Festival of Democracy hypes
- Imphal Times Editorial :: April 14 2019 -

The festival of democracy gains momentum with first phase polling in 91 parliamentary constituencies across the country concluded without much unwanted incidents.

Voters turn out reached 69.43% as per report of the Election Commission of India.

91 out of 543 seats is not a big number but the polling patterns showed the fate of political party in the remaining seats which will be held in phases.

Congress party, the main rivalry of the ruling BJP seems to garner more confidence after the completion of the first phase poll, while the ruling BJP seems to be a desperate.

This has been opined as poll analysts cited Modi’s unusual address-to-the-nation for an anti-satellite missile, a biopic and webseries about him, an entire channel called NaMo TV devoted to his speeches, both Modi and party president Amit Shah making blatantly communal speeches and invoking dead soldiers to appeal for votes, and tax officers carrying out raids on opposition leaders.

It seems as if the BJP scrambles to produce something new if its leadership seems to believe that it is unable to control the narrative for even two days.

The congress party seems more exited not because the party has succeeded in securing more seats in the first phase poll held on April 11, but because they are confident that other rival political party which are against the principal and agenda of the BJP have gone up its popularity.

Post election scenario on who will go with who is a matter yet to be discussed as everything is fair in love and war.

BJP’s electoral strategy not only remains the same but also harden on issues to make the nation a one religion nation.

This has been opined in view of the content of the party’s manifesto at which they promise making the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 as the law of the country and also ensure that the National Register of Citizens is implemented across the entire country if it forms the next government.

It’s a fact that people across the North Eastern states of India which have just 25 MPs with lion share in Assam had uproar when the BJP led NDA alliance had passed the Bill at Lok Sabha.

This region was put on fire to the cost of human lives when the BJP and its alliance was all set to table the bill at Rajya Sabha.

Yet, the leaders of the party including Party’s National President Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi keep continuing saying that they will make CAB as law if comes to power.

Even the architect of the BJP in NE state Sarbananda Sonowal, who is also the Chief Minister of Assam had been advocating the CAB bill.

As for the BJP leaders of Manipur the tone for support of the Bill is different except for a BJP MLA Radhakishore, from Oinam Assembly constituency here in Manipur.

While Radhakishore speaks straight the need for CAB, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and the state president of the BJP says that there will be provision that CAB will not affect the state.

Sarbananda Sonowal chemistry on his support to CAB may benefitted the BJP.

When NRC comes into force it was declared around 40 lakhs people in Assam as illegal immigrants.

Among the 40 lakhs if CAB is introduced half or people who are not Muslim will get citizenship without much difficulties which means that the 20 lakhs plus voters will favour the BJP.

But why the Manipur BJP supports CAB is a matter need to be pondered.

Worth mentioning here is the statement by one BJP spokesperson which stated that 60 to 70 % of the people of Manipur do not know what is CAB.

He said so to let the people think that CAB will in no way effect in the election.

But why BJP national leaders are playing with fire in NE people is a matter need to be pondered too. 25 out of 543 + 2 MPs is not a matter.

By playing with fire with the NE people the BJP is expected more MPs from mainland India including West Bengal.

The BJP leaders not only play with the sentiment of the people of the NE but also stand tough with its policy at Jammu and Kashmir for abrogation of the article 370 and 35 (A).

6 MPs area there in J& K and losing seats in either NE or in J& K is not an issue but will add more support in Hindi heartlands which have maximum number of MPs.

The BJP is in its right strategy whether it lost seats in the two parts of the country, they may come to power.

Saying so desperateness of the leadership is easily noticed with the way they campaign.

Yes, everything is fair in war and love but people expect a fair game in politics for the people get the real taste of Democracy.