Even in the days of coalition politics, a manifesto by a political party just before the general elections has not lost its importance, as it reflects what way the party wants to take the country ahead in future, what would be its priorities and policies. The document also gives some hope, announces some populist schemes and takes into consideration immediate concerns of the population.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manifesto is eagerly awaited as the party is leading the modified National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in addition with some new allies, while some of the old allies have parted ways during the last five years. Senior BJP leader Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi was at the helm of the drafting committee when the party finalised its manifesto in the year 2009 with L.K. Advani as its prime ministerial candidate and, continues to be in charge of the drafting committee for 2014 general elections with Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate. A manifesto is a public document where the party gives promises and makes some commitments to fulfill if voted to power. Not that all the promises are fulfilled even if voted to power and some of these promises keep on appearing in the next manifesto for the new elections. They also throw light on whether there is any paradigm shift in the perception or ideology of the party or change in its priorities based on a desire to secure solid support base of voters in the elections. As a part of the coalition dharma, each party issues its own agenda and manifesto, but later compromises and boils it down to minimum common programme accepted by the partners of their coalitions.
A paradigm shift in the ideology?
Narendra Modi has been touring the country and wants to harp on the Gujarat model of development and is seeking vote on the basis of his performance as the Gujarat chief minister with an assurance to replicate a similar model at the national level. Will this over emphasis on development reflect in the 2014 manifesto? Will there be any paradigm shift in the tone and tenor of the BJP manifesto 2014 as compared to the one published in 2009 which failed to evoke the kind of response the party expected? These are some of the questions being discussed in political circles. The Congress has already hit out at Modi for the Gujarat model, saying that its figures are inflated and it fails on human development ground.
With no single party in a position to get the magic number of 272 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats in the coming elections, the party which leads the NDA is all set to assure its poll allies that it will follow “cooperative federalism” to ensure space for regional parties. If voted to power the party is expected to promise that the inter-state council comprising of the prime minister and the chief ministers of other states will decide on major policy issues facing the country during the five year term beginning June 2014.
Likely promises in the manifesto
The BJP may promise to end the states’ ‘excessive dependence’ on the Centre, which is sometimes exploited to serve the narrow political objectives at the cost of the national interests. During the last 10 years of the UPA rule, the country witnessed many issues leading to the centre-state confrontation. The national body for dealing with extremist threats was also delayed as states were not ready to compromise on its role in maintaining law and order in their respective states. Narendra Modi also has been harping on better state-centre relationship and the need to decentralise and give equal responsibilities to Centre, states, local agencies and institutions. Increased role of citizens in governance is also added to make it more attractive.
It will be interesting to see what kind of fiscal policies the BJP will assure. It has been talking about reducing taxes and making tax regime simpler. The manifesto may promise to simplify all taxes and gradually reduce to a single tax regime, while the complex laws will be done away with simple laws empowering the common man. Commissions will be set up to work out action plans for implementing the promises made in the manifesto. This will help to implement these promises in a tight time frame and will not merely remain on paper.
There have been many contentious issues in the earlier manifesto. Will these continue to remain in the new 2014 manifesto or will they be done away with? The possibility is that the old contentious issues like – the abrogation of Article 370 to end the special status to Jammu and Kashmir and the implementation of a uniform civil code, construction of a grand Ram Mandir at Ayodhya and ban on the cow slaughter, are likely to remain on the list. The party may say that these issues will remain on backburner due to coalition compulsions but would be taken up in future, if voted to power on its own strength.
Ram temple, isolation of NE states may feature on the list
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has publicly reminded the BJP that the demand for a Ram temple at Ayodhya must be included in the 2014 manifesto. Another issue it seeks inclusion is on the emotional isolation of North- Eastern states in the national integrity. These two issues are bound to find a place in the BJP manifesto for year 2014.
The manifesto is also likely to attack the power structure evolved by the UPA during its 10-year rule where the nation was burdened with a prime minister who was in office but not in power; and, a government that was in power but not in authority. This was supposed to be a government that would work for the welfare of the aam aadmi – the common man through remote control. The BJP has been attacking the UPA for its governance by proxy and creation of two power centers.
The BJP manifesto will attack UPA government for reversal of NDA’s policies leading to a mounting sense of insecurity fuelled by repeated terrorist attacks, Maoist insurgency and separatist violence in the country. Death of several Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans in Chhattisgarh just before all the political parties were ready to launch their election campaign will also prominently figure as UPA’s failure to contain Maoist insurgency in the country despite 10 year rule.
The document will attack the Congress led government for gross mismanagement of the economy which has caused inflation, job losses, lockouts and spiraling rise of essential commodities. It is to be seen, what kind of economic model the party suggests to fight these economic ills. It is also to be seen how it will handle the cases of corruption at high places and misuse of government agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to put political opponents on defensive.
New initiatives will focus on reviving economy
The BJP had promised few urgent initiatives in 2009 to be launched within 100 days of coming to power. Most of these initiatives are basic and may be repeated with little modification based on latest development. The 2014 manifesto will be more focused and the document may include a few new initiatives in the economic sector which requires urgent attention.
- Revive the anti-terror mechanism that has been dismantled by the Congress; improve upon Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) to ensure it is more effective as an instrument of deterrence and a tool to prosecute offenders without innocent people being harassed; and, strengthen the operational role of the National Investigating Agency.
- Give assent to laws drafted by state governments for dealing with organised crime and terrorism; encourage other state governments to adopt similar laws.
- Launch a massive programme to detect, detain and deport illegal immigrants.
- Completely revamp the internal and external intelligence agencies and review the existing system of coordination,convergence and dissemination of intelligence inputs. The National Security Council will be made the hub of all sector-related assessments.
- A Digital Security Agency will be set up to deal with cyber warfare, cyber counterterrorism, and cyber security of national digital assets.
- State governments will be provided with all assistance to modernise their respective police forces.
- Border management will be reviewed and improved. Punitive measures will be introduced to block illegal immigration.
- India’s vast coastline is virtually unprotected. Coastal security will be strengthened for better patrolling of Indian waters and preventing terrorists from taking the sea route to enter India.
- Special courts will be set up for speedy prosecution of those involved in acts of terrorism. Their trial shall be fair and speedy justice will be done to the victims.
- Coercive measures, including diplomacy, will be used to deal with countries which promote cross-border terrorism.
- The Centre will facilitate better inter-state coordination and real-time intelligence-sharing, apart from helping states to raise anti-insurgency forces, to face the threat posed by Maoists. The ‘Chhattisgarh Model’ will be used for counter-Maoist operations.
- Any talks with insurgent groups will be conditional and within the framework of the Constitution. The authority of the state, which has been diminished by the Congress in pursuit of vote-bank politics, shall be restored.
On international relations, the manifesto is likely to emphasis that resurgent India must get its rightful place in the comity of nations and international institutions. The BJP also believes in a multi-polar world with no nation having overriding powers over others. The BJP assures that its foreign policy will be based on the principle of enlightened self-interest.
The BJP is going to strengthen the India-US strategic partnership on the principle of equality without compromise on
either India’s national interest or relations with another friendly country. India’s traditional relations with Russia and the Central Asian Republics will be refashioned to keep pace with current realities and derive maximum mutual advantage.
Apart from the regular features, the manifesto 2014 is expected to have NaMo stamp on its overall napproach towards ensuring better life for the aam aadmi.
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Prakash Bal Joshi
The writer is a Mumbai-based journalist and artist.[/column]