riots to prove him otherwise. I have heard Modi speak several times in last several years – and I do not find an iota of bias in him against one or another of religions. He wants and strives for development of all people, in an inclusive manner – as against Congress and some other Parties trying to create religious vote banks and caste vote banks.  

6.      I would not say the same thing about some other leaders in BJP – who now must follow the secular philosophy in an inclusive manner. India must be truly secular and can’t afford to be otherwise. Specifically, the Mandir and Hindutva issues must be shelved forever – on Political platforms. Even the VHP etc – must stop these nuisance factors from public life.

7.      A Major Discovery in these Elections is Mr. Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party, with the Jhadu symbol.  Arvind Kejriwal has done extremely well in conducting himself and the AAP so far – barring one or two slips – like meeting a man who can issue Fatwas for killing of People.  Arvind Kejriwal vows to provide Politics with a difference. This is Most Welcome for India.

8.      There are lots of things that other parties need to learn from AAP. Chief among them is – Zero tolerance to Corruption and total transparency in Political Life. BJP under Modi must also truly represent these two ideals. Modi must ensure that. 

9.      Likewise, Arvind too can and must become a truly national leader like Modi and make his AAP a truly national Party. As in the case of BJP, all other leaders of AAP can never be as good and as transparent as Arvind Kejriwal. There are leaders who may not listen to Arvind and who may talk in their own voices – which will in due course prove detrimental.

10.   Congress got decimated in 3 states – Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It’s better showing in Chhattisgarh is mostly due to the sympathy Factor in Bastar Region. Congress deserved this. Its Bad policies and shabby treatment of its critics – deserved this. The Huge scams deserved all this. Congress went down without a fight. 

11.   Chhattisgarh wins were given to Congress on a platter, by the Local BJP, by not acting tough against the killers of the Congress leaders. Dr.Raman Singh must have made these Political Killings by Maoists a Big National Issue – and called on Centre to help him stem the Maoist Menance in a Big way. He must implement development measures in all Tribal regions in a Big way, to contain Maoist Menace.

12.   There were reasonably good local leaders in the BJP, in 3 states – except Delhi. Dr.Harsha Vardhan in Delhi is not a very charismatic leader with proven performance. In Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje was good – but definitely she could not have secured Majority on her own. Modi factor was the clincher. In MP, Shiv Raj Singh Chouhan was a Good leader, but, it was known to all that many of his Ministers were either non-performers or with not-so-good reputations or both. Chouhan might have MP won by just a slender margin only but the Modi Factor was a definite clincher in MP. In Chhattisgarh, BJP might have lost the elections due to the sympathy factor towards Congress, despite Dr.Raman singh not having a negative image. So, Modi factor has worked there well too, to salvage the BJP. In Delhi, Dr.Harsh Vardhan is not a vote pulling factor, except that he does not have a negative Image. In Delhi, it was Modi factor that clinched victory against a highly charismatic Arvind Kejriwal. In Delhi, many of BJP candidates are said to have bad, criminal record also. In my view, AAP would have decimated BJP also along with Congress in Delhi but for the Modi factor.

13.   Let us look at the other factors which worked for this end result. BJP & AAP must thank Mr. Sharad Pawar – for his studied failure to control the prices of all major vegetable so far, and the UPA’s Political failure to impress on their food Minister and food Ministers in states to do something to control these prices which were hurting the Aam Aadmi. But that has been the way UPA functioned all the time.

14.   Baba Ram Dev factor cannot be underestimated. Congress teased him no end – merely for asking for Lok Pal and bringing back Black Money. It enraged Ram Dev who vowed to put an end to Congress in these Elections. Modi may have toured in last 2 months. But, Baba Ram Dev has been touring for last 2 years – advocating precisely for this END RESULT. He had huge direct audiences everywhere and his programs are seen and listened to by large numbers. He specifically showed his preference for Mr.Modi,  above all other BJP leaders. Baba Ram Dev, despite his saffron robes, is a truly Secular person, who loves, teaches and blesses all people without bias of religion and caste – much like Modi. They may not have openly said so, but many other true spiritual leaders have also shown their preference for Mr.Modi in one way or other.

15.   BJP and AAP must come together and give good governance to Delhi – and not force Delhi voters, to vote again and again this way, to produce Hung assemblies. Delhi Voters will get disgusted with AAP also, if this happens. BJP cannot say that Delhi Voters preferred BJP only. AAP also cannot say that Delhi voters preferred AAP only. Delhi Voters preferred both – and voted Congress out. That is the clear verdict of Delhi Voters and both BJP and AAP must bow down to this. Together, BJP and AAP, whether in a clear alliance or with some level of understanding, must implement both of their plans and take away the credit also for the same. 

16.   Let Delhi have a clean and Transparent Government devoted to Development, along with strong, fast, transparent decisions. AAP is capable of transparency but I doubt if they are capable of Development! They will have a great fixation for transparency but not for development. BJP is capable of and bent on development – but are they capable of Transparency like AAP? Now, both are needed by Voters, as equal parameters  in Governance – to make Delhi a truly world class city. So, I appeal to BJP and AAP to come together in some way – and not make Delhi voters vote again and again to produce Hung assemblies. They must not let go this Historic Opportunity.

17.   BJP can adopt the local plans of AAP and add to them their own overall Plans. Politics must become cordial between the two parties – which should show other parties a way on how to treat each other.

18.   At least Now – Congress must desist from going after all Critics through all Government Machinery.

19.   BJP is victorious. In victory it must become humbler and friendly towards all others – including the Opposition Parties and the Congress.

20.   BJP must become much more cordial and Patient with the Press and the Media.

21.   Now that Congress stands decimated, it must be Media’s turn to remove some irritants between Media and BJP. Media must make it a forthright demand that other countries must remove all VISA restrictions on Modi. These are the creation of Congress propaganda Machinery. Media especially must pronounce Modi as truly secular and make the rest of BJP fall in line totally.

22.   A secular, development Oriented BJP will be a Big Hit with all people. Before 2014 elections, Modi can attract other states also towards him with this. What can put a spanner into his works? The Mandir and the Hindutva talk. BJP must beware of this and put an end to this totally useless, meaningless, outlived, outdated agenda.

23.   What else can put away people from BJP?  If Raje, Chouhan, Raman Singh and Harsha Vardhan fail to perform well before 2014 Elections and if Harsha Vardhan fails keeping the Government together – that could put a spanner in the works of BJP.

24.   AAP has a Big opportunity too – to become a national Party . We must watch how BJP and AAP boost their National Image before 2014 Elections.

25.   What of Congress? Its cadres are still intact. It has to recognize all the mistakes it has committed. It can reverse many of them before 2014 Elections. Some of its Younger leaders – are  still acceptable alternatives in the eyes of the People. But, they must perform. Right now – there is a huge Policy Paralysis everywhere. For example – can UPA tackle the price Rise immediately? If there is will, there are many ways. Price Rise is hurting people the Most.

26.   Congratulations to ALL WINNERS! Please Break away from all Past. Show New, exciting, paths of development and Harmony and Make India Great.

 *  *  *  E  N  D  *  *  *