No, I don’t live in “LA LA LAND”, and I am certainly not an anarchist. Neither am I trying to oversimplify things. I am merely an observer in the form of a journalist who has been covering elections since 2008, both from the field and the studio. An observer who has closely watched the formation and collapse of pre-poll alliances, and the birth of new alliances in the face of political opportunity.
Oversimplification is when opportunism is labelled as “politics of convenience”, a syndrome that almost all political parties in India seem to suffer from. Election after election, the pattern repeats itself. Political parties form grand alliances, release common minimum programmes, and go ballistic against their opponents during campaigns. Everything, from attacking the ideology of the opponent to dragging personal lives and family members into the discourse, becomes fair game. Policies and vision take a backseat, while caste, religion, and the ultimate political weapon, nationalism, dominate the narrative.
Although voters have developed an appetite for rhetoric, that does not make choosing easier. A mandate goes through a gruelling journey, finding the right issues amidst the many thrown at a voter to emotionally connect with. It is a constant struggle to choose the right candidate or party that truly fits the bill. An idea that germinates within an individual, yet is often influenced by external factors.
A mandate is born after intense expansion and contraction of ideas, at least for loyal and serious voters. It emerges after enduring painful, almost unbearable political debates, both on television and beyond it. In complete contrast to the fanfare that awaits it, a mandate is ultimately delivered in secrecy. Upon its arrival, it commands absolute control. Some genuinely bend the knee to it, while many merely pretend to. Once out, the mandate becomes an elixir for some and a death knell for others.
Which brings us back to the question: Does mandate matter?
The answer perhaps lies in what comes next - the godfather of all mandates: data. And history suggests that mandates in this country have often been manipulated, negotiated, or bypassed altogether.
Take the political turmoil of just the last decade:
Government formed by: BJP + allies (post poll alliance)
Government formed by: Congress + JD(S) (post poll alliance)
Government formed by: Congress + Undivided Shiv Sena + NCP (post poll alliance)
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
