Never in the
past, campaigning in state assembly
polls and General elections in the world’s most populous democracy was so
bitter and ugly as it was heard and witnessed in the ongoing Bihar state
assembly polls for which third phase voting was held today.
Now, Two phases of voting are left -fourth
phase on Nov 1 and last & Final phase on Nov 5. Results will be out on Nov
8 –three days ahead of Deepawali festival.
Both the
sides –National Democratic Alliance and Maha-gathbandhan of the Ruling Janata
dal (U) in state ,Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of Former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad
Yadav and Congress launched no holds barred campaign and the mud slinging was
at its worst. Other players in the ring are also contributing their bit in dirty
campaign.
A Day after
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s parody from “Three Idiots”movie that “Kahan Gaya Usse
Dhundho-Bahati Hawa Sa Tha Wo,Gujarat Se Aya Tha Wo,Kala Dhan Lane Wala Tha Wo,Khan
Gaya Usse Dhundho,Hamko Desh Ki Chinta Satati
Hai , Vidhesh Daure Par Chala Jata Hai Wo..”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit
back and wondered why Nitish Kumar resorted to “Three Idiots” paraody though he
( Modi) understands there are three partners
in the grand alliance.Mr Modi did not stop
at that and added that he ( Nitish Kumar) would have ample time to practice such
parodies and Musharias as he would have an ample time for practice sessions
after as losing the polls.
RJD Chief
Lalu Parasd Known for his sarcasm dipped repartees commented that The PM is “Agyani”(
ignorant).he was reacting to Modi’s comments
that a conspiracy was being hatched to tinker with reservation quota of SCs,STs
and OBCs to accommodate others on basis of religion.
It was just an example how the campaigning was
detoriating with each passing polls. With such a fast paced fall in standards of
electioneering, the day will not be far behind when expletives will be hurled by
( Junior and new political players) from podiums virtually driving supporters to
muzzle opponents physically. Political parties will have to review their strategies
if they want democracy to survive and thrive. Elections will come and go but if
democratic fiber is dismembered it would be difficult to stitch it again.The
Federal structure has to be saved and strengthened.
Electors are
disenchanted with such barbs of words which hardly highlight real issues –like power supply,good roads,potable
water . war of words belittle every thing and the developmental agenda is side-stepped.
I am
covering elections for last three decades ,but such a detoriation in election
speeches leave us speechless.
Tragically ,
The Bihar polls for the new 243 member Assembly are held when various parts of the country witnessed
plethora of cases of intolerance, return of awards to the Sahitya Akademi by eminent
writers of various languages after murder of three writers M.M Kalgurgi, Narendra
Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, Dadri laynching of a muslim over alleged consumption
and storing of Cow’s meat, Beef row in Jammu and Kashmir,Kerala
house in the National Capital, blackening of faces of a Jammu and Kashmir Indpendent
MLA in Delhi and Sudheendra Kulkarni in Mumbai for organizing a function to release book of
former foreign Minister of Pakistan M.Kasuri.
On previous occasions,too,communal
incidents used to shake country but at that time,Media was not so widespread and
intrusive as it is today because of scores of TV channels and instant
highlighting of controversial comments on screens. So ,in Today’s word, damage
is instant and colossal.
Post Bihar
polls ,It looks that political spectrum will change either way- BJP wins or
loses. If it wins, The ruling dispensation will have to be assertive to chose a
moderate approach to pave way for development ,and if it loses,it will have to change
its style of governance in the wake of winds in sails of opposition.
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