The Indian national Congress, the main partner of the ruling alliance in India, is clearly badly disturbed by the outcome of the several state assembly elections in which the party has been routed. The development is particularly worrying the ruling circles for the simple reason that national voting is just a few months away and the indication that has come from the results of the "Vidhan Shaba" balloting hardly gives an impression that the Congress is likely to return to power.
The polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajstahan, Chhatishgarh, Mizoram and important Delhi was seen as a "dress rehearsal" for the upcoming national elections and the outcome reinforces the impression that the main opposition BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi stands a clear chance to become the next leader of the country unless the fortune swings the other way. Despite his tainted image as a "communal" politician, who is accused to have patronised the killings of minorities in his Gujarat state in 2002, Modi appears to be making steady progress towards the goal of primeministership. On the other hand, the Congress is yet to announce its primeministerial nominee although it is believed that the scion of the famous Nehru-Gandhi family Rahul Gandhi would be picked up for that position. But neither Rahul nor the party has made any clear decision about this and consequently, the BJP seems little ahead in this matter since Modi has already swung into electioneering keeping the polls in mind. The balloting is likely to take place by April/May next year, and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by the Congress looks to be in a slippery ground as far as its chances of retaining the power is concerned.
The BJP has retained power in its two key bastions - Madhya Pradesh and Rajsthan - but what has come as a shot in its arm is the increase it has made in terms of seats in the two state assemblies. The Congress is nowhere near the BJP, which has scored a near landslide. However, all eyes were focused on Delhi that comprises Indian capital, where the ruling Congress has literally been routed as it finished a distant third - a result few could forecast although a defeat for the Congress was on the cards. The BJP here emerged as the largest party even though it fell short of absolute majority. But the stunning performance in Delhi came from the newly floated "Aam Admi Party" (common men's party) which came very close to the BJP. What is more remarkable is that its leader Arvind Khijerwal defeated chief minister Sheila Dixit by a handsome margin ending her and party's long rule of Delhi. The Aam Admi Party (AAP) was born hardly a year ago against the backdrop of an anti-graft movement by elderly Gandhian Anna Hazare. Khijerwal, a close associate of Hazare, later chose to float the political party that has taken the political stage by storm. Till the time of writing this piece, it was not clear who would become the new chief minister of Delhi as none secured absolute majority.
The outcome of the polls underlines the growing dissatisfaction of the people against the centre-ruling Congress, whose current term is marked by a string of corruption related scandals involving the high-ups. India's economy is also not performing well in recent times. This has been reflected in the success of the AAP that has been campaigning virulently against corruption, which the new party describes as the biggest menace for India. It alleges that influential persons are going scot-free or treated with knit-glove approach despite being involved in serious offences.
The Congress and other secular parties consider the choice of Modi as prime minister of India by the BJP as "wrong decision" since he is incapable of uniting the vast country of different religions and races. Modi is severely criticised for not protecting the minorities during the 2002 riots in Gujarat when he was the chief minister. Allegations are also there that he abetted the killings. However, Modi has not been charged. In his recent speeches, Modi is stressing on Hindu-Muslim unity, as he says it is required to take India ahead. He is otherwise an able chief minister, who has taken his party to power in Gujarat for three successive terms.
Congress leaders are seeking to put up a brave face by saying that the results of the state polls would not be reflected in the national elections. However, analysts say that the outcome is a "wake-up" call for the Congress which must address the issues that have caused in the decline of its popularity.
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