The election results in India
By Justice Markandey Katju
The BJP has won a huge majority in 3 states in India, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chattisgarh, in the recent legislative assembly elections, while the Congress party has won only in Telangana.
In my opinion, the election results are irrelevant. As I have repeatedly said, the test of every political system or political activity is one, and only one : does it raise the standard of living of the people ? Does it give them better lives ?
From that viewpoint, it is wholly irrelevant whether BJP wins, or Congress, or any other political party in India. Whatever be the case, it will make no difference to the lives of the people. They will keep suffering from massive poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, lack of proper healthcare, lack of good education, etc.
But leaving that apart, how does one explain the victory of the BJP?
In my opinion, the reasons are these:
1. When a party goes to the polls, it must have something to offer to the people. The BJP has Hindutva to offer ( whatever its worth ), and this appeals to a large section of the 80% Hindu population of India.
On the other hand the Congress and other parties have nothing to offer ( except platitudes and homilies about secularism, which is really with an eye on the Muslim vote bank, not for any genuine concern for Muslims ).
2. The BJP has the large RSS cadre which is present in almost every state in India, and actively helps it during elections.
Congress and other opposition parties have no cadre, but only hirelings.
3. The Central Govt, with all its resources, and most of the media help the BJP.
4. Prime Minister Modi is constantly active, always seen on TV doing something. In contrast, Mallikarjun Kharde, the President of Congress, who is 81, is perceived as old and decrepit, while Rahul Gandhi is perceived as dumb and arrogant (since he regards himself as heir to a royal dynasty).
So it is almost certain that the BJP will win the 2024 parliamentary elections.
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. These are his personal views.)
