Lok Sabha Election India
— B Rahman Barooah As soon as the Election Commission of India announced the 15th Lok Sabha Polls, scheduled to be held in five stages, political parties evinced promptness to gird up their loins to go the poll battle. In Assam, election dates have been fixed on April 16 and 23 respectively. Some quarters urged the ECI to postpone the election date of April 16 to some other convenient date in view of the fact that Assamese Rongali Bihu celebration coincides with the election dates of April 16. Since the Rongali Bihu festival is the biggest festival of the Assamese society irrespective of communities and ethnic groups, the poll on the aforesaid date is supposed to mar the traditional occasion of mirth, frolic and other forms of merriment.
Lack of political homogeneity among the various forces in respect of principles and ideologies essential for uniterrupted public service, the political scenario has become very complex and presents a very ludicrous and confusing situation towards forming a stable and all pervading government, aiming at maximum welfare for the maximum number of citizens. Under the circumstances, political parties are up and doing in working out a permutation and combination of basically opposite political elements though they cannot sustain for long. In the process of striving for electoral adjustments and seat sharing, priority is accorded to vested interest vis-a-vis ethos ideologies so dear to individual parties. What is more staggering in the realm of scramble for power is personal aggrandisement of rival political leaders and vehement mudslinging to their adversaries. Ipso facto, coalition governments become the order of the day, however fragile they may ultimately become. Vituperative propaganda and canards spread against opponents by some political stalwarts through press, platfrom and media have led to drastic erosion of democratic ethics and practices besides encouraging unpatriotic elements to indulge in vandalism, display of muscular power to coerce their opponents in legislature and in other sacred fora. The recent incident occurred in the one day Assam Assembly session where an honourable member assaulted an official with blows, speaks of the reprehensible phenomenon of rowdism exhibited by a section of public representatives. This is, in true sense of the term, a conscious and deliberate attempt to tarnish the sanctity of an august house. Such course of action obviously emits ominous signal of anarchy to the growing generation. In order to remedy such a sorry and horrible state of affairs, our public representatives should abide, wholeheartedly, by the election code of conduct in order to project clean image of their political career. Against the macro goals directed to usher in an era of overall social upliftment and prosperity, they must dessist from such perilous methods as may tend to eat into the vitals of our socio-political fabric.
It is, therefore, incumbent upon the political workers seeking to hold the reign of administration to have recourse to an anatomy in the style of function and discharge of their public duties. transparency helps them build a successful political career commensurate with the needs of a society or a nation. In this regard, more teeth should be provided under the Representation of People Act, to sternly deal with delinquent characteristics of some political elements. While pointing accusing fingers at rival political members, the party must not be indifferent to what it had already done for the good of a State or nation or a society. It is no denying the fact that the Congress party formed as a disciplined political party, led the freedom struggle of the country under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and laid down the principles of sacrifice, suffering and non-violence and subsequently made her one of the front ranking nations in the comity of world nations. Jawaharlal Nehru, as the first Prime Minister of India, built the edifice of modern India through the ideals of socialism and secularism and technological upsurge. In Assam too, the Congress leaders from Gopinath Bardoloi to Sarat Chandra Sinha, displayed the rare sense of patriotism; and never compromised with these forces which were bent upon wrecking damage to our unity and solidarity and assured the type of administration that catered to the real aspirations of the people. However, slowly and subtly fissiparous tendencies crept into the body politic and as such a bigger volume of corruption and malpractices has been given red carpet by the rank and file of politicians and bureaucrats. Promises made by the Congress leaders ended in fiasco. The agitation against the problem of foreign nationals reinforced by the forces of regionalism gave the mandate of political power to the Asom Gana Parishad twice. But, it measurably failed to convert the State to golden Assam and apart from the rhetoric the party could not deliver the goods even of an earthen Assam. The magnitude and extent of corruption of the AGP surpassed the previous Congress records. The degree of their mal administration reached such an extent, that the party lost all sympathy from the common people. Lakhs of Bangladeshis grabbing the land of Assam could not be deported, save a very few ones. The State government despite a sympathetic government at the Centre and particularly when two of their leaders were in the Central Cabinet, failed to strike a deal to seal the Indo-Bangladesh porous border to check infiltration of foreigners. Except taking the credit of convincing the Central government to convert the Central financial assistance to the ratio of 90 per cent as grant and 10 per cent as loan, the government failed in a fronts of administration. It simply antagonised the employees by depriving them of their monthly salary payments timely. Militancy grew under their very nose and it connived at it. The government was unceremoniously dismissed before completion of the term and during their second tenure which they won by shedding crocodile’s tears before the electorate with false promises, culminated in defeat in general election, lock, stock and barrel. If the Congress isfraud to the public, the AGP is a farce. But the AGP against the background of their past activities and the modus operandi of political function cannot this time also befool the masses. If they think so, they are in a fools’ paradise.
