India’s Political Scenario witnessing watershed moments; war of nerves underway in opposition camps

 By Neeraj Bajpai

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness….,It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair”. This Historic quote of eminent writer Charles Dickens aptly fits in the current political scenario in the world’s most populous and vibrant democracy -India.

Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest is order of the day.Opposition parties,which used to be most vociferous on the government’s policies and ruling party,are reduced to a rump apparently because of their own doings.

Credibility of even some notables of the Grand old party (GOP),Congress, is at stake, and almost in every major election held since 2014, the party’s political space is getting shrunk and  marginalized.

Prospects of its revival in near future look dim given a sense of despondency visible among rank and file after every defeat- especially Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.The phenomenon has its cascading impact on other opposition parties too.

The Ruling party, BJP, is firing all cylinders to wrest control of every inch of political space in the country’s geographical area by spreading its network - may it in Telangana, West Bengal ,Odisha etc.

Strategies are paying them dividends too,but opposition camp appeared caught in cleft stick of saving its grace from clutches of law enforcing agencies and retaining hold on their pocket boroughs.

In public perception,there is an impression that recent spate of crackdowns are triggering tumbling of skeletons from opposition cupboards.Papers are full reports of corruption charges against the opposition leaders, suggesting they were hiding behind veil of governance and that patronage from the government, has been lifted. Law is taking its course and none will be spared.The UPA government was thrown out of power over allegations of scams mainly during the UPA -2 and the ruling dispensation had lost heavily in the perceptional war fares. 

Before the opposition leaders could put across their  message that some of the actions are allegedly governed by instinct of political vendetta, those who have faced such actions,have become a suspect in eyes of masses.They are butt of jokes and public ridicule. Opposition leaders accuse the center of misusing state machinery to smother BJP rivals and feel they will be vindicated during fair trials in courts.    

Now,opposition leaders’ action plan of assembling in Chennai in the first week of June to mark birth anniversary of DMK leader M Karunanidhi and a possibility of discussions on future political course is being watched closely for the final outcome.

Many feel they (opposition leaders)are governed by ‘survival instinct”  and will sink differences to wage a united struggle to bridle  fast moving juggernaut of BJP led by Narendra Modi – Amit Shah duo  apparently in tandem with a team of party’s frontal organizations

Serving and aging Congress Chief Minister in Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh is facing CBI probe in a case of assets to disproportionate to income.Likewise, many other Former Congress Chief Ministers  and leaders are caught in quagmire of investigations in various scandalous deals during their previous regimes.

Ashok Chavan,Former Maharashtra CM,is facing Adarsh Housing society case . Former Haryana CM and Cong. leader Bhupinder  Singh Hooda was recently questioned by CBI Sleuths in two cases of 400 acres of land grabbing by builders in Manesar during his tenure as CM. The second case is related to allotment of land to Associate Journals, publisher of National Herald newspaper. Sonia Gandhi,Rahul Gandhi and others  are facing a case in court regarding Associate Journals’ property

 Digambar Kamat,Congress leader and former  Goa CM is facing ED investigations  in infamous Louis Berger scam,2015 when bribes were allegedly paid to bag multi million dollars Sewerage project in the  tiny state.Former Uttrakhand CM Harish Rawat is facing CBI case regarding a video purportedly showing him offering bribes to Rebel congress leaders.

Former Rajsthan Chiref Minister Ashok Geholt  and Late Rajesh pilot’s son Sachin Pilot,former union minister,along with many are facing CBI probe into an ambulance scam in the desert state.

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram is facing torrent of charges and massive IT raids were conducted recently at his locations. In cases related with Aircel-Maxis deal and INX media which were given foreign investment board approvals for FDI when Chidambaram was Finance Minister.

Skylight hospitality, a company associated with Robert Vadra, son in la law of Sonia Gandhi,Congress President,is under the scanner for a land case in Bikaner.

Former Congress leader Matang Singh was arrested by CBI in 2015 for his alleged involvement in Sardha Chit fund scam in West Bengal. He was the union minister during 1990s.

Shanakrsinh Vaghela, former Textile Minister, is facing CBI probe in connection with  sale of prime land of National Textile Corporation (NTC) in Mumbai at a throwaway price. Congress leader Navin Jindal is also facing probe in corruption case.

A number of Trinamool Congress leaders are facing CBI or ED investigations in connection with Sardha Chit fund scam, Rose valley Chit fund scam and Narad Sting operations.

BJD leaders -RK Jena, MP and MLA Parvat Biswal faced CBI men searches in Rs. 1000 crore sea shore chit fund scam.

CBI is probing various cases against AAP leaders the Preliminary investigations  (PI) have been imitated against the deputy chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia.Many other AAP leaders are also in CBI net.

In Andhra Pradesh,YS Jaganmohan Reddy of ,son of late Congress leader   Y.S Rajsekhera Reddy, is already facing a slew of cases for allegedly getting investments from various companies in his firms as part of quid –pro-quo of favors given to them by his late father as CM in undivided AP.

Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav again stole limelight as news maker after fodder scam case has been reopened in courts as per court’s order.Soon after houses of his sons, daughters, relatives and close associates were raided by Income tax teams who have unearthed massive property amassed by Lalu's clan.Cases are underinvestigations.

 Top leaders of Bahujan Samaj party (BSP )and Samajwadi party (SP) are also facing cases and probes in DA cases.Many say more cases may be slapped against them when facts will come out brazenly during the Yogi Adityanth regime which was voted to power only a few months back.  

Many tongues wag that it is the best of times that corrupt politicians are caught and investigations are being carried to hold them accountable for various alleged misdeeds. But many in whisper campaigns maintain that it is worst of times as a scare has been let loose to gag any opposition.

Finally, it is in hands of electorate who will pass out their judgment of real situation within next two years, the general elections are due in 2019 and many states have to go for polls ahead of Lok Sabha polls.