- Not for nothing, the Indian elections are termed the “Dance of Democracy.” As elections are near, there is no shortage of vivacity, brightness, color, excitement, anticipation, thrills, twists, turns, and unexpected results. Understandably, voters of all colors become obsessed with the elections as soon as the election dates are announced. As there are always elections scheduled, it goes without saying that everyone is aware of the fact that the national parties are always in election mode. The regional parties are also seriously preparing for the next elections. Be aware that democracy necessitates the decentralization of the executive branch so that it can be transferred to the panchayat-level representatives of the people.
PC: freepik
- Ideally speaking, the political narrative of the parties at any level should be solidly based on performances alone. As the saying goes, “action should speak louder than words” applies here as well, and the same moniker must be closely associated with the democratically elected government of the day. An able administration delivering various schemes alongside effective enforcement of the law and order to the last man standing should be the guiding force for the government of the day. For common citizens, what matters is how the government discharges its duties and responsibilities without prejudice. Indian citizens exercise their franchise once every five years, largely based on the performance of the political party in power. Or is it?
- We know how the labyrinthine caste conundrum overwhelms our governance structure despite the Constitution guaranteeing equal rights irrespective of caste, class, creed, religion, ethnicity, and societal standing. Most often than not, performances take a backseat even as the caste equations assume paramount importance in not only choosing a candidate for the contest but also finally helping the party form government based on not easily comprehensible permutations and combinations. However, there is no stopping political parties—representing different ideologies—from brandishing promises galore in the form of sops, freebies, promises, assurances, reassurances, and offerings that might not pass the fiscal prudency test. But who cares?
PC: freepik
- The advent of social media platforms and the technology-driven Internet revolution have had a significant impact, even on a developing country like India. This suggests that offering people gifts and favors as a form of budgetary irresponsibility is no longer acceptable. Many will question the wasting of scarce public resources on populist programs intended to sway voters during election seasons. The majority of people will no longer accept grand declarations and will demand rapid delivery on matters of daily relevance. It’s time for the political parties to expressly include performance-oriented report cards rather than gifts and favors in their narrative.