The BJP and the AUDF have very little relevance in State politics. While the BJP cannot be immune from communal fervour, the AUDF is equally communal in latent form.
The present trend of criminalisation of politics and conversely, politicisation of criminals is surcharged with dangerous portents to contaminate the political firmament. Some of the political leaders with criminal credentials round the powers that be and have consequently, explored scope to associate with the process of crucial decision making. These criminal politicians against whom serious charges are pending and those who have already undergone jail term move no stone unturned to get involved in active politics having been supported by a handful of the local mafias and other vested lobbies.
As already hinted the Third Front proposed to be floated by the perfume baron Ajmal is another ploy to beguile the people of Assam, more particularly, the immigrants of the riverine areas. The AUDF is not inspired by any ideal or the spirit of public service for realising the goals of a greater Assamese society. If has an axe to grind for systematically reaping the benefits of political opportunism through perpetuation of communal virus. The party pleads for non-enmity with the Congress except Tarun Gogoi who is regarded as an eyesore to Ajmal, however, at the personal level.
The matrix of all the forces and counter forces, generates such a situation which is hostile to the survival of healthy democratic tradition, the quintessence of a successful parliamentary system. Therefore, honest and dedicated citizens, though few in number, choose to fight shy of political actities for effectively running the day to day affairs of a nation. Thus, one cannot hope against hope for better government unless some miracle happens. Nevertheless, it may be different if not impossible to conceive of a national government consisting of upright members from each and every political party.ASSAM TRIBUNE
— B Rahman Barooah As soon as the Election Commission of India announced the 15th Lok Sabha Polls, scheduled to be held in five stages, political parties evinced promptness to gird up their loins to go the poll battle. In Assam, election dates have been fixed on April 16 and 23 respectively. Some quarters urged the ECI to postpone the election date of April 16 to some other convenient date in view of the fact that Assamese Rongali Bihu celebration coincides with the election dates of April 16. Since the Rongali Bihu festival is the biggest festival of the Assamese society irrespective of communities and ethnic groups, the poll on the aforesaid date is supposed to mar the traditional occasion of mirth, frolic and other forms of merriment.
Lack of political homogeneity among the various forces in respect of principles and ideologies essential for uniterrupted public service, the political scenario has become very complex and presents a very ludicrous and confusing situation towards forming a stable and all pervading government, aiming at maximum welfare for the maximum number of citizens. Under the circumstances, political parties are up and doing in working out a permutation and combination of basically opposite political elements though they cannot sustain for long. In the process of striving for electoral adjustments and seat sharing, priority is accorded to vested interest vis-a-vis ethos ideologies so dear to individual parties. What is more staggering in the realm of scramble for power is personal aggrandisement of rival political leaders and vehement mudslinging to their adversaries. Ipso facto, coalition governments become the order of the day, however fragile they may ultimately become. Vituperative propaganda and canards spread against opponents by some political stalwarts through press, platfrom and media have led to drastic erosion of democratic ethics and practices besides encouraging unpatriotic elements to indulge in vandalism, display of muscular power to coerce their opponents in legislature and in other sacred fora. The recent incident occurred in the one day Assam Assembly session where an honourable member assaulted an official with blows, speaks of the reprehensible phenomenon of rowdism exhibited by a section of public representatives. This is, in true sense of the term, a conscious and deliberate attempt to tarnish the sanctity of an august house. Such course of action obviously emits ominous signal of anarchy to the growing generation. In order to remedy such a sorry and horrible state of affairs, our public representatives should abide, wholeheartedly, by the election code of conduct in order to project clean image of their political career. Against the macro goals directed to usher in an era of overall social upliftment and prosperity, they must dessist from such perilous methods as may tend to eat into the vitals of our socio-political fabric.
