Lessons from Delhi

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!

Happy New Year!

It is a new year and as things stand, even the very first month has been choc-a-bloc with frenetic activity from different fields in different parts of the world.

I want to begin by noting the bad part first, precisely so that we can get that out of the way first:
The Wuhan epidemic has taken globally alarming proportions.
The tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter in a helicopter crash has been quite shocking and utterly sad too.
Closer home, the CAA (pro and anti) agitations along with rabid rabble rousing by our netas as Delhi elections approach leave a lot to worry and ponder about.
Within days of approaching their death sentence, the Nirbhaya rapists (and their lawyers) are using every arm of the law, every nuance and every provision that can possibly avert or at least delay their planned hanging.
From curative petitions to mercy pleas, each accused is raping again, this time law and justice, by using delaying tactics and one-by-one appeals.
If you were truly sorry, you would not even consider arguing, let alone appeal for anything.

Now, for the good bit:
India (oh, this is not good stuff if you happen to not follow or like Indian cricket) has begun the year on a great note, pummelling Sri Lanka and Australia at home.
At the time of writing, we are on course to beat New Zealand in their own backyard.
Augurs well for the T20 World Cup.
It may be (and is) nowhere near the pedestal that Test victories or even World Cup wins enjoy, but T20 victories also work as catalysts towards spurring a new generation of cricketers to adopt the fearless brand of cricket, where the "we can chase any target" or "win from any situation" mindset germinates.
If you need any voices to second this fact, Cc: Class of 2007 T20 World Cup

Let's pray for good things in the new year, and only good to happen to everyone in this year and for all times to come.
Ameen!

The year of 2020

As we bid adieu to 2019 and usher in the new year, here's wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2020!

Based on some reflections from the last 12 months, I have some wishes for the next 12:

May the present times being witnessed in India improve in every way.

Wishing for a better climate (environmentally) - lesser pollution, lesser weather extremities, and lesser global warming.

I wish for a better quality of interaction and better communication - between everyone, across all different faiths and practices.

May we stay united, inclusive and positive. Let us learn to disagree with each other amicably and courteously genuinely without losing respect for anyone with a contrarian perspective.

Hopefully, the coming year will see us get less angry and more compassionate.

Let us gladly and fearlessly share what we believe in, well enough. But even more than speaking well, I hope all of us learn to listen (to the other side) even better.

If we have a better ear, we will have a better year!

PS: 2020 is also, quite appropriately, the year of the 20-20 World Cup. As an Indian, I need not say any further to share what else I wish but may I say, I'd love our team's Test wins (especially abroad) even more!

Cheers to everyone for a great new year!

Maha Hopeless

"The world is full of out and out liers.

Any others are just outliers." - Free Free 1008 Shailesh Dhaundiyal

 

At least the world of politics is surely one such cosmos, where truth and honesty is more a rarity than a norm.

Perhaps we as the janta - the perennial lesser mortal public, have also got so immune to their selfish, manipulative and devious nature, that their self-centredness and complete lack of principles is the only thing that we can now expect of them consistently. 

What's more, despite looking as divided as they may ostensibly seem, this is the one trait that cuts across party lines.

The political one-upmanship in Maharashtra in every major party's brazen lust for power is another grim reminder of how sorry the state of affairs is.

One can only haplessly witness events where people poach, buy and sell MLAs - who are supposed to be our elected representatives, who have sworn allegiance to the Constitution of India, and who have pledged to uphold the values of integrity and principles in public life.

Where is your ideology?

Where are your principles?

There is no better to choose from - perhaps just a matter of opting for whoever/whichever seems to be the least worst.

Hopefully, we as the electorate, will either stand up to make a difference or continue to do our best in making the right/least-worst choices.