Indian Democracy - Karunanidhi way

The most lasting visual of the last few days , as far as i am concerned, is not Sonia or Manmohan or Rahul celebrating the election win. It is KARUNANIDHI BEING WHEELED IN HIS CHAIR TO NEWDELHI WITHOUT DELAY FOR BARGAINING.

HERE IS A OLD MAN WITH ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE. HE HAD GONE TO DELHI AND DEMANDED MINISTERIAL BERTHS FOR HIS SON, DAUGHTER, GRANDSON ETC. HE WANTS 7 BERTHS FOR 18 MPs.

I am reminded of the old political satire (drama) of Cho Ramaswamy in our student days titled "Mohammed bin Tuglak". In that drama, a guy becomes a prime minister (or chief minister) by offering all others deputy prime ministership (or deputy chief ministership). I AM SURPRISED THAT KARUNANIDHI HAD NOT ASKED FOR 18 BERTHS !!!!!!! Karunanidhi's concept of democracy is grab as much power for his family as possible through as many 'lucrative' ministries as possible.

Another lasting visual of this old man was his recent FOUR HOUR FAST DEMANDING INDIAN ACTION IN SRILANKA-- LYING DOWN ON A COUCH WITH TWO COOLERS (OR ACs) AND TWO WIVES PROVIDING COMFORT AND CARE.

He made his famous statement that Prabhakaran (of LTTE) is his PERSONAL FRIEND (just before TN elections) but is silent after the death of his 'Friend'.
DO YOU ENVY MANMOHAN SINGH HAVING TO DEPEND ON SUCH 'FRIENDS'?

CAN RAHUL GANDHI DO AN UP IN TAMILNADU NEXT TIME OUT?

INDIAN POLITICAL SCENE WOULD BE MUCH BETTER OFF IF AND WHEN, OLD POLITICIANS LIKE KARUNANIDHI MAKE THEIR EXIT.

VERDICT 2009 - THE GOOD AND THE BAD

Well , the results are out. And they have taken most of us by surprise, haven't they? Experts talked about all possibilities (except this,perhaps!!). Now that the cat is out of the bag it is time to take stock. People are going to write a great deal about this verdict, how it is a watershed, how mature is indian democracy and all that blah,blah,blah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As i see it there are some positives and some negatives in these results.

POSITIVES :

• Congress doing relatively well in UP at the cost of BSP and SP, there by putting Maya's ambitious flight to Delhi and PM gaddion hold.
  
• Kingmaker Amar Singh will be unemployed, at least for sometime.
• Signs are clear that may be we will be going back to the two-party democracy sooner than later.
• Third front marginalized and there is no threat of a third front government and a Deve Gouda like PM.
• Fourth front (of Mulayam, Lalu & Paswan) is a non starter. Both Lalu and Paswan got too big for their shoes and got thrashed. Icing on the cake is Paswan getting defeatedin Hajipur (he got into Guinnes book of records in 1989 for his 7 lakh plus votes there).
• The thrashing of comrades in WB and Kerala, particularly in West Bengal after 30 years ( i am no fan of Mamta but salute her sheer perseverence).
• Karat & company deserved no less for the troubles they caused in past five years and the treatment meted out to veteran speaker Somanath Chaterjee.
• Nitish, Sheila Dixit and Naveen all proving that performance does count, if sincerely performed.
• JP of LokSatta got elected from Kukatpally and the Lok Satta polled 10 to 15 thousand votes in several other constituencies. There is hope, however slim.
• Amma Jaya has not become a king maker . Thank God, we need not send ourArmy to Srilanka and attack them.
• TRS and Telangana issue are dead and burried , at least for now.
• Chirnajeevi can go back to movies and invest all the money (he is said to have made by selling seats to suckers) in movie business.
• Stock Markets will soar as there will be political stability and government will have a free hand on policy.
• BJP will have to for a total image change dumping LKA and NM (and Hindutva) and opting for a new and younger leadership if they want to give a good fight in 2014.
  

NEGATIVES :

• CORRUPTION is no longer an issue in indian democracy. Just look at the mandate YSR got!!!! And he is already claiming that people have give him a clean chit. I beg to differ. They have not said he is not corrupt. They have said that they do not care.
• This ACCEPTANCE OF CORRUPTION is the most disturbing feature of the results. It looks as if people have accepted corruption as a normal practice and don't give a damn.
• Security and Terrorism also are not seen as issues, it appears. Look how well Congress and NCP have done in Mahrastra inspite of 26/11.
• YSR and son now have the mandate to loot AP as they please and no one dares question them. They can beat their own previous record for corruption.
• India will continue to be a soft state which protects terrorists to appease it's minorities and protect it's vote banks. So come across the border, bomb and kill us. In the unlikely event that you are caught, you will not be hanged even if supreme court says so.
• In Hyderabad the MIM goons can continue to target writers, municipal officials, doctors and even the police under the continued protection of YSR- no action shall be taken.
• The loss of power of comrades will mean there will be no checks and balances on excessive and at times, unwanted, privatization, in certain areas.
• Rahul's transition to primeministership will be smooth and will take place sooner than later. India will continue to be ruled by the Nehru-Gandhi family. The Dynasty is here for good. Take it or leave it.

All in all a very interesting mandate, certainly much more clearer and focused than 2004 . It is not to say that the Congress has become good overnight ,but, by and large, people perceive it as a lesser evil, perhaps. Let us hope for the best and keep our fingers crossed for the next five years.

MERA BHARATH MAHAN

JAI HIND