In a stunning verdict Indian electorate taught lessons to both Congress and the NDA. While the lesson for Congress was taught in Kerala, lesson for NDA was taught all over India. It has become evident now that India was not shining and that in Kerala group war was the disease and it has destroyed the diseased. 

In the recent years when Congress in Kerala furiously and incessantly fought each other’s group and when one father fought for his children, neither group nor father realized that one group called the ‘people’ were perceiving. They also have forgotten who elevated them to the positions of power they were enjoying. Leaders did not seem to bother about what people would think of them. A befitting reply has been given! Never again they would fight the way they fought their group wars.  

In a verdict which has no precedence in Kerala, all seats have gone to the left. Its shame on the Kerala’s Congress and its only reasonable to think that the Govt. lost the right to rule. Perhaps the electorate must have handpicked the two siblings for defeat leaving able candidates like Chennithala and Sudheeran to succeed so that the point is more glaring. Unfortunately electorates vent their fury with such force that in the ensuing storm able and the worthless washed away together. 

With regards to the centre and the results from other states, it is difficult to imagine how the electorate can be so focused on reacting. For example in Tamil Nadu where Jayalalitha ruled like a princess and with much arrogance, she did not earn a single seat for a consolation.  

Her downfall started with the Govt. employees strike. It was not appropriate to sack so many Govt. employees even if they went on a strike. Strikes are sometimes for a just cause. There was lot of resentment later in Tamil Nadu due to this issue and she diluted all cases registered against Govt. employees after election was declared in an apparent effort to regain the confidence of a section of people who suffered because they were part of the strike. Result there is surprising! No seats for the proud ladies party; the AIADMK! 

Naidu of Andhra failed to see common mans plight while he invited and impressed Bill Gates and other tech heads with his IT plans. In Andhra the maximum number of farmer suicides took place owing to drought and other related issues. Naidu has apparently lost touch with the masses. The new chief minister YSR undertook a 1600 KM walk across the length and breadth of the state and that in itself was a sign that he tried to understand the problems faced by the common man. To comprehend the dilemma faced by the ordinary Indian you should go to his level and look. Sitting in an air conditioned room, moving in a modern automobile and by video conferencing with district collectors you would hardly find out the pain and the ills faced by ordinary citizens. 

In a country where 80% of its people live in its vast expanse of country side, in rural India; fly-overs in the city and large software technology parks makes no difference to them. The point is not that we don’t need technology parks but that you must never fail to see the ordinary Indian who often lives in frustrating conditions. 

Gujarat under BJP was a bad example. Godhra was terrible but the riots that ensued even worse. Vajpei did not move to admonish or dismiss the Modi Govt. In this election, even Gujarathis have spoken a different tone. At least 12 seats have gone to the Congress in Gujarat making huge gains for that party. 

Both in centre and the state of Kerala, electorate has taught politicians a lesson. A lesson that politicians must never forget!  

Politicians, the message is, instead of sitting in the comforts of your office in the state and country’s capital, go down to the people; understand whether you help them meet their basic needs like water, electricity, education, health care, and roads. Fulfill their most fundamental requirements first before you move onto more exciting offerings like decorating city and setting up technology parks.  

In Delhi where BJP faced a major setback in this election, during the campaigns, they were talking about “India Shining” and “Feel Good” while Congress was speaking plainly about problems faced by the people which made all the difference. 

On Sonia Gandhis foreign origin issue, it has become a non issue after people of India given her party their mandate knowing all too well that she could be leading the party. Indians are only too keen to call Mother Teresa an Indian and I don’t know why Sonia must be left out for her foreign origin while she had been and become part of India. Another fact is that even after enduring all bad words from the Parivar heads especially Mr. Modi, she kept such calm that hardly any reply was given. That shows her maturity and greatness as a human being.  

Also, someone explained to me that it does not matter whether by birth you are an Indian but what matters is whether by deed you are an Indian; I think that explains a point in the way that we have seen so many big leaders who are nothing but corrupt. You might recall having seen on TV a former president of the BJP (A Party that insists only their followers are fully Indian) take 1 lakh rupees in cash and subsequently going out of job. Other scams that involved purchases of military equipment were very grave and put the soldier guarding the borders at risk (too much love for the land).

There were media reports in the middle of our election process that an American rights agency castigating India on the issue of religious rights. We now have a great Muslim president and another distinguished Roman Catholican widow has been chosen to lead the country. What more is needed to show India’s religious freedom and communal harmony? A Modi cant change India and no America can blame India. America does not allow a person of foreign origin to become its president and in our life time we won’t see a Muslim as its president. They have no business to lecture us around. They stand to take away freedom like what they are doing in Iraq where they have no business. I am proud to be an Indian. 

Finally a word to our politicians; if any one is listening, or at least if a future politician would benefit; message is, realise that after all you are people’s representatives. In a democracy, its citizens are the masters you are only serving them. That is the basic principle. 

By T. P. Gopinath.
( Writer is an IT professional residing in Dubai, UAE. )
Please send your comments on this article to e-mail gopi@calicutnet.com )