Offstumped – Center Right Indian Politics

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based on Dharma, Liberalism and Nationalism

The fault line has shifted south of Vindhyas

NOTE: Offstumped will be on vacation?for the next 2 weeks, barring another “tehelka” :) expect fewer posts, far in between, over the next 2 weeks.?

The Indian Express reports:

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to have its first Chief Minister in a southern state. The BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular), bitterly badmouthing each other just three weeks ago when they parted ways, made a sudden turnaround today to stake claim to form a new coalition government in Karnataka, with BJP?s B S Yediyurappa as Chief Minister

The development comes in the wake of a sudden turnaround by the Gowda father-son duo after fears of a split engineered by JD-S leader M.P. Prakash and Gowda’s bete-noire Siddaramiah now in the Congress. Having called the BJP a communal party, the “secular” JD-S sought cover by asking the BJP to keep off its agenda. At the time of going to press with this post, the matter rested with Governor Rameshwar Thakur who in true Congress spirit has sought time to consult constitutional experts. With numbers in its favor the BJP should get its first government south of the Vindhyas barring any constitutional surprises from the Congress or a vertical split in the JD-S by MP Prakash. As of the time of going to press the JD-S had shifted its MLAs to a resort and the Congress was urging the Governor to dissolve the assembly.

A quick refresher on the sequence of events in this saga

27th Sept Gowda plays a game of bluff

4th Oct Kumaraswamy reneges on promise, threatens elections after father son duo attempt to queer the pitch for BMIC project

By 5th Oct Gowda ends suspense and refuses to transfer power.

When in January of 2006 after snapping ties with the Congress, Kumaraswamy had joined with the BJP to form a coalition government, speculation was rife on the future of the dominant political fault line along the so called “secular”-”communal” divide. But the ensuing 18 months saw the gap between an adrift?BJP and a few of its regional allies widen. This drift was most evident during the Presidential election with allies Shiv Sena and Trinamul refusing to back Shekhawat while former allies AGP, TDP and INLD forming the UNPA with the?Samajwadi Party.

This drift was wrongly interpreted by many as the “secular”-”communal” fault line re-asserting itself. While Jayalalitha’s ADMK broke ranks with the UNPA to support Shekhawat and has since been cosying up with the BJP on the Sethusamudram issue, it did not alter conventional wisdom on the defining political fault line.

Yesterday’s developments in Karnataka coming in the wake of the Tehelka expose on Gujarat riots confirm beyond doubt that the fault line has shifted permanently.

It can now be safely assumed that the defining fault line of Indian Politics is primarily along three dimensions, none of which along the secular-communal divide. Along the first dimension you have? a?”Parochial” versus “National” divide. The second dimension has those “who profess loyalty to a family” or “personality” versus those “who profess loyalty to an ideology”. The third dimension has those “who seek entitlements in the name of social justice” versus those “who seek opportunity by promoting free enterprise”.

The other distinguishing feature of this fault line is that it blurs party lines across state borders. Hence you have a Narendra Modi in Gujarat on the one hand swearing by Special Economic Zones while his counterparts in other states agitating against them.

So the next time you hear of an arrange of convenience in the name of “secularism” take it with a fistful of salt.

Offstumped Bottomline: The defining political fault line of our times has shifted. With that shift the Vindhyas have been breached.

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17 Responses

  1. samurai says:

    a dishonest party which uses gullibility of people to get votes will disappear fast.
    the allied organisations have repeatedly hurt hinduism by dragging it into needless controversies,like the ram sethu.
    the hindus will realise the crassness of the sangh parivar soon.
    hinduism will debate itself and rid itself of these groups.

  2. Right or Wrong ? says:

    These are great moments for BJP ! Cherish them as long as they last…

  3. Shankar says:

    With the present delhi sultanate in total disarray over Nuclear issue the mainstream english language media is not able to swallow that South of vindhyas there can rise a vijayanagar.

    MSM is focussing mainly on MP prakash of JD(S) who seem to have sold out to Congress party.

    Delhi sultanate will try all means possible to stop the spread of Vijayanagara samrajyam.

  4. sujoy says:

    Samurai,
    Thats what people said about Sangh parivar from the times of Nehru. It has grown nonetheless.
    The Bjp should keep alliance with aiadmk and tdp so that they can beat the GOP to the bush

  5. Jai Hind says:

    Hi you going on leave will be terrible :-) the Gujarat Polls are just entering the most interesting phase. Hope you will be able to keep your posts going intermitently!

