1.       Common men slog all their lives to raise their ambitious children, to build a house of their own, and to accumulate some wealth to leave behind for their family. Many a times, they fail and die without leaving anything behind except some loans and hospitals bills to be paid off. Building a career from a poor background always seems like a Sisyphean task for common man in India. Narendra Modi has broken this myth. People know that he rose to the heights of Indian politics from a lower middle class family so they believe; Modi would understand their plights and would do something good to change their fate.

2.        Modi is considered pro-business. NaMo as PM means that industries will grow. People in significant numbers believe in trickle-down theory. That means if the rich will become richer that means more job opportunities and the wealth will trickle down to the poor.

3.      Gujarat Model of governance was a well-scripted ad campaign or a success story; it is to political pundits to decide. Whatever, it gave hope to the people of the poor states that Gujarat model of governance can change their lives for good. It is remarkable that BJP performed well in poor states like Bihar, UP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh but Odisha.

4.       The days of decisive politics are over. Modi did not raise any controversial issue during campaigning. His focus remained on development, economic revival, ending corruption, and job creation. Though, he let his lieutenant talk about Hindutava agenda of the BJP.

5.      \Modi has established himself as a tough commander. He may take right or wrong decisions but he ensures people that the government would be decisive under Modi as it was not seen in Manmohan Singh’s government.

These reasons are good enough to make people believe that good days are ahead. 

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By Abhishek Pandey

Price rise, series of scams, corruption in ministries and bureaucracy during UPA tenure, and lack of an appealing and visionary leader in the Congress party cost them this huge debacle in the general elections 2014. But no reason can take away the credit of Narendra Modi for this stupendous victory. He extensively campaign all over India and sold golden dreams to Indian electorates. And, it was well taken. Here are few other factors that helped BJP win—

 

1- Anti incumbency of 10 years worked against the UPA government. The government came to power promising a lot but could not deliver to the poor and the needy. Though, they were given chance twice by the Indian electorate. The UPA government formulated many welfare schemes and introduced right based acts but their benefits did not reach to the poor. The schemes were not implemented effectively or were allocated fewer funds than required.

2- Congress party has not developed state leaders over a period of time those could rise in need and woo voters. People were bored of Gandhi family and wanted a charismatic leader who could turn their dream of a better India into reality. Rahul Gandhi has always been reluctant to take any responsibility in the government and people lost faith in him. Very few top leaders in the congress party have direct people connect while BJP nurtured many such as Shiv Raj Singh Chauhan, Raman Singh, Manohar Parikkar, Vasundhara Raje and many others. While Congress lack big leaders in the state.

3- Polarization of votes in Uttar Pradesh helped the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP). Samajwadi Party could not manage communal riots in Western and Central UP. Hindu votes consolidated and helped BJP to do it’s all time best in the most important political state of UP where the BJP won 71 seats that is bigger that the congress’s all India tally. The polarization of votes in the state also disturbed the caste politics in UP resulting in the party like BSP losing all seats. The party still claims that the election was fought on development plank. On the contrary, the party did not initiate any action against the leaders who spewed venom during campaigning. And, fielding Modi from Varanasi was a tactical move by the party for connecting with people in UP and adjoining Bihar. In both the states, the party performed really well and won 93 seats. 

4- BJP had a great charismatic leader in Narendra Modi. He had a good track record of running a state government for last 12 years. The flamboyant Modi boasted of his achievements better that any one did. People believed that Gujarat model of development can change the face of the nation if replicated. 

5- Use of technology in this election played a significant role. Narendra Modi who is 64 communicated with the young generation using social media on a regular basis. Neither Rahul nor Sonia use social media platform.

6- Series of corruption cases in the UPA I and II antagonize Indian voters. The anti-corruption movement and reluctance of the government to introduce an effective Lokpal Bill was accepted as the government lack political will to fight corruption.  

7- It was an open secret that the PM office has a little role to play in running the government and people disapproved the Congress for bringing down the authority of the PM to such a low level. PM always looked toward 10 Jan Path for decisions. And, the PM Man Mohan Singh hardly communicated with the media.  

8- Crumbling economy and shrinking job opportunities impelled people to find an alternative and decisive government that can bring jobs and weave a better future for a young India.

9- The disappearance of Rahul Gandhi during crucial times was not accepted by the country. Whether there was an upsurge against Delhi gang rape or calamity in Uttarakhand, Rahul was not available. 

10- The last but not the lease. Congress helped BJP in making the Brand Modi. The Congress party indulged in fear mongering, communalism, the age-old talks of ‘secularism’ and pushed back the agenda of development. That was not well taken.

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By Abhishek Pandey

Recently Manmohan Singh went to God alone, without the permission of Sonia Gandhi. PMO denies it, but it has been reliably reported that the PM went up the top of the mountains to speak with God.

“God, God, why are you doing this to me?”

“Doing what, Manmohan?”

“The Coalgate, 2G scam, corruption charges, uncontrollable inflation, CBI investigations, now Lokpal. Why me, God?”

“Don’t blame me, Manmohan. I gave you my blessings to become the Prime Minister not once but twice in spite of knowing that you had not won Loksabha election. You have taken all this for granted.”

