Development Politics

Development Politics

The BJP Vision document that targets 12% growth in GDP per annum based on an ‘aggressive market economy’ emphasis, particularly at the State level, is downright thrilling as a blueprint. Its federal tilt towards the States is noticeable. It reflects the shift towards greater decentralisation that is the current reality and the best way forward.

 Inspired by the efforts of former Commerce Minister and Harvard Professor of Economics Subramanian Swamy, Vision 2020 Head and former BJP President Nitin Gadkari, the dynamic ideas of Narendra Modi and RSS inspired think-tank Aarth Kranti; the document seeks to bring in ‘second-generation reforms’ alongside massive improvements in the ‘quality of governance and accountability’.

Both these objectives have effectively eluded the failed Socialist UPA Government in its nearly 10 years in power, much to the disappointment of all stakeholders. But, with ideas such as these, it is no wonder that NaMo asks for 60 months to unleash India onto a path to prosperity not seen in the 60 years given to Congress rule! And, it will no doubt be music to the ears of a young and aspirational India, fed up to the back teeth with vote-bank politics and fraudulent Socialist mantras that have only served to create mirages of progress in place of a grim reality of grinding and never-ending poverty.

This 12% level of growth, if achieved, will not only raise millions of people out of penury, but help us catch up with Chinese levels of growth by 2020. If produced year on year, it will even enable us to overtake it after twenty years, and build India into one of the top three economies of the world.  

Such growth will effectively lead to a doubling of GDP every six years with per capita income doubling every seven years per the Vision document. But since each doubling is achieved on a higher base line, the total impact year on year will be excitingly palpable. India will truly be on its real tryst with destiny that was betrayed by the Congress maladministration for these many decades.

The BJP Vision 2020 document preview promises to exempt income up to Rs.12 lakhs per annum from income tax and this too will bring relief and cheer to millions of the under-privileged and those in the middle classes. While the programme seems to have moderated from an earlier stance of doing away with most taxes altogether in favour of a nominal universal expenditure tax, this proposal too will be hugely beneficial. The Vision document also plans to scrap inter-state sales tax in another brilliant and progressive step that will cut red-tape and help bring down prices.

Meanwhile, Congress, facing a wall of unpopularity, is continuing on its old fashioned plank of divisive politics, busy accusing the Opposition and others, some of whom are in the UPA, of all kind of negatives in its propagandist and empty manner. But the facts on its major thrust on Welfarism put out recently, seem to suggest, that it has come at the expense of spending on Education and Health for the masses.

The variegated and possible members of the proposed Third or Federal Front all have prime ministerial ambitions as their main motive. This is naturally an impossible basis for any kind of cohesiveness. In the face of Opinion Polls that predict a tally of 226 for the NDA as it stands, the more sensible thing for those who have worked with the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government in the past is to join up again in a post-poll alliance. Others, who may wish to strengthen the stability of the Government and also share in its power, could help to take the tally near or above 300 in the forthcoming Lok Sabha; thereby making bold legislation and effective governance for the Centre very much easier.

The newbie AAP, self-destructing in front of our eyes, is suffering from delusions of both paranoia and grandeur. A new broom it might have been, but it has failed miserably to sweep clean. Not only that, it makes a habit of contradicting itself on camera where the complete charade is on audio/video record. Its lies and about-turns are teaching the rest of the Indian polity new heights of just how craven it is possible to be.

But the AAP allure is not only fading, but disturbing questions are surfacing about its lack of  consistency and thought-through method.  The NRI contingent has stopped lavishing money on it already, and the middle class support it once enjoyed, is also retreating in embarrassment. It is reduced to a shadow of its boastful self after just 49 grinding in office, during which it discovered that translating its grand promises into any kind of action was easier said than done. But, much as it hopes to find resonance with the public still, it is NaMo and the BJP/NDA that has the pulse of the Indian people today.

(814 words)

February 17^th, 2014

Gautam Mukherjee