V. Kumaresan
After independence, the forefathers founded the State democratic, republic and the polity was incorporated as such in the preamble of the Constitution. Later the words, ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ were also added to the preamble. Since the polity of our country is democratic the rulers are elected by the people through election process once in 5 years and hence it has to be construed that the sovereignity of the country rests with the people. The voting of the electorate decides who has to be the rulers both at the levels of the Union government and the State governments. But in the past 10 years, during the BJP led rule of the Union government, the democratic norms are being eroded continuously. The democratic fabric must reflect the mandate given by the people and not merely the numerical strength by counting of the elected representatives. The spirit of the mandate must reflect on the side of rulers. But deterioration is being witnessed, the way the issues are handled by the BJP at the Centre and in the States that are ruled by the parties other than the BJP.
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The treasury and opposition sides are integral to the governance. In Parliament, the issues affecting the country and people must be deliberated and discussed. The Bills by the treasury side must be presented with reasonable time / days in advance for the knowledge of the Members to carry on debates about the Bills. But in the past 10 years many of the Bills have been passed in both the Houses of the Parliament in a bulldozer way. When due protest, objection or grievance is raised from the opposition it was not at all heard; all the more when the opposition took it vehemently there were many occassions, their Members had been suspended for the rest of the session. There were many occasions wherein vital Bills were passed without the presence of the opposition in the House. Unilateral initiative and finalisation has become the functional way of the BJP rule. The least concern and respect for the vital position was exhibited by the BJP in Lok Sabha in the current tenure without conducting any election for the Deputy Speakership. The Parliament convention to elect the Deputy Speaker must be a Member, other than the ruling BJP. The convention is not acceptable to the BJP. Non-performance of this single agenda itself will show the undemocratic mind set of the rulers and denial of involving the other deserving parties in conducting the proceedings of the House.
Propaganda of ‘Double-engine’ is a threat!
Union government and State governments are integral to the federal structure envisaged by the founding fathers. The role, responsibility and authority exercised at these two governing layers are different. The delivery of welfare measures and attending at the daily issues are vested with the State government. So the expectation and verdict of the people in electing their rulers at these two levels need not be the one and same party. It will differ from State to State and at the Union level. But the BJP’s view on it at both the levels must be the same party and it must be the BJP. It may be the desire of every political party. But beyond that the reality is the mandate given by the people and it must be respected. The BJP has got scant respect for it. In the past 10 years, the BJP is carrying out the propaganda at State level general elections to vote for them to enable ‘double-engine’ rule i.e. at both the Union and State level, it must be the BJP.
When the mandate of the electorate is for the party other than the BJP it will plunge into ‘horse-trading’ either purchasing other party MLAs to join the BJP or support them by proving the majority to rule. It happens at the time of formation of government at the beginning or at anytime after its formation by the other party / parties.
The attempts made by the BJP in certain States would be evident to show the ‘double-engine’ rule not by securing the people’s mandate but by encouraging the split in the establishment of the ruling party (other than the BJP).
Arunachal Pradesh: The State Legislative Assembly has a total strength of 60. In the 2016 election, the Congress party won in 44 Constituencies and formed the government. By the BJP encouraging the defection of Kalikho Pul of Congress party along with 21 MLAs, he became the Chief Minister. When it was challenged in the Supreme Court, the verdict was delivered in favour of the previous Congress Chief Minister. Later, Prema Khandu, the Congress MLA joined the BJP along with 40 MLAs. In the 2019 election, held at the latest, Prema Khandu became the BJP Chief Minister.
Manipur: The Congress party secured 28 seats and the BJP, 21 seats, out of the total strength of 60, in the general election held for the State Manipur in 2017. Instead of inviting the Congress party, as the single largest party in the State Legislative Assembly, the Governor invited the BJP to form the government. The BJP formed the government with the support of the rest of the parties including the independent members. The BJP enabled a Congress MLA Prem Singh become the Chief Minister. Subsequently 7 MLAs of the Congress party defected to the BJP. In the latest election held in 2022, the BJP won 32 seats and independently formed the government.