  6. RS says:

    Sujoy,

    I dont think TDP will ever join hands with BJP. They should had ended it in 2002. Anyways it is over for good.

  7. Ot says:

    I expect a regular slew of stories in the coming months in Indian Express and other media entities on how the “communal temperature” in Karnataka has suddnely started raising exactly after BJP assumed power. You will get to know that Karnataka was secular bliss so far, but that now it has become a dangerous communal cauldron. You will hear a lot about Karnataka wings of VHP and RSS in coming days, and you’ll also hear a lot about “attacks” against Christian missionaries and Muslims. In other words, lying that it is running a campaign against communalism, the Congress media will cause a communal polarization. This will not necessarily hurt the BJP, but the point of it all is to taunt Gowda to walk out of the alliance or lose his Muslim vote to Congress. He will not mind the taunting either, because the current arrangement is stop-gap for him anyway, mean to make sure the flock stays togethyer. So when he does walk out at a time he thinks is right for the strike, he’ll do so for a noble cause: “to save secularism”.

    I give 6 months for this drama to play out.

    >>So the next time you hear of an arrange of convenience in the name of “secularism” take it with a fistful of salt.

    Living in 18th century England, Samuel Johnson, a staunch patriot, said that patriotism was the last refuge of the scoundrel. If he lived in India today h’d say that secularism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.

  8. prasanna says:

    Hi OT-Great analysis as always.

    BTW The installation of the BJP-JD government itself is in doubt given that a stooge from 10 Janpath is firmly ensconed in the gubernational chair.I think no other political formation has cynically expoited the position of Governor to further their political interest to the extent Congress party has done.The previous Governor of Karnataka ,though a BJP apointee acquitted himself well

    Bangalore edition of Chinese commie ragtag published a report today by fellow traveller Parvathi Menon on the options that the Governor can exercise, quoting couple of constitutional ‘experts’.One of the ‘expert’ is a influential former Congress minister (there was no mention of his Congress affliation in the entire report).Talk about objective reporting.

    Assuming that Governor relents and the government gets formed,the longevity will depend on the role Kumaraswamy will play in it.If he is joining the government as Dy CM,i think it might last the full term.Another factor will be how Kumaraswamy manages the ‘idiosycrancies’ of his senile dad who still nurses aspiration for role in the centre (based on some astroolgical forecast).And then of course there are lots of astrologers in Karnataka and TN who might be able to influence the longevity of the government (:

    Kumaraswamy is attempting to position himself for a long term role in Karnataka politics.Begginning as rank novice he has successfully managed to catapult himself to the centre stage .He is definitely a force to reckon with his unique brand of ‘pragmatic’politics.The electorate rewarded him in a limited way in the local body polls

    Another thing that might help the alliance is that geographically and socially their areas of influence do not overlap .On the other hand JD and Congress are involved in a direct confrontation .Some of the sworn enemies of Gowda clan are in Congress which might make doing business difficult difficult

    The politics in Karnataka is intrinsically interwined with powerful caste based religious mutts.Some of them reportedely played a key role in reconciling the differences between estranged partners.While the secular media will act as if they just discovered this,all parties in Karnataka need to practise a brand of ‘Soft’ Hindutva to win elections

  9. tota says:

    RS,
    I guess the great secular people of AP did not feel that CB Naidu was sufficiently secular – so they elected an open communalist like Samuel “reddy” to make themselves more comfortable.
    Sometimes I feel (only on my bad days;) ) that Sardar Patel that eeevil Gujarati Communalist made a big mistake by not allowing the creation of a “South Pakistan” (In that case RS would be named RM – guess what that M stands for) and we would not have to listen to hoity-toity uppity farts sitting 1000 km away from the Pak/Bangla borders sitting around giving lectures on secularism. Imagine the fun that could be had – “cross-border” terrorist attacks in Bangalore and Chennai, continuous infiltration, no IT industry because of the lack of security, al-qaida traipsing around in the jungles around Warangal. Ah well with the growth of the MIM you idiots might actually bring this to fruition.

  10. tota says:

    RS,
    that was a reply from me for your belchings on the previous thread and the current thread

  11. [...] wrote an interesting post today on The fault line has shifted south of VindhyasHere’s a quick [...]

