In a famous speech to the Constituent Assembly, BR Ambedkar asserted that the “individual” not the “group” was the basis of the Constitution. Of course, he was referring to “past” groups. Elections were to be based on “individual votes” (apart from some reservations for SC/ST and others). The Constitution did not mention “political parties”.
Aurangzeb’s dream
That was understood in the English sense. It was later mentioned in the “symbols” order. Due recognition was given to political parties in the Anti Defection Amendment in 1985. It was expected that “candidates” (albeit linked to parties) would be selected on merit-performance. The Karnataka elections are the culmination of juggernaut politics in a way that crumbles sensitivities of the electoral process.
It is true that crucial elections have always invited party leaders to canvass. One approach is to take party leaders to the marginal constituencies. The other is the blitzkrieg. Although Karnataka was preceded by UP, Gujarat and Bihar, the nature of elections has altered. Now every election (including a by-election) has the prestige of a general election — with each victory or loss as crucial.
Elections are like an invasion to conquer. The BJP wants to invade strongholds by whatever means. Their strategy was first pointed towards the Northeast, which is separated from mainland India by a chicken’s neck at Siliguri.
We know that the Northeast was partly won by guile (President’s Rule in Arunachal, Uttarakhand) and the use of governors where they were not the leading party (Goa, Manipur) — forcing electoral democracy to take a back seat. Karnataka represents the invasion of the South across the Vindhya mountains into different realms separated by language, culture, beliefs and practice.
What was involved in this invasion was establishing the BJP empire in the South, putting all their resources into it. Curiously, it was Aurangzeb’s (whom the BJP despise) dream to extend the Mughal Empire beyond the Vindhyas. In pursuing that dream the BJP wants the annihilation of the Congress party at every juncture.
The battle was pitted at different battlegrounds. The entire forces of the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his general Amit Shah. Joining the fray were eleven odd ministers at the centre. The rulers of Delhi seemed to abandon governance of…
