Insights into the true mood of voters seen in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi elections

- led by some leaders, who appear to be more satisfied than dissatisfied with the ruling of that party

- Political parties with the foresight to strengthen their organization have started making extensive use of technology

In many past elections, governance was considered an achievement wrapped around the neck of the ruling party. After the influence of the Congress era ended in 1967, regional party governments began to form in the states, and non-Congolese party governments came to power. The era of non-Congress government at the Center has started since 1977.

The state of alternate governments began in Kerala. Since the 1990s, we have seen a succession of governments in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Discontent against the regime is invisible

However there are some instances where there is no discontent against the rule of popular leaders. M. in Tamil Nadu until he died in 1987. G. Ramachandran and his AIAMDK party won three consecutive elections from 1977. Similarly, J. Jayalalithaa and her party AIAMDK won three consecutive elections in 2011, 2016 and 2021. Mr. Naveen Patnaik and his BJD party have won five consecutive elections since 2000. The best performance in Gujarat has been that of BJP by winning 6 consecutive elections since 1998. This has been the main role of Narendra Modi since 2002.

It seems that, in some positions and under some leaders, there is a picture of satisfaction rather than dissatisfaction with that party's rule. Political observers and psychiatrists had to study this situation carefully.

Election fund raising program

1. K. Kamaraj, S. Nijalingappa, K. Brahmananda Reddy, E.M.S. Nambudripad, Hitendra Desai, Y. B. Chavan, M. L. The current parties in the government amass huge electoral funds in their five-year tenure, which was unheard of when some populist leaders like Sukhadia or Jyoti Basu were in power.

2. Ruling parties, bureaucrats especially do not hesitate to make political use of the police force. In the recent Rampur assembly by-election, the voter turnout was around 32 percent while the polling percentage for the state's Khatauli assembly seat today was 56 percent. About 53 percent voting took place in Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency. The Samajwadi Party blamed the police for the low voting percentage in Rampur.

Addition of technology and strength

3. Political parties with the foresight to strengthen their organization have started making extensive use of technology. BJP and other parties have formed booth committees to manage the elections. BJP micro-manages to reach every voter.

4. Ruling parties that have a well-organized party organization increase the strength of the organization. At the time of elections, the ruling party lures defectors and headstrong people from other parties. It cannot be denied that money is used for this. Even more than money, the assurance of forgiveness is uttered in the committed crime. Investigations by agencies against a member of another party who joins the ruling party are suddenly stopped.

5. In the last few years, some parties have also started resorting to religion for expansion. This support is taken in many ways.

6. Attempts are being made to suppress the failure of the ruling party with vigorous propaganda campaigns and media. The belief that the media is independent is a thing of the past. Mostly all types of media (TV and newspapers) have been owned by corporate groups. Social media is relatively free, but it also has its share of false reports and fake videos.

- Then there will be no constitutional democracy

Apart from the above points, I am sure there are other factors as well, which come into play depending on the local situation in each respective state. Voices against the regime are stifled and the media plays no role against it. If such a trend continues and it leads to unnatural peace in any state, we will enter an India where there is electoral democracy but not constitutional democracy.

The recently held elections have taught lessons to the winning and losing parties. The general lesson is that the winner had a strong party organization, dedicated workers, strong campaign strategy and micro management. All these four factors were in favor of the BJP in Gujarat which did not allow the discontent against the ruler to rise. In contrast, for the main opposition (Congress) in Himachal Pradesh and the Delhi Municipal Corporation (AAP), all four factors worked in their favor and proved detrimental to the ruling party.

Whether any party wins or loses, the victory of the three parties in the three elections is like a ray of sunshine amidst the growing gloom.