Can Development Win You Elections?

Results of 2024 elections have thrown a challenge at the votaries of economic development as the answer to divisive politics. 2014 to 2014 was the period of fastest growing Indian economy with a huge blip of two years due to world pandemic of Covid that saw many economies collapse. It was the period of both micro and macro changes in the society with the bottom of the pyramid population getting massive benefits of the new model of economic development that had a social content too. It was period that saw massive reforms policies and big push for infrastructure. It saw North East Region joining the mainstream finally on the back of development in every sector of the economy. This period saw 25 crore distressed poor out of poverty, provided dignity of life to crores at a speed and efficiency that was never seen in earlier 70 years. It was “sabka saath sabka vikas” (taking everyone together for development) there was no discrimination on caste or religion. But BJP did not succeed the way Modi ji had hoped.

This strange behaviour of the electorate has stumped many political watchers. In USA state of economy can make or mar the President. For the first time, USA elections are not being fought on the state of the economy but on woke agenda. In India, a successful economy does not guarantee your return to power. I have noted earlier, “Good economics does not necessarily good politics.

PVN Narasimha Rao lost the elections despite turning Indian economy around by throwing away the rotten mixed economy model, which was socialism based on Russian model by another name. Atal Behari Vajpayee consolidated the gains of liberalised economy by giving it a solid foundation of reformed laws and clear government vision. He also turned Indian economy vibrant with ambitious plans to modernise and expand our infrastructure. An idea that socialist Congress remnants laughed at. We saw high growth rates that lasted even UPA1. He lost. In state politics regressive Communist rule for three decades in West Bengal, followed by another decade of directionless oppressive policies of TMC saw West Bengal going down from the top of the table to the bottom. Chandrababu Naidu gave a new lease of life to undivided Andhra Pradesh with ambitious digitisation and modernisation of AP. He did not return to power. As an exception, Modi ji won consecutively three times in Gujarat with firm but responsive governance and economic growth. His legacy is still alive and Gujarat is still ruled by BJP, though with a lacklustre government. There is a hidden message here. Modi ji and subsequently, BJP, lasted because the core the Hindutva sentiment is holding his electorate together. Only development would not have worked.

Coming back to the present election, we find the clues why a large number of electorate chose religion and in some regions caste as the criteria for voting. by their own admission, Muslims gained out of proportion benefits from welfare measures of Modi government. They also know that UPA’s own Sachar Committee report had literally highlighted that the secularism of Congress and its allies had not benefited Muslims at all. In terms of social environment, despite vicious propaganda, there were hardly any serious communal riots, except in Delhi, which were engineered by some opposition politicians as shown by investigations. Muslim women gained freedom from regressive personal laws.

Here is the dilemma that faces BJP - “If voters are lured easily by caste and religion factors, why talk of development?” What’s the use of hard work put in by Modi ji for the welfare of Muslim community? Why do we discuss economic factors so seriously if people are going to vote for narrow considerations of religion and caste? Better enjoy governance without delivery and play communal and caste politics with some crumbs of imaginary benefits or freebies to get votes?

There is clear evidence in news reporter clips that Muslims had openly told different reporters that though they profited from Modi Ji’s welfare measures, they would vote for Congress or allies. SCST society got blown away by fake news spread like wild fire that reservations will be removed. They did not listen to multiple assurances of Modi ji nor BJP record of not playing with the spirit of the Constitution ever. Voters also need to ponder whether they want better life or only religious play.

One of the solutions could be to follow genuine unbiased secularism, following the BJP motto – “justice for all, appeasement of none”, coined by Advani ij. Special schemes for minorities only hurt the sentiments of poor Hindus. Whether it is a certain amount given to a daughter of a Muslim family at the time of marriage, or a Hunar Haat focused on Muslim karigars, the poor Hindu or artisan feels short changed. He/ she questions the policies that discriminate against them.

Modi ji had rightly appealed to Muslims to think whether sloganeering or only religion based issues like land for mosques or Waqf will help them in anyway as compared to genuine welfare measures. But it seems this appeal had no effect on the ground.

Should BJP work for the easier way of and work for reverse polarisation of majority with lip service to secularism, or try to change the deep bias against Hindutva and BJP with non-partisan development tilted towards minorities? BJP cannot get a Muslim elected even from Muslim majority area.

Will it not be better for BJP to resolve pains of Hindus? Problems that do not affect other communities but are impact Hindus? For example, BJP work towards freeing Hindu Mandirs and handing them over to Hindu society at the earliest. This would solve so many of problems of Hindus, like temple management in dharmic way, nurture Gurukuls, running dharmic programme with devotees’ contribution to nurture Sanatan Dharma. If BJP wishes to go whole hog, it could change discriminatory nature of Articles 25 to 30 and make them universally applicable in true spirit of secularism or Sarva Panth Samabhaava. BJP can give recognition to Sanskrit degrees like Shastri which used to be equivalent to post graduate degrees.

BJP could repeal and design new Waqf Board act which has given untrammelled powers of land grabbing to Islamic bodies and is against every judicial norm. This law has the potential of creating huge unrest.

Why should minorities not be part of Right to Education? Some minority institutions are of very high quality. Educating children cannot be the duty of majority community alone. Every citizen should contribute to national cause.

There are many other issues that need to be addressed for working towards a better society. Population Control is another urgent task that has to be religion neutral and implemented post haste. Uniform Civil Code demanded by various Indian courts is non-discriminatory, and can be brought in.

Minorities need to realise that that they don’t have a veto power, or right to enjoy privileges without contributing to the national good. The steps suggested here can slowly bring about a change in their attitude as exclusivist groups. No citizen or group of citizens have a right to exploit democratic and secular laws for their gains, at the same time holding Indian democracy to ransom using religious card. Dialogues must continue with them to rise about communal politics and join the national mainstream with clear understanding that special privileges need not be a one way street.