Bihar elections: Castes in field while development in fridge

For the first time in history of Bihar assembly elections, the electoral mobilization has become complex and multifaceted. When the campaign was started, the political parties tried to win the voters on developmental plank; performance cards were being presented before the public by JDU-led ‘Grand alliance’ and BJP-led NDA, but now have drastically turned into the fight between backwards and forwards, mandal raj and kamandal raj. Development has taken a backseat while caste arithmetic is dominating the campaign trail. After parting ways with JDU, the BJP tried to bring tainted Lalu Prasad Yadav at the centre of electoral fight and reminded his jungle raj regime. The saffron outfit lambasted him of being corrupt and a symbol of mal governance through its aggressive campaign. Yadav, who himself wanted to emerge as a centric figure started raking up the issues of backwards-forwards, mandal-kamandal and reservation policy, in which he was successful and got support from a chunk of his castemen. Those Yadavs who are illiterate and find pride in their casteman have vociferously stood behind Lalu Prasad in spite of knowing the fact that he is not going to do anything for them.

Lalu, who is known for his shrewd political acumen knew if he has to place his ‘bunch of children’ in politics, this is the right time to hit the nail. Forming alliance with JDU and Congress despite Nitish’s apprehensions of taking RJD into its alliance ahead of formal announcement of contesting together, was a part of his calculative strategy. He had an idea as when to hammer the wall. In a series of his campaign trail, he always raked up the issues revolving around ‘yaduvanshis’. He knew minority is not going anywhere and focused on Yadavs who had disenchanted with him since the last general elections. Once they are consolidated, the minority will voluntarily come to his side as they have nothing to do with development, growth, economy or education but they do have in order to defeat the BJP.

 

 This election may or may not bring any fruitful results to Lalu but the next election would surely be made him first among equals. Scores of political pundits believe he is trying to position himself as a central figure and regain the lost ground. Raising the issues of ‘Brahamans’, appealing the backwards to stand against this community and fight against them are all a part of his broader political strategy.

This election would prove to be the most disastrous for chief minister Nitish Kumar as he would have nothing to offer to his partymen, if loses out to BJP.  Dissents voices would erupt very belligerently in the party and the dissenters will find their favourite destination to spend their remaining political life at ease. Kumar would take Rajya Sabha route to enjoy the politics of Lutyens’ Delhi. We have seen in the past too, when he was made the chief minister for the first time, he had said that he will not leave Bihar until removing the RJD government from Patna. After failing to prove the majority, he had to resign from the post, left Patna and became minister in the Vajpayee government.  

Intellectuals confused between capability and academic degree?

Within hours of taking oath as India’s 28^th Cabinet Minister for Human Resources Development, a prominent and articulate face of BJP on TV, Smriti Irani has been dragged into controversy by her opponents and intellectuals citing she is not capable enough to handle the ministry as she is educationally not so sound. India is fortunate to have its first woman cabinet minister since independence. Smt. Sheila Kaul was the first Minister of State for HRD, served under Prime Ministership of Indira Gandhi in 1981-1984.

The newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gone through the bio-data of all probable leaders who were to be sworn-in as ministers in his council. It is the prerogative of Prime Minister to allocate portfolios to the elected representatives. In a democratic system, people can criticise over decisions taken by the elected government and it must be accepted graciously by the people in power. But as a constructive and matured opposition, we need to examine whether the criticism will do any benefit to society to which we owe or just satisfying egos. In a case of Smriti Irani’s educational qualification controversy, I don’t think there is any need to make a fuss about. A tweet by senior Congress leader about Irani taking a jibe saying she is not ‘even a graduate’ signifies his mental bankruptcy. His mind has apparently stopped thinking positive and constructive vibes have been confined to particular ideologies, individual or party. Good works must be appreciated and bad must be criticised.

Capabilities and educational degree are two different things. We cannot afford capabilities to go waste just because having no educational or paper degree. Though in our country there is no prescribed educational eligibility for a person to become an MP or an MLA, and there is no legal hurdle that can stop the same from becoming a minister. Even then a bunch of self

proclaimed intellectuals opposed her elevation for a heavyweight portfolio. Executive, legislative and judiciary are three branches of government. The ministers and bureaucrats fall under the category of ‘executive’. The term executive are divided into two parts i.e. temporary and permanent executive. The minister comes and goes so falls under temporary category while bureaucrats are the permanent executive. The work of temporary executive is to give direction and ideas and there are designated officials who implement the ideas. Dealing with CMs and VCs will be the least of her headaches and policy-related issues; she will work closely with Modi, as the PM is known for monitoring closely the developments.

India has witnessed ministries held by Harvard and other Ivy League alumni, yet they have at times failed to rise up to the expectations. We had an internationally acclaimed economist Prime Minister and we all are aware of our state of economy, currently. So my only point is we should give her time to perform and if she doesn’t perform, it, the government has full authority to replace her.

I do not want to go into details about ministers who excelled in their fields despite not having obtained excellent academic qualifications. I have been a vehement critic of former Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, who is an engineer by profession. I would hereby like to draw the attention of all ‘intellectuals’ who need to be a

scholar to head the HRD Ministry. All you need to do is visit Bihar’s villages to closely monitor the quality of teachers appointed by state education minister PK Sahi’s department. The teachers there are allegedly teaching everything wrong. The concerned minister is known to be highly qualified. Another instance is of former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who is an IIT alumnus.

Conclusively, a good judge may not be a good lawyer, a good lawyer may not be a good judge.