The Congress election manifesto, in particular, as also those of its off-and-on allies, focuses on what are generally being acknowledged as ‘desperate’ freebies to entice the public to vote for it. Behind this approach also lies the fact that the Congress does not actually expect to win the elections and, therefore, deliver on these promises. It will, however, keep reiterating afterwards how grand its plans were for the people and, in comparison, how poor the delivery of the incumbent.
On the other hand, the BJP manifesto has had to be far more nuanced for exactly the same reason – it will most likely be the one required to deliver. So, the enticements are there but, in principle, are not freebies. As in the past ten years of the Modi Government, these are designed to enable people to become entrepreneurial in spirit, even if it is a marginal farmer or a woman in a low-income household. From the point of view of growing India’s economy at the pace required for a reasonably high per capita income, this is definitely the way to go.
Even so, the Congress should have exercised restraint in the promises its leader is continuing to make. Already, the Congress Government in Karnataka is facing criticism for not just failing to actualise its exorbitant promises, but also for messing up on what it is attempting to do. It must be noted that the Congress did not win in Karnataka because of the freebies offered, but due to the anti-incumbency against the previous regime. Otherwise, it would have won in the other states, as well.
Anti-incumbency does not exist at the national level, as far as one can tell. With all the aggressive campaigning underway, the electorate’s silence indicates that a very large percentage of people have already made up their minds. It is only in areas where the reach of social media and television is severely limited, or general awareness is low, can it be said that there is a floating vote that can be influenced either way. Of course, mistakes can be made at the constituency levels by miscalculating caste or community factors, or choosing a candidate whose unpopularity is so great as to trump party affiliation, but that has little to do with manifesto promises. People will always vote in their self-interest, particularly if they wish to protect what they already have. That, essentially, has to be understood by all the parties.
