This is one tough election, with hard choices.
On one hand, you have the promise of development and a corruption-free India from the man – Narendra Modi – who seems to have done well with his state.
Though I have not travelled to Gujarat for over a decade, banker friends claim it is so safe that a woman can drive a scooter late at night without being harassed, something even Mumbai may not be able to boast of. There are economic indicators that suggest he has done reasonably well (though many might disagree).
But the same man was in-charge when the 2002 Gujarat riots took place. It’s not that other parties aren't guilty of riots. I was a teenager during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. But the memory of 2002 is clearer because its visuals were shown on television 24/7.
There is another problem with the man with a 56-inch chest – his public demeanour. While he is acknowledged as a good orator, his speeches are often laced with factual errors and derogatory remarks. In the past, he has called a politician's wife (now deceased) ‘a Rs 50-crore girlfriend’, and repeatedly targeted the Gandhi family, all of which raised eyebrows in civil society. P Chidambaram recently described Modi’s tendency to make derogatory comments as a ‘deep character flaw’.
Then there were reports that journalist Siddharth Varadarajan’s caretaker was attacked by thugs, allegedly because Vardarajan was perceived to be anti-Modi. While it is yet to be ascertained whether they were BJP workers or some other mischief makers, one thing is quite clear even on social media – if you talk against Modi, you will be trolled and bullied by his 'supporters'. The venom spewed by his supposedly-educated 'fans' goes beyond mere political disagreement, as in the case of journalist Sagarika Ghosh who was reportedly threatened with gangrape on twitter.
Overall, here’s a man who has most likely done some great work. But his traits of arrogance, intolerance and aggression are not palatable to many.
That’s fear. (His proponents will say only the corrupt need to be scared of him because he threatens to clean up the system.)
On the other hand is the United Progress Alliance, led by the Congress, which has been in power for 10 years. And their scorecard makes very sorry reading.
There was rampant corruption. The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister are reputed to be very good at their respective jobs, yet the economy is suffering. While much of it can be blamed on the global meltdown, consistent high inflation is a problem unique to us. The Prime Minister was not able to curtail corruption, neither did he take action against corrupt colleagues and, worse, he did not respond with conviction on anything.
Even going by their latest manifesto, one can clearly see more taxes coming for the middle class while the poor (even the rich rural) will be given more sops. Their solution for everything is more subsidies for the voting class.
While the savings rate of the middle-class is dipping due to high inflation, rural India’s spending ability is going up due to MNREGA. Instead of creating job opportunities, the party believes in doling out free money.
Worst still, the face of the party, Rahul Gandhi, is quite uninspiring. And there is a belief that if Congress comes back to power, it will be more of the same.
This is frustration.
Which emotion will win...
