History, they say, has a way of repeating itself.
Perhaps that's why, when the BJP and AAP got voted back to power in Lok Sabha 2019 and Vidhan Sabha 2020 respectively, we called it a 'historic' mandate.
Now, it doesn't matter which side of the political spectrum you are on. You could be a BJP-bhakt or an AAP-iya - endearing suffixes coined by you-know-who for you know-who and you-know-why.
What matters from both these verdicts (oh, and I am assuming we are putting any EVM disputes aside) in this context, is that people have voted on performance and trust.
Of course, one has to also factor in populist steps taken by both governments - sops doled out by the BJP, welfare budget, etc. for Lok Sabha 2019 (LS '19) - and the much-derided freebies by AAP for Vidhan Sabha 2020 (VS '20).
Such measures aside (and having been taken by both the parties, in a way, they tend to also cancel each other out), as I thought further, some definite patterns emerge quite clearly:
Leadership's track record and perception
It is a no-brainer that for LS '19 and VS '20, we always knew the runaway leader. Think leadership in each of these elections and you could clearly see the incumbent as the front-runner, by a long way. Sure, one could debate the merits of each leader and oh-what-has-he-done and deride any/each of them as frauds or plain marketers. But the fact of the matter is that - right or wrong - both Modi and Kejriwal did manage to successfully build a clear perception that they were doing everything they could.
Both did some good work for sure, which resonated with the people and even more importantly, convinced the electorate that they were the right men for the job.
At least in politics, it is often so much about how-you-are-seen-to-be-doing things than how-much-you-are-doing.
The TINA Factor
No, this is not about Mrs. Anil Ambani but about the fact that There Is No Alternative.
Both Modi and Kejriwal have, despite any possible lacunae in their leadership or party/government, convinced people that they were our best bets when we went out to vote.
Partisan preferences aside, in today's date, who else do you see as a capable (forget better) PM than Modi right now? Rahul Gandhi? Or, any of the other opposition leaders whose appeal and parties do not have even half the nation's confidence?
Likewise, did even the staunchest BJP supporter feel a Manoj Tiwari could be the right alternative for Arvind Kejriwal? Could you even see a comparable leader from any party in mind as a worthy opponent or alternative to Kejriwal?
Centre and state elections are different
Another offshoot of the point on the vote being a reflection on performance, alternatives, and perception at these elections is that the voter has treated each election on its merit.
I am sure I am not alone in believing that the same person who voted for BJP at the Centre could have voted for AAP in Delhi. And vice versa.
If you are doing good work (or at least better than any others in the fray), you will be recognized and repeated.
Therein, lies the crux of what Delhi (in its LS and VS variants) has taught us.
Look for the right people. Vote for performance (though yes, it is also based on perception).
I like the positivity in these verdicts. They tell us that people can rise above party-based politics and elect a leader who will be able to deliver.
Or, at least seen to deliver.
Jai Ho!
Perhaps that's why, when the BJP and AAP got voted back to power in Lok Sabha 2019 and Vidhan Sabha 2020 respectively, we called it a 'historic' mandate.
Now, it doesn't matter which side of the political spectrum you are on. You could be a BJP-bhakt or an AAP-iya - endearing suffixes coined by you-know-who for you know-who and you-know-why.
What matters from both these verdicts (oh, and I am assuming we are putting any EVM disputes aside) in this context, is that people have voted on performance and trust.
Of course, one has to also factor in populist steps taken by both governments - sops doled out by the BJP, welfare budget, etc. for Lok Sabha 2019 (LS '19) - and the much-derided freebies by AAP for Vidhan Sabha 2020 (VS '20).
Such measures aside (and having been taken by both the parties, in a way, they tend to also cancel each other out), as I thought further, some definite patterns emerge quite clearly:
Leadership's track record and perception
It is a no-brainer that for LS '19 and VS '20, we always knew the runaway leader. Think leadership in each of these elections and you could clearly see the incumbent as the front-runner, by a long way. Sure, one could debate the merits of each leader and oh-what-has-he-done and deride any/each of them as frauds or plain marketers. But the fact of the matter is that - right or wrong - both Modi and Kejriwal did manage to successfully build a clear perception that they were doing everything they could.
Both did some good work for sure, which resonated with the people and even more importantly, convinced the electorate that they were the right men for the job.
At least in politics, it is often so much about how-you-are-seen-to-be-doing things than how-much-you-are-doing.
The TINA Factor
No, this is not about Mrs. Anil Ambani but about the fact that There Is No Alternative.
Both Modi and Kejriwal have, despite any possible lacunae in their leadership or party/government, convinced people that they were our best bets when we went out to vote.
Partisan preferences aside, in today's date, who else do you see as a capable (forget better) PM than Modi right now? Rahul Gandhi? Or, any of the other opposition leaders whose appeal and parties do not have even half the nation's confidence?
Likewise, did even the staunchest BJP supporter feel a Manoj Tiwari could be the right alternative for Arvind Kejriwal? Could you even see a comparable leader from any party in mind as a worthy opponent or alternative to Kejriwal?
Centre and state elections are different
Another offshoot of the point on the vote being a reflection on performance, alternatives, and perception at these elections is that the voter has treated each election on its merit.
I am sure I am not alone in believing that the same person who voted for BJP at the Centre could have voted for AAP in Delhi. And vice versa.
If you are doing good work (or at least better than any others in the fray), you will be recognized and repeated.
Therein, lies the crux of what Delhi (in its LS and VS variants) has taught us.
Look for the right people. Vote for performance (though yes, it is also based on perception).
I like the positivity in these verdicts. They tell us that people can rise above party-based politics and elect a leader who will be able to deliver.
Or, at least seen to deliver.
Jai Ho!
