Sea Change in Indian Politics

Khutheibam Farook Ali *

Voting for 16th Lok Sabha election 2014 for Inner Manipur Parliamentary in Imphal on 17 April 2014 :: Pix - Shanker Khangembam

2014 General Election results have brought a sweeping sea of change in Indian Politics. There is a general understanding in coalition era that no single party would able to cross the magic figure of 272. In coalition era, formation of government particularly at the Centre was always assumed to be a coalition one with one major party leading its Coalition parties.

Although Indian politics witnesses coalition politics particularly in the post-1990 with many regional parties becoming a king-maker at the Centre, it (Indian politics) remains largely a bi-party system i.e. whether it is Indian National Congress (INP)-led-United Progressive Alliance (UPA) or Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led-National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that led the government. Largely, no other regional party/parties or third front able to provide an alternative or prime ministerial candidate to the Indian people.

INC-led-UPA government came to power in 2004 winning 335 seats out of 543 seats in the Lok Sabha. The 2004 government formation at the centre witnessed the support of 13 parties to the INC party. INC-led-UPA government again came to power in 2009 general election with initially 15 parties supporting the government. A number of irregularities and scams unfolded during the 10 years of INC-led-UPA rule at the Centre.

Mentioned can be made of Commonwealth Games scam, 2G scam, Coal blocks scam etc. This has led to the rise of Anna Hazare Movement in the form of anti-corruption movement demanding the passage of Lokpal Bill in the Indian Parliament. The Anna Hazare movement also resulted in the formation of Aam Adami Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal. The 2014 Delhi State Assembly election witnessed the defeat of the Congress party and the rise of AAP forming the Delhi government with the outside support of the Congress.

It is in this background that the rise of Narendra Modi as a prime ministerial candidate for BJP-led-NDA is witnessed in Indian Politics. The Modi factor sweeps the Indian politics in 2014 pre-elections campaign. Modi campaign "Chai pe Charcha" became a buzzword in the 2014 pre-election campaign.

The result of 2014 General Elections exposed the aspiration of Indian people with implicitly indicating the political parties across India that people want change and show it in the capability of Narendra Modi. BJP-led-NDA swept the 2014 general elections result winning 336 seats with BJP alone winning 282 seats.

The era of Coalition understanding that no party would able to reach the magic figure of 272 and government formation at the centre will always be a Coalition government is now question with the expected or unexpected performance of BJP. Although NDA being a pre-poll alliance with other 28 parties supporting the BJP, with stunning 282 figure alone, BJP is the lone party in the Coalition era that have the capacity to form government alone at the centre.

There might be numerous reasons for BJP-led-BJP for winning with stunning figures. However, as an analyst, I would rather stress on the weakening and disconnect of INC-led-UPA with the people and their rule for 10 years with numerous infamous scams along with Modi phenomenon might be major reason rather than BJP-led-NDA becoming a stronger alliance in winning such a figure in recent 2014 general election.

But it can also be stressed that the 10 years rule of the INC-led-UPA government has able to pass some of the pro-people bill that really help the Indian people in making this nation strong. Some can be mention as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) 2005, Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005, Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009, National Food Security Act, 2013.

Now it is the BJP-led-BJP government that has the chance to work for the people and become a pro-people alliance. This stunning achievement of BJP magical figure of 283 seats alone can be terms as a "Sea Change" in the era of Coalition Politics.