With the beginning of the year 2012, the election fever was already on as 5 states went to polls in the first quarter of the year. Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur did not gain as much attention as UP did during the elections. But that is fair, as UP is a State with a population way over 200 Million and is bound to attract more eyes. Moreover, the political heavyweights were all trying their luck in UP. If BJP exported Uma Bharti, SP brought a fresh wave with the young Akhilesh Yadav. Congress played its trump card of Rahul G(Ji), and BSP had its dalit ki beti, Mayawati to lead the election campaign.
Congress played its old trick of 'woo muslims and get into power'. Salman Khursheed promising a 9% sub-quota for Muslims, then defending himself saying that he quoted what was transcripted in Congress manifesto, although the said manifesto was found not to have specified the quantum of reservation. SP was not behind in Muslim appeasement for various contents in its manifesto. It promises to provide reservation to all Muslims, treating them as backwards, in proportion to their population on the lines of Dalit reservation. The other salient features of the manifesto relating to the minority community are construction of boundaries of graveyards, a 'Special Dargah Act' with special package, modernisation of madarsas, removal of encroachment from all waqf properties, protection to artisans and handicrafts, waiver of power dues on weavers, special incentive of Rs 30000 for every Muslim girl who has passed class X, university status to several minority institutions and fulfilling Azam Khan's dream of setting up Jauhar University in Rampur.
Minority appeasement had to be an important issue in UP, for its 18% Muslim population.
On the other hand, BSP supremo Mayawati could not think of anything beyond dalits and continued with the Kashiram's line of politics. BJP, as expected, had Ram Mandir contruction in its manifesto, though it seemed to be a forced inclusion as it was not talked about during the rallies.
The 7- phased election in UP came an end and the speculations began with the media coming up with contradicting exit polls, where some predicted a President rule, while some others showed SP a clear majority.
On 6th of March, the real picture was unveiled and the political turnaround was round the corner. Akhilesh Yadav, turned out be the real Nawab of UP. SP won 224 seats out of 403. That says a lot about the Mayawati regime and its failure. But, more than Maya, it was a setback to the national parties. Rahul Gandhi campaigned with full enthusiasm and confidence, but success rate in the constituencies where he campaigned was merely 11%. Even the Amethi and Rae Bareli seats were lost. And that Congress stood 4th as far as the number of seats were concerned.
It was not a good day for BJP either, as it lost a big opportunity. Certainly, Uma Bharti did not work. The star campaigner for BLP, the Gujarat Cm, Narendra Modi was missing. There in no unanimity in the opinion of political analysts, whether, his presence could have been better or worse for BJP. But for sure, Ram Mandir issue has to be reconsidered by BJP, as it lost its Ayodhya seat for the first time since 1990. BJP has been winning elections in other states for its agenda of Development and upliftment of the poors, and the same should have been the prime concern in UP as well.
Ultimately, Akhilesh won it for SP, and gifted the CM's chair to his father. What worked for SP is still unknown. Was it the anti-incumbency factor? Was it the poor governance by Mayawati? Was rampant corruption by Mayawati government the decisive factor? Was it the minority appeasement that worked? Did the people of UP forget the goondaraj by SP, half a decade ago? Did Mayawati commit a blunder by wasting hundreds of crores of Rs. from public exchequer for her own statues?
The people of UP have reposed faith in SP, and there is a glimmer of hope and anticipation of regret in the SP for its goondaraj in the early years. Good, corruption-free governance is expected from SP. Now, it is upto them to prove thir point and come true to the expectations of people.
Jai Hind
UP is considered one of the crucial kingdom for politics,and what i feel is that the as the political cycle moves with wind, the mentality of people to elect their supremo also changes with time...UP reacted on what they suffered...
ReplyDeleteThe other reason of SP's win is dedicated to Akhilesh who is rising like a fervent men & ready to implement what he had learned back at school, keeping behind his father's orthodox view and being practical to people...one of the instance is his way of campaigning...Rahul(G) was totally in "AIR", while Akhilesh went through the "SAND", as the front page of TOI on Wednesday showed a picture of AKhil riding a cycle giving his dad a seat behind him...Here what i cud see the passion to do something...
And now wht i pray is that what begins well must end well...At least 'HOPE' is a thing that we cud do in this country...
Jai Hope!!!
In democracy, people do not elect Supremo; they elect their Chief Minister, and if one acts like a Supremo, he is not elected again. Probably, that was the core reason for Mayawati's loss. She was inaccessible for the people. She was autocratic.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, if one wants to be in power for a longer period, he/she has to rise above the vote-bank politics, as Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar have done. Mayawati played the Dalit card, which did not work and lost the Muslim votes.
SP's makeover was the biggest task for Akhilesh, which he did, quite efficiently. he allotted tickets to the educated class. But, I fail to understand, as to why would people vote for SP, even if they connected to Akhilesh, as he was not projected as CM. People voted for Mulayam, who was thrown out because of his goondaraj.
Rahul also goes to the places of Dalits and has food with them to coonect with them. But that wasn't enough. Moreover, the recent scams and the Anna Hazare movement also played as a major role in Congress' defeat.
I hope that Akhilesh is sworn in as CM of UP, and the change arrives.
Rightly said, Jay Hope !!