- The people of India are witnessing a grueling election campaigning from the political class leaving no stone unturned in the bargain to impress upon the electorate to choose them over other competitors. Every election throws up narratives that could be broadly classified as local, state, and national issues having different connotations and eventual outcomes. However, there is no disputing the fact that the general elections are largely fought on national issues like security, economy, growth, employment, developments, and some such closely related issues. Of course, the regional parties attempting to leave behind an indelible impression would want us to believe that state-level issues are of paramount importance too. No denying this, you see.
PC: TOI
- Moreover, every political party irrespective of ideologies/philosophies wishes to latch onto an issue that it considers could sway the voters to vote. Thus, we have seen how the two main national parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, have gone to the town to accuse the Constitution of being tampered with. The Congress is spreading the news that the BJP is committed to changing the Constitution if voted to power. The BJP has repeatedly reassured the citizens that it upholds the Ambedkar’s Constitution as sacred whose sanctity can never be tampered/changed with. The citizens appear to be groping in the dark knowing nothing about where this narrative is headed. Yes, the Constitution is the nicer of poll issues.
- Needless to mention, many Indians hold the Constitution to be no less than a holy book. Apart from the usual political shenanigans, people are also invested in accepting how sanctimonious the Constitution has established in our collective psyche. Remember, the country’s identity is derived from the strength of the Constitution. So much so that this idea is getting further layering these days when couples choose to anchor their marriage ceremonies to the Constitution. Social media tagging of such ceremonies can include #ReclaimConstitution. The rights to equality and freedom guaranteed by the document are one powerful reason behind this trend. But another is indicated by the unusual frequency with which poll speeches have been happening during the campaign.
PC: LinkedIn
- As mentioned above, the level of discourse is pleasanter than in other clamorous matters, even if the claims and counterclaims are along political lines. The defense minister has even been specific enough to say that the basic structure of the Constitution shall not be touched. Actually, over the decades since the 1973 Kesavananda Bharati Judgment, support for its basic structure doctrine has been shared across political divides. And yet, reports indicate that there are palpable fears on the ground this time. The distress is not at all evenly divided across demographics. Instead, it appears heavily localized among Dalits. The onus rests with the political class to eradicate the false narrative being built that has caused undue worries among the citizens, including Dalits.
