It is election season again and I have this feeling of deja-vu. Been there, heard that. The ruling BJP in many ways has become a mirror-image of what the Congress once was. This goes beyond their appropriation of national icons like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. Instead of a Congress-mukt Bharat we would be better served if the current dispensation renders us Mukti (freedom) from the bad governance, wrong practices, precedents and policies of the Grand Old Party. But look closer-

1. Money/Muscle/Religion/Caste was the winning combination for the Congress for many decades. The BJP has whole-heartedly embraced this mantra. Even after 70 years the Reservation footprint is expanding and the ruling party is happy to oblige. It is all about power. And power corrupts. In 2019, it is exceedingly difficult for good, qualified and well-intentioned people to break into this toxic political system. Mr Modi and his advisors have also sold their souls to the Winability formula.
2. The ‘Aaya-Ram Gaya Ram’ politics of defection still holds currency. The Indian National Congress can claim a patent for its invention. Recent events in Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra demonstrate that the defectors are alive and kicking in this Naya Bharat. Many of them tainted by corruption charges.
3. Corruption became synonymous with the Congress Sarkar. The BJP looks better in comparison because no major skeletons have tumbled out of the closet so far. More importantly because of the personal clean image of the Prime Minister. But let’s not forget that Dr Manmohan Singh is also well regarded for his integrity. But what happened under his watch in UPA2! The rottenness and avarice reached its peak. Politics has become the first refuge of the scoundrel. Modiji’s government is also sacrificing good governance and integrity at the altar of power. The case of the rapist MLA in UP highlights this dalliance with criminality and is a wake-up call for the BJP leadership. Their UP CM clearly looked the other way. Such thugs are shockingly called Bahubalis in these parts and actively courted by the BJP, Congress and the regional outfits.. And what about the BJP brat in MP who wielded the cricket bat to poor effect. Just not cricket. The PM delivered a strongly worded sermon. No further action seems to have been taken. His doting father is too important for the party as he oversees the West Bengal election apparatus. Politics as usual. No signs of a New India.
4. The Anti-Corruption mission is also part of the sound and fury, signifying nothing. The Choksis and Nirav Modis and Mallyas are still living the good times abroad. After 5 years of the Modi government we are no wiser about illicit Swiss bank accounts and shell companies in Cyprus, Bahamas, Panama or Lichenstein. The P Chidambaram case may well turn out to be a litmus test. If the investigating agencies have not really done their work, the wheels will come off the anti-corruption drive. If the former FM and HM is released for lack of evidence, politicians of all hues will be celebrating. All future arrests will be termed vindictive and politically motivated.
5. The Congress was notorious in its heydays for undermining critical institutions like the Supreme Court, CBI and the Election Commission to promote the family or party agenda. Circa 2019. The BJP continues the good work by diluting the independence of the Reserve Bank and the autonomy of the CBI. The unseemly controversy at the top level of the CBI was disgusting. Mud-slinging by the top brass of our premier detective agency. One of the actors, known to be close to the ruling party may soon get a clean chit. Also check-out the appointment of loyalists and politicos to the constitutional post of the Governor. Many of their actions and words are embarrassing. Rewind to the grand old Congress days. And interestingly little news on the much hyped Lok Ayukata. The autonomous, anti-corruption ombudsman in each of the Indian States.
6. Both these national parties also seem to be on the same page in avoiding much needed bold structural reforms. Their leaders pay lip service to it. Nothing more. Think about the long pending women’s reservation bill for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Police Reform Act to upgrade this much neglected force and to free them from the clutches of unscrupulous politicians. The Political Finance Bill to lay bare the source of funding for political parties and for elections. The BJP leaders, despite their holier than thou pravachans, are one with their political brethren. Let the status-quo remain. Let their political fiefdoms remain unchallenged. Dynastic politics thrive. For allowing sincere people in the fray is injurious to their political health.
7. Criminality and politics are a successful mix. Even the high-brow Communist parties have their goon squads. All political parties including the BJP and Congress have given tickets to very dubious characters. Many charge-sheeted. Some having done jail time. They wear it like a badge of honour. Our freedom fighters will be rolling in their graves. A frightening percentage of our representatives in the Parliament and the Assemblies are criminals. Three score and ten years after Independence. If the Judiciary or Election Commission want to clean-up things, our Honourable leaders scream that it is an assault on our democratic values. The more things change the more they remain the same. Modiji does not seem to realise that millions of voters voted him and not the BJP to power. Many did not know who the local BJP candidate was. He can dismantle this rotten system. Induct people of character. But does he really want to change the political landscape for good?
