Corruption during the Congress regime had sunk to new lows, but the Karnataka elections have proved that the party with a difference can go lower than any low imaginable to win elections. The BJP has excelled the Congress in the stated “murder of democracy”.
Isn’t it ironic that corruption is the new norm, according to ADR watchdog where winability ensured 94% candidates of Congress were crorepattis, while 98% of BJP candidates were the same. In Meghalaya, Manipur and Goa, where the BJP was number 2, the Governor called on the largest post poll combination to form the government in a hurry, so horse trading could be minimal. In Goa just 4 days were given to prove majority! In Karnataka, the Congress and JD(S) had the numbers, staked their claim, but the Governor calls on the BJP to form the government and gave 15 days to prove majority! Big money, big digital data mining and fake news, gullible voters with a biased PM of India as their star campaigner, the President and Vice President and Governors in the bag, the Congress bag of tricks is now no match! How much more poison will be injected into the body politics of democracy is anyone’s guess. Politics of expediency to the fore, rule of law going for a toss, honesty, integrity, loyalty rare with loss of moral values. Imagine parties having to lock up their candidates in five star resorts to prevent poaching, and no guarantee of cross voting till the last minute. Sorry state of Indian democracy indeed!
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
