In the history of independent India, the just concluded 16th Lok Sabha elections will be known for the longest campaigning ever. The din and bustle of that longish and perhaps teasing cacophony, often marked with deafening decibel is over. The next phase of postmortem of defeat by the fateless political parties and the government formation exercise of the winning outfit are on. Since in the modern hi-tech age every word, genuine or unparliamentary, used by the stakeholders goes recorded, it will be quite interesting to recall some outbursts vis-à-vis the result of such fantastic statements. Since the entire electioneering was Modi versus all, the target was NaMo alone.
Farooq Abdullah, central minister, said that they who intended to vote for Modi, should better prefer to get drowned in the ocean. His son, Omar, CM, J&K expressed to cross over to the POK if the BJP was voted to power. Result: Not only Farooq, for the first time lost but his ruling NC drew blan in the state.
Manishankar Ayer, the big-mouthed ex-central minister, like an authentic astrologer made a forecast that in 21st century Modi, a chaiwalla would never be the PM but if he wanted to distribute tea at the ongoing Congress meet, a place could be spared for him. Mani, like some other times, lost this time too which was perhaps the worst for this bureaucrat-turned-politician.
Beni Prasad Varma, a central minister, known for his foul language, called Modi ‘a janwar’, ‘greatest goonda of RSS’ and some other such sinister nicknames. The electorate returned a hitting slap and he stood at fourth position in his constituency.
Nitish Kumar, known for his vitriolic criticism of Modi called him a divisive politician and castigated him on different other counts. The public, however could not be befooled. His ruling JD/U was mercilessly decimated and reduced to two only. He himself, having no face to justify his stand resigned from CM-ship. Lalu, known for his bitter ant-BJP policies since he arrested Adwani, claimed that this communal party would be rejected in Bihar and all the 40 seats would be grabbed by his RJD. His party could win only four seats and his wife as well as daughter licked dust. Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son(CM) declared that they would not allow UP to go Gujarat way. His party leader Ajam Khan too was bitterly abusive against modi. In up the ruling SP could retain only five seats, all belonging to Mulayam clan. Similarly Rahul Gandhi created a hoax for the minority that the day Modi became the PM, 22,000 people would be eliminated. Did the voters give any credence to this baseless statement? Accordingly only Rahul and His mother could retain their seats out of 80 in UP. Mamata, who had enjoyed power in the Vajpayi Govt called Modi a ‘shaitan’. Still the BJP not only got two seats but also secured a better vote percentage in West Bengal.
The lesson learnt is that even in the heat of electioneering, gentlemen politicians never forget not to cross the Rubicon so for as democratic norms are concerned. Being unruly and abusive do not strengthen democracy.
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