We were stunned and alarmed by the BJP’s audacious attempt to seize power during the recent Chandigarh mayoral election, which was clouded by allegations of foul play. The way BJP leaders celebrated this win was devastating to witness. The same week also saw the swearing-in of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, for the ninth time, after he quit the Mahagathbandhan as well INDIA coalition to join the BJP-led NDA. As the 2024 Lok Sabha election draws nearer, the BJP is determined to win at any cost. However, what expense is the country bearing?
Beyond the grandeur of the political stage lies the reality of the common people grappling with pressing issues such as poverty, healthcare, education, and social inequality. While the confetti settles and the cheers fade into the background, these harsh realities of everyday life continue, untouched by the temporary euphoria of political success.
Counting the casualties of political success
As the country moves forward amid the echoes of political triumphs, it is essential to delve deeper into the layers of the Indian experience. The true cost of victory becomes apparent when the spotlight shifts from the political elite to the marginalised and overlooked sections of society. It is within these hidden struggles that the essence of India’s triumphs and tribulations resides. This exploration aims to shed light on the losses India bears, even as the ruling party revels in electoral success.
Resounding cheers, silenced voices: Amid the triumphant fanfare, the muted cries of women athletes grappling with sexual harassment paint a haunting contrast. From the unbridled impunity of figures like former Wrestling Federation president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to countless stifled voices, the disparity between political triumphs and the plight of India’s female athletes widens—a poignant reminder of a victory tainted by injustice.
Deferred dreams, unemployment realities: Record-high unemployment casts a lengthy shadow over the aspirations of the nation’s youth. Post-graduate degrees find themselves juxtaposed with food delivery bags, and each vacant position echoes broken promises. As potential transforms into despair, the victory parades of the ruling party pass by the hopes of a generation, leaving India bereft of its future.
Justice marred, institutions fractured: Compromised agencies, weaponised politics, and concocted cases distort the very essence of justice into a disfigured caricature. When watchdogs turn into pawns and the rule of law becomes a mockery, India loses the foundation of a fair and impartial society. While the victors celebrate, the nation grapples with a compromised and unreliable system.
Corruption’s banquet, traders’ empty tables: While political allies and rich businessmen clink glasses in celebration, traders across India taste the bitter consequences of skewed priorities and unequal scales. As corruption festers, the celebratory fireworks leave them in the shadows, their livelihoods sacrificed on the altar of political gain.
Muzzled media, buried accountability: As investigations are stifled, press conferences avoided, and inconvenient truths silenced, accountability withers beneath the victor’s shadow. A vibrant democracy relies on a thriving, unrestricted press, but India is losing its essential watchdog as critical voices are suppressed, and dissent evaporates.
Democracy on shaky grounds, blatant manipulation: Horse-trading of MLAs, overnight party switches, and stolen mandates lay bare the cynical underbelly of post-election manoeuvres. Victories achieved through manipulation may secure governments, but they erode the foundations of trust and integrity essential to true democracy. India suffers when the pillars of fairness are exchanged for political expediency.
As the fireworks fade, a nation quietly loses ground. It’s time to move beyond the fleeting euphoria of electoral triumphs and confront the genuine cost of political dominance. The strength of a democracy lies not solely in winning elections but in ensuring that every victory resonates with the well-being of its people. Only through this commitment can triumph truly translate into shared progress, avoiding the silent losses in the shadows of power.
Abhinandita Dayal Mathur is a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party. She tweets @abhinandita_m. Views are personal.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)