The general direction of the exit polls has proven to be right. The results of Assam and Puducherry were a given and there were not many naysayers among most news channel analysts. The anti-incumbency in Keralam was visible to all and it was accepted that only some unknown factors could prevent the UDF from coming to power. The big shifts in power that have occurred in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu show that the people know very well how to exercise their mandate and, given a fair opportunity, they deliver a well-considered verdict.
The surprise in Tamil Nadu is, of course, the emergence of actor Vijay’s TVK as the largest party and his becoming the Chief Minister is being considered a certainty, with the probable support of the anti-DMK bloc. This is a reflection, once again, of the state’s culture of personality worship, despite the fact that political ideology based on Dravidian identity continues to have a strong hold.
It must be noted that, whatever the claims on social empowerment and justice, equal opportunity and welfare programmes, both the TMC and the DMK had gone badly off track. Both parties have become the personal property of their supreme leaders, who believe they have almost a divine right to rule. As such, they have resorted to all kinds of manipulation to lock in on the people’s votes.
Credit must be given to the Election Commission for ensuring there was no systemic capture of the public mandate through practices that have become notorious particularly in West Bengal. With around 93 percent of the people voting, there can be no doubting the mandate. It shows that the India’s constitutional structure is still functional and the danger of its being permanently compromised in West Bengal has been averted. Hopefully, all the issues raised by the BJP during the election campaign will be addressed in the manner that left-wing extremism has been almost exterminated. It is only by delivering on promises that political longevity can be achieved.
Similarly, the DMK’s virulent anti-Hindu rhetoric in Tamil Nadu has been soundly rejected by the people. The party’s leaders betrayed their constitutional duty by adopting such open divisiveness. No one who exercises power on the basis of the constitution can be allowed to function in this manner. In the overall response of the electorate, this must also have been a deciding factor. Strengthening local identity is a good thing, but not by endangering the nation’s unity and integrity. This is a lesson, both, the DMK and the TMC need to learn if they are to have a future in Indian politics.
