Governance trumps caste
politics as NDA sweeps Bihar. One hopes that political parties across all
colours pay heed to development agenda and jettison caste-based politics.
In this season of scams, the
Bihar assembly election outcome comes as welcome relief. The massive endorsement
given to Nitish Kumar, who sought a fresh mandate for his record in office and
emphasised a politics of governance over caste and communal paradigms, has
far-reaching implications not just in Bihar but also for the rest of the
country. A better-governed Bihar, one of India’s most populated and
underdeveloped states, will have a positive impact on the social and economic
profile of the country.
The Bihar verdict is
extraordinary for a variety of reasons. The scale of the result itself is
astounding because no political party or coalition has swept assembly elections
in Bihar in this manner in recent times. The success of the Janata Dal (United)-BJP
combine is comprehensive. The wins have come from across the state, and a
three-fourths majority could not have been possible but for support cutting
across caste and communal divides. Clearly, Nitish Kumar’s tenure as chief
minister has been a departure from the chaos under Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi.
Nitish didn’t radically
transform Bihar, but gave Biharis hope of a better future. The turnaround in the
law and order situation, a prerequisite for state building, was the first step
towards realising that. A beginning was made in building infrastructure in the
state. Roads, bridges and culverts were built which made it possible for people
to travel and made small businesses viable. School education got a fillip with
massive recruitment of teachers, while school-going girls were given uniforms
and bicycles. The rise in enrolment figures and fall in school dropout rates
indicate that these interventions have succeeded. Women have been major
beneficiaries of these interventions and they voted in large numbers, presumably
for Nitish and allies.
The challenge now is to
deliver on the mandate. The current consensus in Bihar is for social peace and
economic development. Hopefully, the opposition in Bihar too will take the cue
from the election results and reorient its politics accordingly.
(Source : Times of
India, dated 25-11-2010)
(Comment : One hopes
that political parties across all colours pay heed to development agenda and
jettison caste-based politics)
