The complexion of political
game has changed all of a sudden. Though there was hardly any doubt that Narendra
Modi will emerge victorious. But despite losing votes and seats he is sounding
desperate to be named the prime-ministerial candidate by a BJP and unconcerned
about the entire bunch of allies. This is in contrast with a young and
reluctant not so impressive Rahul Gandhi who has virtually denounced power- saying
that his mother calls it poison. There are those who want that 2014 should be a
Modi versus Rahul battle, and those who virtually despise it as a no-contest. But
one thing is clear, whereas Rahul had his own party men in tears (for the sake
of loyalty) after an emotional Jaipur acceptance speech, Modi is yet to take
the party along and banking on outside support of students’ (SRCC, Delhi
University), diplomatic (EU) and Corporates
fraternity and even TV channels and social media campaign to buttress his claim
to power in Delhi.
But emergence of Modi on the horizon is not the only development that has taken place in the recent months. There is a new smiling ‘assassin’ in the home ministry who acts. The new Home Minister of the UPA-II has proved that he can not only act but act decisively and hang two terrorists on death row-first Ajmal kasab, and then Afzal Guru within in 80 days. The entire operation was executed in complete secrecy with prowling media left high and dry. The government proved its mettle firmly. So much so, that a hand-wringing BJP’s Yashwant Sinha was forced to attribute this decisiveness to President Pranab Mukherjee. Of course, the resident of the Rashtrapati Bhawan is an evergreen ‘dada’. But then the President had rejected seven mercy petitions and it was Shinde who acted fast in the case of two while the cases of other five are still hanging fire for one reason or the other.
No longer can the BJP
or Modi argue that the Congress is soft on terror. Even Narendra Modi was
found searching for words on Afzal Guru’s hanging as it was his main poll plank
too.
But this is not the
only change that has taken place. This is not the same Dr Manmohan Singh
government which was accused of policy paralysis, complete inaction and
watching the decay of his own government. No one ever saw Dr Manmohan Singh
batting on the ground. He was always at the receiving end and fielding and that
too very poorly. But something has happened as the government is batting on the
front foot, hitting 4s and 6s leaving the world bewildered.
Gone are the days when a Vinod Rai as CAG succeeded
in projecting himself as the most honest person in the country, more honest
than even the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh or Gen. V K Singh who created
an impression that all is not well in the country;s defence establishment.
Gone are the days when
five Cabinet Ministers received Swami Ramdev at the airport to calm down
tempers. Instead, the Yoga Guru is now running from pillar to post to get out
one criminal or Income case or the other.
Anna Hazare who took
the country by storm on the plea that a Lokpal be appointed by the people of India to fight
a corrupt power establishment, is away from the media glare. It is no more a
government in a self-goal mood.
Things have changed,
all of a sudden in the UPA-II. But what is surprising is not many political
analyst noted this shift in approach after the Cabinet reshuffle in September
2012. A quick glance at the decisions taken by various ministries and
departments of the government has left even top bureaucrats high and dry. The
government made it clear that the cause of the “Aam Admi” will be better served
if huge subsidy regime is curtailed as it benefited the rich. The government
went in for steep hike in the prices of diesel which was hardly touched by
successive government for years due to vote bank politics. Instead of caving in
to populism, the government slapped huge hike in diesel and even kerosene and
gas prices.Even dual pricing of LPG was introduced. The Railway fares have not
been hiked for the last ten years though costs have sky-rocketed and road
transport mafia was reaping the harvest of poor rail infrastructure.
The government showed
its speed when it brought out an Ordinance to send a clear signal that men are
in “Zero tolerance zone” when it comes to protecting the modesty of women. The Opposition
could merely say that the government should have waited for the parliament
session.
The Finance Minister, P Chidambaram has
clearly indicated that the coming Union Budget will be good. Then he indicated
that the rich should be ready to pay more. Obviously, corporate friends of
Narendra Modi should be a worried lot. The way the Income tax, Enforcement
directorate and other agencies have been on the prowl for the past 3-4 months
is a clear indication that things are not the same. The BJP has been deprived
of its political agenda- fight against corruption and UPA is soft on terror. Its
own President Nitin Gadkari had to go due to corruption charges and the
government cleared the Lokpal bill which is set to be passed this Budget
session.
One is wonder struck as
to what has happened to the UPA-II during the past four months, after the
Cabinet reshuffle in September 2012 ? Nobody really has a clue except some
insiders who say that the new mantra has been given to everybody in the
government and the party by the new leader – Perform or Perish
