Poll outcome of UP and its impact in Tamil Nadu politics

The massive mandate of BJP in UP, Uttarakand and other two states not only send shock waves to the so called pseudo-secular parties but also a message for all those political parties to swiftly search and discover what values and ethos they represent and stand for.

For example the left party was seen in late 1970 through mid 1980 as a party of laborers and working class. But ironically they have shifted their policies and practices by forgetting their core support group and started supporting congress just to create an image to itself as the natural guardian and the sole owner of secularism in India. Many regional parties have recently started to shift their goal posts just to enjoy power and also to all the ‘said’ and ‘unsaid’ benefits of being in power.

The greed and power monger of most political parties ironically brought BJP to the centre stage by way of isolating BJP and portraying the BJP as politically untouchable.

Indians are no fools and are watching all theatrics and melodramas played by most parties over two and half decade. Today which political party represents what ideology, value system, principle and constituency is quite confusing. But the ideology, value system, principle and the core agenda of BJP and Modiji is quite clear, unambiguous, warm and welcoming. Every section of people could understand, connect and appreciate the agenda of Modiji. On the contrary, the only agenda of most of the opposition parties seems to be anti- Modi and nothing they have for India or millions of Indians.

People are sick and tired of most of the political parties in India. Although BJP is equally an old party, but Modiji and Mr. Amith Shaw have brought a new lease of life to BJP by integrating development agenda to the core mission of BJP.

The UP election result has indeed sends its message clear to Tamil Nadu as well. By echoing mere linguistic affinity & patriotism, regional identity, cultural heritage etc., the regional parties neither can play their old game anymore nor can they dictate the central government for lending their support. The coalition dharma is never going to have its pond of flesh in New India.

Freebies, free colour TV set etc., may help one to win election but such political parties cannot run the government because the New India is not going to relay on the business of give and take folly of politicians.

National vision and not narrow regionalized vision is needed. People must develop and be successful in the profession, family and society more as better human being than as just Tamilian, Kanatika etc., or as a block that represents a particular cast or community.

The youth of Tamil Nadu must move towards development oriented politics than Drawidian identity dominated politics. By claiming or not, by establishing or not, no one is going to loose their Drawidian identity but the need of the hour is quality education, employment opportunity, better health care system, better roads, drinking water facility etc.

The UP poll outcome has certainly reduced the political parties in Tamil Nadu from dictators to mere followers of the national vision and aspiration. If the state has to progress and develop, these parties have to integrate the governance principle of the state to national development plank and not just singing the same old carol of their linguistic greatness.

The Dravidian parties have made large sections of people in Tamil Nadu lazy and ‘exist on charity’ in addition to retail and wholesale purchase of their franchise for Rs. 500 to 1000 during elections. Besides all, plenty of liquor shops in Tamil Nadu thanks to Drawidian politics for the people to effortlessly quench their thirst of alcohol intoxication.

Once the central Government cut all subsidies to TN as TN is indeed a progressive state and audit all the real beneficiaries of the freebies and various social welfare schemes, lot of resources can be conserved for real development.

Opposing all development and growth centric initiatives of central government just because the political parties in the opposition have to retain their news value, the state might decline and degenerate slowly. How these guardians of Tamil identity will run the government without having enough reserves in the exchequer to meet freebies and roll out several projects that might also give them a scope for doing corruption!

Stop freebies, payment for votes and let the agenda be development centric, offer science based health care and not faith based medical science, education with high standards and quality, less corrupt administration etc.

Too much of muscle flexing by several regional parties in the past have made them vestigial at national level and the national party that had yielded too much to coalition dharma for the sake of power also has lost its root from almost every region.

The new hope of people of Tamil Nadu is O Pannerselvam (OPS). OPS has clean image, very sober, level headed, down to earth persona, who is highly committed and sincere.

OPS represent the aspiration of several youths in Tamil Nadu. Beyond saving AIADMK and establishing Amma’s legacy, if he integrates development agenda with clear initiatives and start communicating to people of Tamil Nadu from now on than waiting for the election to be announced, certainly OPS can not only save AIADMK but also Tamil Nadu.

The message of UP election to several political parties is to play their role responsibly and work for the value system they represent and not engage in anti-Modi sloganeering.

We the people of India love Modiji so your sloganeering my fall into deaf ears.

Dr S Ranganathan