The General
Election 2014 in India would be a very interesting event and would surely
change the way politics is perceived and practiced in the nation. Being the
largest and most populous democracy of the world and the home to innumerable regional
ethno-linguistic groups distributed in 29 states and 7 union territories spread
across 327590 Km2 present
political churning would have far reaching ramifications. The way people
participate and bring in the change in their own political system would be
keenly observed the world over. What is important the democracy has
thrown up new entrants and new situations which would keep the electors very
much interested very unlike the earlier elections where in only established
could only practice and the electors had to choose from the one of the two at
the most three parties in their constituencies!
The
emergence of the Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Admi Party has led to the welcome
shift in political landscape, and has inserted an element of excitement with a
promise to bring power to the people of India with their active participation. It
has offered a platform for people to aspire and to take direct part in the Indian
politics previously thought to be the exclusive domain of organized political
class.
On three
counts this election is significant firstly with the rightist party BJP being
driven by the tireless campaign spearheaded by an energetic Leader Narendra
Modi. In a few months he has apparently not only sidelined the old patriarch LK
Advani but also brought turn around in the morale of his partymen and brought
to the fore the Party as the no. 1 contender to stake claim to be the party to
get the largest seats in the general election 2014.
Secondly,
the oldest political party and the one ruling for the last 10 years, the
Congress Party is believed to lose in an unprecedented way. It has been mired
with corruption scandals and policy paralysis in its second 5 year term of
ruling India. It is at its lowest ebb after the late 90’s.
It is
also believed the uncertainty that would develop with no single party achieving
the magic figure of 272 seats in the Lok Sabha (the house of people) to stake
claim to form the next government, a coalition of motley crowd of various
regional parties ( being termed as the third front & fourth front) would be able to if not hold the reins of power but would be
able to be become the king makers.
Now that
the election commission of India has declared the election dates in various phases
the stage is set for the most important event in the electoral politics of
India to unfold.
