Recent Assembly Election in Four States and its Verdict

The recent verdict in State elections held in the month of April- May 2011 in four States show the growing maturity of common man in electing its representatives and deepening of democracy in India. Elections were held in the States of West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Assam. Except in Assam where the ruling party-Congress could able to manage to hold its power ( The present government of Assam has done some good work in the State in the field of development and maintenance of Law and order ), in all other three States main opposition parties have come to power with a clean sweep by TMC in W. Bengal( Historical win as it has rooted CPM out of power after more than 30 years of rule in the State) and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, despite large freebies distributed by the ruling DMK party. The main reason of DMK thrown out of power in this election was the impact of 2 G Spectrum scam worth rupees hundred crore( billion) and anti- incumbency factor. Another bastion of left is in the Southern State of Kerala, where UDF ( Congress) has defeated LDF ( Left party) in a nail biting finish.

The larger issues emerged out of these elections are summarised as under:

Firstly, the writing on the wall is clear, there is growing frustration in public at large with present parties in power as there is rampant corruption and lack of employment generation in rural areas.

Secondly, in democracy it is people who decide the ruler rather than other way round.

Thirdly, it is a warning to the ruling coalition in Centre to reduce corruption, speed up trial and increase the conviction rate by providing more autonomy to investigative agencies in the country, reduce inflation, create more jobs, complete infrastructure projects in time and pass Jan lokPal Bill as suggested by Anna Hazare recently, else they will be booted out of power as happened in these States ( save Assam).

Corruption and Lok Pal Bill

India is witnessing a new kind of upsurge in terms of fighting the menace of corruption after the famous hunger strike in the capital by Anna Hazare- a social activist. What is so famous about his struggle is his style- using Gandhian method of peaceful demonstration and hunger strike. What is his main demand- a Lokpal (Indian version of Ombudsman) to take up cases of corruption at the highest level in the system. He wants a team consists of renowned social activist part of civil society and legal luminaries to draft a Lokpal Bill and the Parliament of the country to pass the draft Bill as a State Act. What is the hurdle for this- Well, it is the political class and the bureaucracy who is driving the maximum benefit out of the present system, simply want to sabotage any attempt to make them accountable and responsive to the citizen of the nation. A broader issue here is the growing anger among the masses with regard to growing corruption in every walk of life. If the government keep on neglecting the issue of corruption and do not take necessary action against corruption, India may see
Anna Hazare- A crusader
against corruption. a kind of upsurge which is a common sight in the middle east. Is Govt. listening!!!