- The ongoing seven-phase Lok Sabha elections increasingly appear to be a drag for most countrymen including those eagerly following the fortunes of the political churnings with great intent. The initial euphoria of having the General Elections after five years has subsided for most of us. No sooner than the Election Commission of India made the announcements of the polls, the political parties were off to impress upon the electorate with the usual rhetoric. As is its wont, the political class deftly moved to assure, reassure, promise, induce, incentivize, and in no time came out with the manifestos to impress the eligible voters. As you are aware, no election in the country is complete without castes, quotas, and reservations hogging the limelight. That continues.
PC: LiveLaw
- The political class was in their element on these imperatives in no time. The usual inanities were bandied about by every national and regional party with gay abandon. Those closely observing the previous Lok Sabha elections would have noticed that this time around the emotional narratives like corruption, Balakot, and Pulwama attacks were sorely missing. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had benefitted from these nationally relevant issues since the country’s security as well as sovereignty were at stake back then. However, this time around the narrative seems to be lacking in substance or carrying desired emotional heft to invigorate the electors to choose sides. Of course, the BJP is confident about its development work over the last ten years.
- On the other hand, Congress is attempting to impress upon the voters with counterclaims of large-scale unemployment, lack of job opportunities, rising prices, inflationary trends, and unholy nexus between the ruling dispensation at the Centre and the big business houses. Ideally speaking, the development plank alone should have been the main electoral agenda that would have enthused the increasingly aspirational society. Unfortunately, the two main political parties viz. BJP and Congress are hell-bent on targeting personally with even below-the-belt innuendos, not-so-veiled accusations, and several unmentionables being freely thrown around. Trust me, some of the language being used is extremely uncouth, uncivilized, cringeworthy, and unwarranted.
PC: Quora
- It has not helped either since the summer months have only risen by the day with the temperatures soaring alarmingly as we enter the sixth phase of the elections. Little wonder that voter enthusiasm has been at its lowest ebb despite the ECI making every effort at its disposal to enthuse eligible voters. Thrown in between the arrest drama of politicians has only further vitiated the already spoiled political atmosphere in the country. Mind you, most of us would fervently wish and hope that the mandate will be for a majority government rather than a truncated one not favoring any. The psephologists and sundry experts must be sharpening their rhetoric waiting for the last phase of the election to conclude. It’s been a boring election season for sure.