“God, I have done everything you told me to do. I introduced new legislations for the poor. I even introduced a new law to curb corruption; not because Anna Hazare asked for it but because I had promised you in the past.”

“Don’t lie. That was because of Kejriwal’s win in Delhi and Anna’s indefinite fast for the legislation in Ralegaon Sidhi. Anyway, I had warned you that you had sinful people working for you.”

“When, God?”

“Just after your meeting with Sonia to decide on the names of the cabinet ministers. When I saw you selected people to head up the ministries. I was shocked. We’ve got a long file on them up here.”

“Why dint you tell me, God.”

“I tried to, but PMO officials and Pankaj Pachauri would not let me talk to you on the phone. They said they would give you the message I called.”

“They never told me, God.”

“It figures. Then I sent you an e-mail saying it was urgent you contact me. I even commented on you Facebook post in which you congratulated Sonia for showing confidence in you and choosing you the PM.”

“The only e-mails I read during that period were those in which people supported my liberalization policies of 1991 and said that I had ability to make India a super power.”

“Finally, Manmohan, I made one last effort. I showed up at a press meeting one day at 10 Janpath, and after the meeting I came up to you and said there are men among you who would be reason of your fall. Do you know what you did, Manmohan? You did not react and introduced me to Digvijay Singh.”

“I dint know it was you, God. So many people show up at these meetings. You could be a BJP man. Is that why you are punishing me—because I snubbed you?”

“I am not punishing you, Manmohan. But even I could do just so much. I agree, you are an honest man, Manmohan. If it were merely a case of Coalgate, I could probably fix it. But your government is involved in corruption, shielding tainted leaders and corporate houses, gagging media, harassing honest officers, etc. Your ministers even tried to control social media and cane charged protesters at India Gate. The list of sins is endless."

“Good, God. Nobody is perfect! Is NaMo perfect?”

“Don’t change the topic.”

“Alright. Look, I have just got a few months in which to go down as the greatest Prime Ministers of India. I don’t want to go down in the pages of the history as the worst PM of India. Give me a break.”

“You have got to clean the house, Manmohan. Get rid of everyone who had any connection with any scandal. 

Don’t spare anyone. You must make it perfectly clear you were hoodwinked by everyone on your staff. You must show the indian people that when it comes to the reputation of an honest PM, no one is too big to be sacrificed on the altar of expediency.”

“God, you are asking for a really big sacrifice. Can Congress survive it?”

“I am trying to help you, not Congress.”

“God, one minute, let me check with Madam over WhatsApp to get an idea what are her views.”

“Okay.”

After five minutes.

“God, I’ll do it. Will you take AK Antony, Jairam Ramesh and Jaipal Reddy?”

“What kind of sacrifice is that?”

“Sharad Pawar!”

“Go ahead.”

“Salman Khursheed and P. Chidambaram.”

“That’s more like it.”

“And, God if I sacrifice them, will you keep me out of this and help Rahul Jee become the next PM.”

“Manmohan, I don’t work miracles.”

Note: This is an ‘original parody’ of an article written by Art Buchwald on Richard Nixon in 1971.

# This article also appeared on Fakingnews.com. (http://my.fakingnews.firstpost.com/2014/01/18/manmohan-talks-to-god/)

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By Abhishek Pandey

It’s not been even a week for Arvind Kejriwal at the helm of the affairs in Delhi and people have begun criticizing him and his policies. One person has even filed a PIL against him in Delhi High Court for making false promises in his manifesto. The person mentioned in his PIL that AK promised to pass Lok Pal Bill on December 29. It was quite funny because the person perhaps forgot that AK sworn in as the CM on December 28 only as he did not have enough numbers to form the government without any support either from the Congress of the BJP. 

I am not a AAP supporter but I firmly believe that we must refrain from cynicism that prevents a wind of good change. 

I support the AK for standing against the VIP culture by denying a lavish bungalow and security cover, for providing subsidy on water and electricity on the first two days of working at the office, for promising corruption-free governance and other pro-people policies. However, it is in the news that he has opted for a combined duplex house with total floor area of 9,000 square feet for his office and home. That’s not exactly an AAM Aadmi’s house. I am refraining to comment on the issue unless the reports are confirmed.  

Media and others have criticized him that AK took the support from the Congress while he had categorically denied taking any support either from the Congress or the BJP during campaigning. I support AK for not being stubborn on his decision and asking people for their opinion whether AAP should form the government or not. A senior journalist known for his ‘stupendous’ journalistic skills Arnab Goswami asked him that he is out-sourcing the party’s decision. AK smartly replied to the journalist that he is not outsourcing the party’s decision from Pakistan. He is simply going to the people who elected him.

One must watch the speech of AK in Delhi assembly where he did not ask for the support for his government or the party. He has talk about fresh policies. He talked about corruption free society. He talks about a system where everyone gets their works done in a government office without paying any bribe.  He has promised a lot and now it is time to show what can he do for the poor and Aam Aadmi. 

Let us keep sharpening our words of criticism for a little later stage when AK fails on his promises or falls from the standards he set for an ideal politician or say Aam Aadmi. Until then I think we should stop cynical criticism or criticism just for the sake of it.

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