Goa: Out of the 40 seats in the State Legislative Assembly, Congress won in 17 Constituencies, and the BJP, only in 13 in the year 2017. By encouraging defection of 12 MLAs of the Congress party, the BJP formed the government.
Meghalaya: In the election held in year 2018, Congress won 21 seats. The BJP that won merely 2 seats, with the support of National Peoples Party had won 19 seats and, the BJP government was formed.
Sikkim: In 2019, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha won 17 seats and Sikkim Democratic Front won 15 seats out of the total seats of 32. The BJP had not won even in a single constituency. But the BJP, encouraged the defection of 10 MLAs from Sikkim Democratic Front. After that alliance with Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, the BJP formed the government for the first time. At present, the BJP that had not won a single seat, has the strength of 12 MLAs.
Karnataka: In 2018, no party secured the absolute majority. The BJP won 104 seats. The Congress won in 78 and Janata Dal (Secular) in 37 Constituencies. The Governor invited the BJP to form the government. Unable to prove the majority at the floor, the BJP Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa had to step down. Then the joint rule of Congress and JD(S) lasted. But within a year, the BJP encouraged the defection of 13 MLAs from the Congress and 3 MLAs, from JD(S) and came to rule.
Madhya Pradesh: In 2018, Congress that had won in 114 Constituencies, with the support of its alliance parties that counted to 121 formed the government. But the BJP that won 109 seats, encouraged the defection of 22 Congress MLAs under the leadership of Jyotiraditya Scindia and formed the government.
Pondicherry: The Congress had won in 15 Constituencies and the DMK in 2. The rule of the alliance lasted for 4 years and 9 months. 3 months prior to the next election, the BJP encouraged the defection of 2 Congress Ministers, and 6 MLAs to its fold. At present the BJP has the strength of 6 MLAs and the Congress 2 MLAs in the Legislative Assembly of the Territory.
Maharashtra: The BJP and the Shiv Sena alliance contested the elections in 2019. The BJP won 105 seats but was unwilling, to make Uddhav Thackeray the Chief Minister.Uddhav came out of the BJP’s fold, and forged alliance with the Congress and the National Congress parties (Shiv Sena – 56, the NCP – 54, the Congress – 44, totalling 154 seats). Even then the Governor invited Patnavis of the BJP to form the Government. The BJP had to step down within 4 days having failed to prove the majority. Then the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance formed the government with Uddhav as the Chief Minister that lasted for about 2 years and 213 days. The BJP, encouraged the split of Shiv Sena with Eknath Shinde as its leader.Uddhav resigned from the Chief Ministership. In 2023, the BJP encouraged the split in NCP with Ajit Pawar as its leader. Prior to the resignation, the Governor ordered Uddhav’s government to prove the majority, which was challenged in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court passed strictures on the actions of the Governor and the Speaker. The Election Commission has banned the use of the name and the symbol of Shiv Sena and NCP by Uddhav Thackaray and Sharad Pawar respectitvely.
Bihar: In 2015, the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar forged alliance with Lalu Prasad Yadhav and won. During the regime, Nitish came out of the alliance and forged alliance with the BJP and again became the Chief Minister.
In 2019, Nitish became the Chief Minister in alliance with the BJP. In 2022, he left the alliance with a declaration that he would not forge alliance with the BJP thereafter.Nitish was instrumental to form I.N.D.I.A. bloc. In January 2024, again he came out from the fold of Rashtriya Janata Dal and forged alliance with the BJP and became the Chief Minister again.
In all these States, the undemocratic stand of the BJP, its encouraging defection from the ruling alliance parties to form government could be perceived. Without seeking the mandate of the people to rule, the BJP has been continuously carrying out the ‘horse-trading’ exercise. It shows the scant respect the BJP possesses for democratic principle.
Besides the intolerance of the BJP led Union government, on the government run by parties other than the BJP is against the multiparty democratic system in the country. The BJP is heading towards one party — rule at all levels for which it encourages the agenda of ‘One Nation One Election’ which is not in consonance with the spirit of the Constitution of the country.
To win the forthcoming Lok Sabha 2024 election, the BJP is ready to carry out anything against the democratic principle. It is not merely an election after the completion of a 5-year tenure. People have to be vigilant, analyse and cast their vote.
