With poll surveys predicting two different sets of outcome, an air of uncertainty looms large, as people vote tomorrow to elect a new government in Delhi after an interval of almost a year.
Since AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal pulled the plug on his government within 49 days of assuming charge of the city administration last year, the national capital has suffered the most, with practically no development activity taking place. It does not bode well for Delhi, which is aiming to become a world class city.
Never before has Delhi witnessed such hysterical campaigning with opponents launching a no-holds-barred attack against each other, often hitting rivals below the belt. The choice of words used by some political leaders against their rivals has definitely been in poor taste, to say the least. In their bid to outdo each other, the candidates have often raised and highlighted personal issues of their rivals, at the cost far more pressing issues facing the national capital. The gradual low down in public discourse, has often been seen to crossing the “Laxman Rekha”, and this speaks volumes about the falling standards of democracy in the country.
Also perhaps for the first time, Delhi has witnessed a brazen display and use of money during the campaigning. Over the years, campaigning has undergone a sea change. Street-corner meetings have been replaced with huge public rallies, often importing people from nearby areas to give an impression of the wide support a particular party enjoys. The numbers never reflect the reality, as several of them have often been found to switch sides on polling day.
The use of multi-cam set-ups to give a bird’s eye view of the rallies and providing free feed to news channels is something a very innovative, but also an expensive idea. One can very well imagine the kind of money required to organize such rallies. No doubt, political parties have come of age!
The money could have been better utilized, as Delhi continues to cry for basic needs. Hundreds of thousands of people continue to live in inhuman conditions. Even after more than 67 years of independence, poor people are forced to sleep out in the open during the harsh winter, often losing their battle with life. Several areas where high-rise buildings have come up to give a look of an aspiring Delhi have no pipe water supply and bank on poorly-maintained tankers.
Violent clashes over water during the harsh summer, sometimes results in deaths, and do not speak well for the national capital. And not to be forgotten is the shortage of road space, as thousands of new models ply on roads every day. Road rage has become synonymous with Delhi. The issues are many and endless. Women no longer feel safe stepping out at night. Rising crimes against women have rung alarm bells. Should we be proud of these “achievements”? But who will give a thought to it?
It is easier to blame political parties. But are they the only ones to be blamed? Do the citizens have no role to play? A new election has been thrust upon Delhi not by political parties, but by the people themselves. Another hung legislature does no good to anybody, as political parties are forced to resort to corrupt practices to survive and ensure the longevity of the government.
If political parties come together to run a government with no common political ideology, it smacks of brazen opportunism, often at the cost of the welfare of the society. Voters would do a great disservice to Delhi and the nation if they repeat the mistake of November and December 2013, creating a situation where no political party could form a majority government of its own. For, Delhi or for that matter India, can ill-afford to have political uncertainty in the capital.
(Mr. Vikas Khanna is a senior journalist and comments expressed in the above article are personal) (ANI)