A Viable Alternative

The emerging third alternative has created a stir within the BJP and the Congress. Instead of attacking each other, both have focused their attention on the third front with minister of external affairs Pranab Mukherjee even convening a special briefing with senior journalists to launch a tirade against the alternative. Both the BJP and the Congress are visibly worried that the regional parties are being increasingly drawn to a platform that has made its opposition to them very clear. In fact it is serving as a magnet for their own allies, who are reluctant now to speak out against the third alternative. The Biju Janata Dal has left the BJP alliance in Orissa altogether, while the Nationalist Congress Party is making positive noises much to the chagrin of the Congress.

It is true that the results will largely determine the final composition of the government at the centre. It is also true that there will be many pulls and pressures in all the various camps to form a viable government. But the argument heard in the drawing rooms of Delhi and other such cities sneering at the possibility of a Mayawati becoming the Prime Minister is absolutely amazing. “Mayawati, my Gawd” is the general sneer, and one can only ask them to explain how L.K.Advani or Rahul Gandhi will be better in the hot seat. Advani will further the BJP’s divisive and hate filled agenda if he becomes the Prime Minister, and lest his admirers forget he presided over the demolition of the Babri Masjid and supported Narendra Modi’s barbaric murder and rape of thousands of innocent citizens in Gujarat. Rahul Gandhi has nothing to his credit except that he is from the Nehru-Gandhi family and considers himself chosen to lead the nation. He has shown no maturity or understanding of Indian politics, and his “innocence” will prove to be very dangerous for India. Besides the Congress in the last five years has weakened the secular and democratic foundation of India.

There is this inbuilt bias against the third front in the corporate controlled sections of society. The sneer extends to cover all third front leaders, including Gowda, Naidu and others. Media honchos have been asked to write passionate articles advocating a two party system in a pluralistic country , quite ignoring the fact that it is the regional parties that have provided the much needed valve in the pressure cooker set boiling by the Congress and now the BJP. It is true that the leadership has still to evolve, but it is also true that there is little to choose between the regional chiefs and those leading the Congress and BJP parties. The crucial difference is that the former are more wedded to ground reality, and cannot ignore the poor and the oppressed with the same ease as the two so called national parties do when they come to power.

India is getting ready for a third alternative and if the regional parties play their cards well, and do not allow petty ego and ambition to mar the process, the transition to power can be very smooth and painless. Every time in the past when the third front option has emerged, it has come to power.