The BJP and the Congress need to set their respective houses in order if they want to win the 2014 lok Sabha election and not become mere slaves to their alliance partners
The 2014 General Elections are fast approaching and the NDA is confident that it will definitely sweep the polls. What the public wants to know is what their calculations are and who theirs partners will beIJ
Will Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi be NDA’s Prime Ministerial candidateIJ Modi’s third consecutive win in the Assembly elections in the State is no doubt huge. He has gained from the fact that the Congress in the State has more or less been wiped out at the grassroots level. There is no Congress leader left in the State who can give Modi a run for his money. Not for the next 10 years at least. If, by any chance, there is going to be another party in Gujarat it has to be a regional party. This is where the NDA scores over the UPA-II.
The main party of the UPA-II, the Congress is not fit to act as a responsible opposition. It is the not the senior leaders but the younger leaders in the Congress. Most of these leaders, who are a part of vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s team are careless and used to the comforts. Arrogance comes easily to them. If they work for two days they need to rest for a week. It is not possible for these young leaders to match the work done by people at the lower level or the work done by regional parties that are fast gaining ground.
There are too many options available for the aam aadmi now to choose from. But the problem is that despite so many candidates and leaders in the fray, there is dearth of capable leaders.
Meanwhile, the NDA should not get too confident lest they fall flat on their faces like they did with the India Shining campaign in 2004. But they have a plus point. The experience of sitting in the opposition for several decades has made them masters of calling the shots. The Congress, on the other hand, is blindsided here. The NDA had tasted power once. They obviously want to rule again. But once again their partners will demand their pound of flesh.
It is here that the regional parties gain. Dynastic politics has come a norm in most political party. Politics is not just about power. It has become a lucrative business. So to keep those businesses going one has to have friends and well-wishers across party lines. That is why personal interest takes priority over loyalty or sincere work towards betterment of the nation.
Gone are the days when loyalty was considered to be aplus and working for the nation a priority for the leaders. The common man is taken aback when he learns of the business connections that leaders from different parties have. It is strange how two people can fight so openly in the public and yet conduct business together. It appears that the best way to approach the problem is to blame and target a third person. So, it is good that Rahul Gandhi has started taking stock of the situation and will question his partymen on the work done and their achievements. Grassroots worker can directly meet him and give a feedback.
Sadly, the BJP suffers from the same flaws. The two major national parties — the Congress and the BJP — need to get their act together before either can claim that they will come to power in 2014. The inablility to address the matter will mean that both the paties will become slaves to their partners again. If the fight is going to be Rahul versus Modi, both need to get their act together.