Shiban Khaibri
So much of as much of the claptrap about “Democracy in danger”, “Democracy being murdered”, “Democracy strangled” etc got reversed with equal measure on May 23 in Bangaluru Karnataka from the magnificently decorated but crowded by the country’s top liberal democrats and propounders of upholding the highest principles of Parliamentary democracy. After all, the blitzkrieg of retrieving of democracy took place, the credit of which was duly taken and distributed as well, perhaps equitably. The event was witnessed, rather actively participated in by all the top Indian “luminaries” of democracy, sans of course, the ones who were outside the event in Benguluru in the open sun on the roads indulging in “undemocratic” sloganeering, perhaps lamenting about this new “roop” or the interpretation of Democracy where those two groups were destined to have the cake and eat it too who were, till only a few days back, trading choicest innuendoes against each other. They were haplessly watching the unique political rendezvous which meant more than the eyes saw but definitely not just an ordinary swearing -in ceremony.
The other remaining two top secular democrats expected to have joined the juggernaut against the “enemy of democracy” were Telengana CM K. Chandershekhar Rao and Odisha CM Navin Patnaik . They , though were “part and parcel ” of the Super Maha Gathbandhan against Modi and all support for the symbol of democratic victory , could not reach the venue for which not only they expressed regrets but their miss gave all hitherto rivals now turned allies on the mega platform, political cramps of there being something black in the lintel. The “democratic voice” from the state of Jammu and Kashmir too was duly represented in the grand democratic and secular event. Who says Jammu and Kashmir politics is not deeply “mainstreamed” especially when it is the question of unprecedented show of solidarity to defeat the “communal and divisive forces”, the ones from whom there is “danger to the democratic and constitutional institutions”.
Before it could be deduced that Democracy also means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge, many feats of political contours and impossibilities turning into possibilities were feigned on the swearing in platform. The word feign is used deliberately as a bit of political appraisal. The “feats” were that once rivals were seen closely together and sworn rivals turned momentary and prospective allies. We saw bumping foreheads and chatting laced with and iced with cheese smiles. I humbly dare to refer to Behan Ji with Sonia Ji and both with Mamta Ji. Rahul Ji had intermittent adolescent smiles with see saw rhythm. Mamta Ji and Behan Ji posed for panoramic photo -ops. Sharad Ji who quit Congress to open separate Congress with slight adjustment, showed that he was part and parcel of Congress. Chander Babu Naidu, the recent revolutionary divorcee from the NDA seemed taller to display his courage to have left the powerful NDA rather than be declared not having got through in getting the toast buttered from both sides. The swearing -in ceremony segued into a show of a preview of the entire, whole opposition’s 2019 mission to grab power, an all out war against Modi.
Do not question what Ajit Singh of RLD had got to do there having drawn flak in both Lok Sabha as well as Vidhan Sabha elections. The same being true of Communists, D.Raja and Sita Ram etc etc. Even Congress which once boasted to be a pan national Party had been reduced to 2.3% of their rule in India, less than many regional parties and had the other inalienable constituent of Indian Democracy, the Jod Tod option not having been given a full trial in Karnataka and Yedurappa having just notched additional 7 seats, it could have forfeited its claim to be a National Party as BJP led NDA is ruling in 20 states or nearly 70 % of the area of the country.
Karnataka developments have arranged enough material for research scholars in political Science to redefine Indian Democracy in the sense who benefitted the most from the ambiguities of this Democracy. A story in our pre- school days used to be told to induce sleep and to just introduce to the intricacies of the world that we had to face in life. The better -half of a rat desired to cook a special dish for her consort rat and the choice fell on Khichdi. Do not draw an analogy of Khichdi with any type of politics in 2019. The poor rat was happy but got a long list of ingredients required from his beloved. He went to grocer and other shops to collect the required material one by one which virtually drained all his strength but the mouth watering Khitchdi kept him going. When he should have retired and watched the dish ready to be served, he got another but a bit time consuming assignment which he did and returned bruised, tired, hungry and a bit fuming. He was aghast seeing his consort snoring in deep sleep and having eaten away the entire recipe leaving nothing for the poor wretch, a blatant breach of trust.
In other words, the voters work hard, wait for five years to teach “them a lesson” as they are told that they are the “Kings and the ultimate authority” in Democracy. In scorching sun and in torrential rains they wait for their leaders to listen to their election promises, the poor fellows give donations, raise slogans, garland and respect leaders , even host them while they do the nautanki of staying overnight and oblige the concerned for having eaten the food served. When they win, they become the REAL Kings. They ally with those whom the voters do not choose. After reaching “there”, they become invincible, indolent, insentient, inert, and irretrievable. The voter just cannot do anything. Democracy in fact is for the political leader who wins an election and not for the voter. Political scientists shall have to rewrite Democracy and Electoral processes in the Indian context albeit Karnataka.
While , this writer writes these lines , the JD(s) – Congress alliance has won the confidence vote in Karnataka and thus Democracy “endangered” by Modi Government stands “saved” at least , after in Punjab , now most importantly in Karnataka. The law makers now shall feel free to leave the guarded and under eagle eyed surveillance resorts and hotels and ensconced buses back to their homes. Rahul Gandhi, just up to the last day of campaigning was severely attacking Deve Gowda’s JD (s) Party as being B party of the RSS and the BJP , S standing for Sangh Parivar and the select audience clapped. They, now feel waylaid on seeing the same B Party of the BJP in power along with its baiter Congress after hugs, exchanging of bouquets and raising hands up to try to touch the skies of 2019.
Now Modi Ji should learn from the democratic secular Karnataka Government how to solve unemployment problem, how to address farm distress and farmers’ suicides, how to lower petrol prices, how to sell sabzi for a small song, how to fight crime etc. He should in the interests of running the country’s affairs till May 2019 also get expert young advice from Tejaswi Yadav. Modi Ji should keep on consoling Yedurappa with 104 seats to endure and co-operate with the new CM with 37 seats after his Party contested 218, forfeiting security deposits on more than 100 seats winning not a single seat from Bangaluru. After all it is democracy which has won.
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