With another round of assembly elections approaching, freebies are already being handed out by incumbent governments. Promises regarding government jobs are being made, regardless of whether government salaries are even being paid on time. Where the opposition rules, poor state finances are conveniently blamed on the central government. On the other hand, it is time for the launch of mega-projects by the BJP double-engine Sarkar. And, of course, the particular ideologies of each contending party are being given an extra edge to seem the best defender of their supporters’ interests. And, if this does bring in the votes, be assured that there will be even more of the same in the future.
Then there are challengers from outside the political system, hoping to cash in on their personal charisma. There is actor, singer and, now, politician, Vijay, who is hoping to do what fellow superstars Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan could not – replicate MG Ramachandran’s transformation from superstar to chief minister. Desperate incumbents have also to fend off such challenges and it costs money. DMK has already begun with the handouts.
Who pays for it eventually? The public, of course, leading to creaky infrastructure, potholed roads, choked drains, failure to invest in public amenities for the future, etc. Do these freebies actually swing or consolidate the vote? No politician is willing to take the risk of a principled stand against such ‘purchase’ of votes. And it is only an incumbent government that can launch projects of various kinds as investment in the future, rather than creating further liabilities. Some do, as is happening in Assam, while others don’t, preferring instead to game the electoral system, such as the TMC in West Bengal.
It is a hard choice for the voters to glean the grain from the chaff. Most governments do not have the courage to seek re-election on the basis of performance. This is partly because run of the mill, everyday achievements soon come to be taken for granted by people. Without drama, controversy, or sophisticated presentation by the odd politician, good governance is mostly forgotten. It is here that non-political civil society groups should take steps to remind people of the intelligent and positive priorities, rather than headline hitting declarations. Even if this prepping helps a more mature approach to choosing candidates and impacts on results just a little bit, the savings in public funds in the final outcome will still be significant. Vote for the right reasons.
