Demonetisation drive launched with much enthusiasm by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a sort of sterilisation drive to weed out black money has left the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttarakhand sharply divided. A section of the leaders eyeing tickets for the upcoming Assembly election is a frustrated lot as they realise that the tickets would elude them. Though they continue to say that the drive would help the party sweep the election they are saying privately that it would prove counter-productive at the hustings.
On condition of anonymity, a leader said that the people despite bearing the brunt of things are supporting the move overtly lest they be taken for hoarders of black money. “However, the reality is that they are resenting the move bitterly as they are facing the heat of cash crisis. Things are such that they are flattering the bank employees into getting Rs24,000 out of their hard-earned money. Some are, of course, rejoicing as they take it as retributive justice that has taken the filthy rich the hard way,” he said.
He further said that BJP itself happens to be at the receiving end of things along with the ruling Congress as both stockpiled piles of notes to be used during the elections to lure the electorate. Another state saffron leader who is in the sulk mode said that the matter of concern for the party is the traders, deemed to be the traditional support base of the party, shifting allegiance to its arch rival Congress. “Unless things come back to normalcy by the end of this month the negative slide would be irreversible,” he said.
He further said that even the leaders who have somehow managed money, which plays pivotal role in candidate’s victory during election, will not be able to use his cash. As we know that after demonetisation and unclarity in state leadership, the upcoming election would be fought between Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi and state chief minister Harish Rawat. The bureaucrat and police officer, who have been enjoying plum posting or working in comfort zone, will be more vigilant and would not allow BJP leaders to use his money and muscle power because they know that if they did not act actively then their bread and butter would be no more.
He further said that business community, which was being considered as cadre vote of BJP, has become silent. As we know that their business has dampen and they have adopted wait & watch since declaration of demonetisaions with an hope that things would improve in few weeks or so but now they are getting impatient. Mentioning about British era, there was being said that you can beat on my back but don’t beat on my belly, and this time they have hit on belly of mass. Seeing the cash crisis business community, who used to deposit their cash in banks, are not depositing their daily sale into bank because they have fear psychosis that if they deposit then they may not get money from bank in case of need arises in future. IN this scenario candidates are under stress and keeping their finger cross.
They are being asked by the public that PM is not answering or not allowing debate in Parliament on demonetisation under voting act. It means he has not confident on their own MPs otherwise he would have allowed opposition and participated in the debate. These are situation has been putting more strain on them.