It is, therefore, incumbent upon the political workers seeking to hold the reign of administration to have recourse to an anatomy in the style of function and discharge of their public duties. transparency helps them build a successful political career commensurate with the needs of a society or a nation. In this regard, more teeth should be provided under the Representation of People Act, to sternly deal with delinquent characteristics of some political elements. While pointing accusing fingers at rival political members, the party must not be indifferent to what it had already done for the good of a State or nation or a society. It is no denying the fact that the Congress party formed as a disciplined political party, led the freedom struggle of the country under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and laid down the principles of sacrifice, suffering and non-violence and subsequently made her one of the front ranking nations in the comity of world nations. Jawaharlal Nehru, as the first Prime Minister of India, built the edifice of modern India through the ideals of socialism and secularism and technological upsurge. In Assam too, the Congress leaders from Gopinath Bardoloi to Sarat Chandra Sinha, displayed the rare sense of patriotism; and never compromised with these forces which were bent upon wrecking damage to our unity and solidarity and assured the type of administration that catered to the real aspirations of the people. However, slowly and subtly fissiparous tendencies crept into the body politic and as such a bigger volume of corruption and malpractices has been given red carpet by the rank and file of politicians and bureaucrats. Promises made by the Congress leaders ended in fiasco. The agitation against the problem of foreign nationals reinforced by the forces of regionalism gave the mandate of political power to the Asom Gana Parishad twice. But, it measurably failed to convert the State to golden Assam and apart from the rhetoric the party could not deliver the goods even of an earthen Assam. The magnitude and extent of corruption of the AGP surpassed the previous Congress records. The degree of their mal administration reached such an extent, that the party lost all sympathy from the common people. Lakhs of Bangladeshis grabbing the land of Assam could not be deported, save a very few ones. The State government despite a sympathetic government at the Centre and particularly when two of their leaders were in the Central Cabinet, failed to strike a deal to seal the Indo-Bangladesh porous border to check infiltration of foreigners. Except taking the credit of convincing the Central government to convert the Central financial assistance to the ratio of 90 per cent as grant and 10 per cent as loan, the government failed in a fronts of administration. It simply antagonised the employees by depriving them of their monthly salary payments timely. Militancy grew under their very nose and it connived at it. The government was unceremoniously dismissed before completion of the term and during their second tenure which they won by shedding crocodile’s tears before the electorate with false promises, culminated in defeat in general election, lock, stock and barrel. If the Congress isfraud to the public, the AGP is a farce. But the AGP against the background of their past activities and the modus operandi of political function cannot this time also befool the masses. If they think so, they are in a fools’ paradise.
The BJP and the AUDF have very little relevance in State politics. While the BJP cannot be immune from communal fervour, the AUDF is equally communal in latent form.
The present trend of criminalisation of politics and conversely, politicisation of criminals is surcharged with dangerous portents to contaminate the political firmament. Some of the political leaders with criminal credentials round the powers that be and have consequently, explored scope to associate with the process of crucial decision making. These criminal politicians against whom serious charges are pending and those who have already undergone jail term move no stone unturned to get involved in active politics having been supported by a handful of the local mafias and other vested lobbies.
As already hinted the Third Front proposed to be floated by the perfume baron Ajmal is another ploy to beguile the people of Assam, more particularly, the immigrants of the riverine areas. The AUDF is not inspired by any ideal or the spirit of public service for realising the goals of a greater Assamese society. If has an axe to grind for systematically reaping the benefits of political opportunism through perpetuation of communal virus. The party pleads for non-enmity with the Congress except Tarun Gogoi who is regarded as an eyesore to Ajmal, however, at the personal level.
The matrix of all the forces and counter forces, generates such a situation which is hostile to the survival of healthy democratic tradition, the quintessence of a successful parliamentary system. Therefore, honest and dedicated citizens, though few in number, choose to fight shy of political actities for effectively running the day to day affairs of a nation. Thus, one cannot hope against hope for better government unless some miracle happens. Nevertheless, it may be different if not impossible to conceive of a national government consisting of upright members from each and every political party.ASSAM TRIBUNE
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