8. Delhi Durbar and Lutyens Delhi invoke the Congress rule. The First Family. The Power brokers. The Leftists and Liberals. All feeding off the perks and the privileges. Such clouds do hang-over the current regime as well. The Congress and Left parties had their mouth-pieces in the media. Many TV channels and news-houses have hitched on to the Modi band-wagon. Facts and reasoned reporting be damned. Modiji will have to reach out beyond the ‘Yes Men’, the inner-circle and the clique of babus to get a real sense of things. Get professionals like Deepak Parekh, Nandan Nilekani, Arif Mohamad Khan, Julio Riberio and Raghuram Rajan known for their independent views in the PMO. It was the former RBI Governor who blew the whistle on Bank NPA defaulters – which has led to a serious socio-economic crises today. Why not consult the new Nobel Laureate for Economics, Abhijit Banerjee. Yes, he has been critical of De-Mo. But he is an authority on Universal Basic Income and has a refreshing take on hard data evidence to back policy intervention. Very relevant to our economic growth story. Also have conversations with the critics in the media and academia. Sir, you are representing the country of 1.3 billion people in your own words, and not just those who elected you. Pay heed to those who disagree, listen-in to their perspective. Sabka Saath is an important part of your ringing slogan. It will herald a clean break-away from the cosy Congress club and coterie culture.
9. Our political parties are infested with crude motor-mouths. The Congress came up with the classic line for its uncouth who crossed the line”It is his personal opinion. It does not reflect the position of the party.” Now we have the BJP spokesperson plagiarizing this on a regular basis. Nobody is hauled-up, disciplined, suspended or expelled. The party fraternity hangs out together. Disparate elements from the Sangh Parivar have clambered on to the Modi Express.But the political tirades and personal attacks especially at election times have hit a new low. The Congress chanakyas had honed the personal attacks. The BJP seems to be determined to plumb the depths. Even their own allies are not spared. The party high-command should understand that the tragic demise of Manohar Parrikar, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitely has left a huge vaccum. These were the people who could reach out across the aisle. Speak and debate with facts and fervour. During Vajpayeeji’s stewardship, wit and banter and poetry gave flavour to political discourse. In the sound-bytes by today’s BJP netas, amplified by sensationalistic TV channels and the omnipresent social media, one can hear echoes of decadent Congress leaders and pravaktas.
10. The PM made a strong pitch for Sabka Vishwas. Resounding words, little action, no out-reach. Is he running with the hares and hunting with the hounds (just an uncomfortable thought!). Minorities, especially Muslims, are beginning to feel disengaged if not marginalised. The other side of the same coin was the appeasement or vote-bank politics played by the Congress- a legacy of the British rule. If the Constitution of India is the sacred book, then the Government must demonstrate that it is. Replaying the same old cynical politics is dangerous in times of connectivity and social media. A suggestion- why does the Home Ministry not step in to ensure justice for Pehlu Khan’s family in Rajasthan. Send a clear message to the lynchers and their fringe supporters. The law of the land is above all politics, it is Raj Dharma.
11. Radical Islam needs no introduction. However, it was startling to hear that barbers in some province in Pakistan were penalised for stylising beards. The customers were let off with stern warnings and presumably half-trimmed beards. In India also we have these self-styled guardians of morality and the Hinduvta elements are raising their disruptive heads again. From moral policing to telling women what to wear and other do’s and don’t’s, to monitoring the dietary habits of all and sundry. They really are the left-overs from some medieval age.And mob-lynchings are hate-crimes. Period. The perpetrators should be arrested and summarily punished. Through fast-track courts. These criminals and their cheerleaders showcase as to how people end up becoming what they hate the most. Sadly,in a recent TV interview, the Home Minister shrugged aside ‘these incidents’. Using the classic Congress playbook- Deny, Deflect and finally Rant out at some conspiracy.
12. The BJP’s timidity on the economy front is both an off-shoot and a hang-over from the Congress era. The hero of the ground-breaking reforms was Dr Manmohan Singh with full-backing from PV Narasimha Rao. More than 25 years ago. Still we have the BJP FM’s gingerly tip-toeing around wealth-creation, promoting entrepreneurship, divesting PSU white-elephants and creating a good eco-system to do business. Like their Congress brethren they also revel in a ‘pro-poor’ image- whatever that means.Subsidies and freebies, loan-waivers and reservations continue to be the staple and populist offerings. The status-quoists still control the narrative. Even a major initiative like the GST has not been well-thought through and implemented. WARNING: A young and aspirational population will be much less forgiving than the earlier generation. Nothing less than transformational change will be acceptable.During the Congress Raj, even the well patronised liberal economists used to sneer at the low- ‘Hindu rate of growth.’ Enough reason to provoke Mr Modi & team to focus on real growth.
13. Mr Modi’s stature rests on his no-nonsense approach to national security and tough stand against terrorism. Balakot, Uri, Abrogation of Article 370 have resonated well across the country. Made for TV spectacles like the “Howdy Modi” event have added to his 56- inch- chest aura. India is no longer a soft nation punching well below its weight in the global arena. We remember with acute shame our Government’s paralysis after 26/11 happened.

However, the BJP’s default strategy of blaming all the ills in the country on the Congress will harm its own political well-being. The PM and party have to walk the talk. NOW!

The Hon PM’s legions of followers will say with some justification- hey, this is unfair. India is a huge and complex country. Sure. But Modiji is at the top of his game. He is in prime form. He can hit the ball out of the park at will. The next 12 months can record the defining moments in the India growth story.

14. If NaMo.2.0 does not deliver on development and good governance, the BJP and Congress will share another dubious distinction. Letting India down despite absolute majority mandates and multiple terms in power.

The BJP has to carve out its own identity in national affairs, polity, economy and social change, and time is running out………

Is it the Hand touching the Lotus? Or is the Lotus striving to bloom in muddied waters?