In the “first past the post” Indian electoral system the future trend reveals that political parties that extensively fund their campaigns making full use of the audio visual print and electronic media and booth level workers adequately funded for well over six months before the hustings a victory of this dimension now becomes obvious Mind you the campaign relied heavily on media hype , washing dirty linen in public, the “mis” rule of the predecessor without portraying the agenda of the aspiring party . The huge win for the BJP and its pre-poll allies 331 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls reflects this effort. The only face saving consolation for the oldest party the INC is that in 1984 when it secured 2/3rds of the 543 seats over 400 seats– albeit a sympathy wave following the tragic death of Ms Indira Gandhi – the BJP then had secured just 2 votes . But this time round the INC gained 45 as against the BJP 282. A veteran Jan Sangh member who spoke to this writer post results admitted that it was neither the victory of Mr Narendra Modi nor of the BJP but thanks to funds from the corporate sector the smart media campaigning and surge of electoral spending . He argued further that had Mr Modi or the BJP the confidence of its victory they would have not have to field him in Varanasi besides Vadadora much so when he presided over the destiny of the State of Gujarat He was however not confident if the BJP would at least now given the resounding mandate and not withstanding their uncomfortable seats in the Upper House –Rajya Sabha pursue its three major issues viz abrogation of Article 370 which now confers special status on Jammu & Kashmir, enactment of the Uniform Civil Code, building of the Ram Mandir and the revival of the National Commission to “review” the working of the Constitution – to make it more representative of the Indian “ethos” set up earlier in February, 2000, and review the Presidential form of Government in view of fractured mandates and coalition governments. He believed that issues of Freedom of Religion, Ban on religious conversions, cow slaughter relations with Pakistan and issue of Jammu and Kashmir should be on top priority. For Goa Special category status and the MOPA airport should be top priority.
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) gonsalvesgodfre...@yahoo.co.in
