:: Jayanthi Natrajan

Wise electorate has given its verdict

Jayanthi Natarajan

May.25 : The recently concluded Lok Sabha elections have been spectacularly successful for the Indian National Congress. They have been an even greater victory for the Indian voter and our democracy. These may seem like the most obvious things that a member of the Congress Party would say but, as someone who has been in the thick of the action and in eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with the Opposition, it gives me a sense of personal satisfaction to consider that our electorate has cut through rhetoric and abuse, red herrings and emotional diversions to vote for the real issues, — development and decency.

Many, including those within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have attributed a fair portion of the blame for their defeat to Varun Gandhi’s hate speech. Mr Varun Gandhi’s speech was undoubtedly one of the lowest points in the campaign, rendered even more shocking because it was delivered by a young man whose paternal family has always championed secular values. Any normal young man would have talked about issues affecting youth, such as education or unemployment. That Mr Varun Gandhi chose to make a hate speech indicates a degree of premeditated calculation to draw attention and polarise votes. Mr Varun Gandhi may have won the election but he has lost the battle of public perception and branded forever.

However widely publicised his speech may have been, Mr Varun Gandhi was only the symbol. It is of far greater importance to consider how the BJP treated the Varun issue. First they distanced themselves from his remarks. Some criticised it. Then they decided that they did not want to completely move away from the Hindutva plank and decided to support him. Senior leaders of the BJP, including BJP president Rajnath Singh, visited him in jail and gave soundbites to the effect that he was being victimised. Through it all, they refused to change him as the candidate from Pilibhit. Even while they declared that the CDs depicting the speech were doctored, they made dark insinuations that Mr Varun Gandhi was being harassed because he spoke in favour of Hindus. L.K. Advani declared that he had told Mr Varun Gandhi to be careful in future. Finally, the Supreme Court quashed the National Security Agency (NSA) order, but the damage that had been done to our secular ethos can never be repaired. While Pilibhit may have voted for the BJP, the country at large was totally confused regarding what the BJP really stood for. It is my firm belief that voters across the country were dismayed and disappointed by how the BJP handled the Varun Gandhi incident.

The second and even more important message sent out by the electorate was that they would not tolerate a vitriolic attack on a person whom many saw as a sterling example of integrity and sobriety in public life, namely Dr Manmohan Singh. Some might argue that it is the job of the Opposition to attack the ruling establishment and that is, indeed, true. But the job of the Opposition is to offer constructive criticism and alternatives to the ruling party. This the BJP failed to do. We have repeatedly pointed out how the BJP manifesto was a manifesto of omissions. They did not have any real plank of development or any constructive issue to attack the government with. The issue of terror and its politicising by the BJP backfired during the Assembly elections. Thus they fell back on attacking the Prime Minister in a vicious and vitriolic way. The people have given them a suitable reply.

In sharp contrast, Mrs Sonia Gandhi spoke only about issues, and only about the values and specifics of governance. She spoke about the achievements of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and its continuing commitment to the aam admi. She talked about the party’s vision and promises for the future. The Congress campaign was positive, and constructive. In the end Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s guidance proved unerring.

It has become fashionable in the media to talk about the next election, as one which will be fought between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi. In fact, one of the worst mistakes the BJP made was to project Mr Modi as the "next" Prime Minister after Mr Advani, right up to the time Gujarat went to vote. After that there was less talk on that score. Although the issue was a diversionary tactic, it speaks volumes about the alleged "Modi charisma" that he addressed 212 rallies outside Gujarat, and from these constituencies only 12 MPs won. On the other hand, of the 120 constituencies where Mr Rahul Gandhi campaigned, as many as 75 MPs won. In 45 where they lost, the Congress came second. Mr Modi spoke about the Congress Party being like an old woman, a burden upon India, and also called Priyanka Gandhi a "gudiya". Mr Rahul Gandhi spoke about youth power, inclusive politics, and the need for participatory democracy. As a citizen, it is very satisfying for me to see that the strong constructive message, and the idealism displayed by Mr Rahul Gandhi, appealed far more to the voters rather than the polarising polemic and unsavoury barbs employed by Mr Modi. It is my considered view that the two should not really be compared as Mr Rahul Gandhi and Mr Modi are, literally as akin as chalk and cheese. Mr Rahul Gandhi brings hope of harmony, decency and growth, while Mr Modi speaks about growth, but does not implement it, and believes that the only way to control society is to divide it.

The Congress won in 200 seats. In 200 other seats, where the party lost, it came second, which means that in roughly 400 seats the Congress has a very strong presence. To quote B.G. Verghese, the results have proved that "development which does not rest on social justice and socio-political harmony cannot reap much benefits".

Jayanthi Natarajan is a Congress MP in the Rajya Sabha and AICC spokesperson.

The views expressed in this column are her own.