  12. RS says:

    Tota,

    I am not going to give u a reply coz u sound so juvenile. Come back when u grow up.

  13. tota says:

    RS,

    First I am quite sure that I am older than you. Secondly I am surprised you just called me “juvenile” – did you forget “Hitler” by any chance?
    Thirdly I correctly judged you and smoked you out – “ooh I am not going to condescend to argue with the “lowly native” who is “juvenile” – this is what happens when you sneaky jerks run out of arguments. Was my English to hard to understand?

    That one paragraph had at least 12 concepts/questions for you. Since you want to sneak out here it is in points format.

    1. Do you believe that Sardar Patel was a secularist or communalist?

    2. Do you believe that Jawaharlal Nehru was a secularist?

    3. Do you believe that Sardar Patel sending the Indian Army to liberate The people of Andhra from Nizam and Razakar rule was acceptable?

    4. Sardar Patel completed the merger of princely states coolly and calmly without any problems. Nehru the secularist decided that because of his Kashmiri background he would handle Kashmir himself and went to “appeal” to the UN. Do you believe that appealing to the UN is/was the right approach?

    5. If the “communalist” Sardar Patel had not sent in the Army, today there would have been a South Pakistan – do you agree?

    6. If there was a “South Pakistan” do you believe it would have been a liberal, democratic, prosperous society? If not what kind of society would it be considering the Pak and Bangla examples in our neck of the woods?

    7. The Telugu people got a free ride because of Sardar Patel and the Indian Army. Do you agree?

    8. You voted for Samuel “reddy” knowing he was a communalist. Do you believe that only Hindus can be “communalists? Can Christians in India be communalists?

    9. YSR is building churches with tax payer money, talking of taxpayer funding of pilgrimages to Bethlehem, introduced religious reservation for Muslims, proselytising in Tirupati, evangelicals in Hindu temples, selling of TTD land to his fellow Christians and MUCH MUCH more. DO YOU BELIEVE THESE ACTIONS ARE COMMUNALIST?

    10. Moe farmers commit suicide in AP than every year than number of people supposedly killed in the Gujarat riots in 2002. Thus number of farmers committing over 5 years is 5 times the number killed in Gujarat riots- and AP govt and CM turn a blind eye to this genocide of farmers. This is a crime against humanity fit to be prosecuted in the Hague. Dont bother to answer this one.

    11. Freedom is not free – unlike dhotis and color TVs and electricity (even those items have costs which you losers offload on INDIAN taxpayers). Do you agree?

    12. CBN did a fantastic job in Andhra, still he got voted out (remember that CBN stopped the yearly riots in old city in Hyderabad inspired by Congress “dissidents” to convince the “High command” to replace the CM). Does this not imply that the average person in AP is easily taken in by media propaganda about “rural neglect”. Has the suicide rate of farmers come down after YSR was elected. How come media is not covering this everyday (total commited suicide today x, yesterday y etc.) like they did when CBN was ruling? Do you then agree that AP people are very easily fooled by media propaganda?

    13. By the way just in case you slander me about hating AP people – I think that Narasimha Rao was the best Prime Minister that India ever had. No need to answer this one.

    Psst. Psst. change your opinions I will provide you with free electricity.

  14. RS says:

    Tota,

    I have no idea what is the matter with u. Ur comments dont make any sense in respect to my comments here in this blog. I am asking u once again to get back to me only when u grow up.

  15. tota says:

    RS,

    Man your are a real fultoos psec. You make comments on the previous thread and this thread openly bragging about Telugus and abusing Sanghis and then sit around PRETENDING TO BE INNOCENT.

    You told another guy on the previous thread to “Grow Up” – Is that what you do when you do not have any arguments left – apart from openly lying?

    My comments make perfect sense in relation to your comments. Here are your comments on the previous and current thread

    “Every self-respecting Telugu who is proud of his/her glorious heritage votes for the TDP.” (me – this sounds like Hitler speaking about the glory of the Fatherland – It might astonish you to know that in a democracy you have to have more than 1 party. If all Telugus only vote for TDP then you do not need any other party in Telugu Nadu)

    “If Indians are proud of their IITs and its soaftware Industry then it is thanks to the Telugus.”

    “FYI we fill up the IITS every year and we run the Software Industry.” (me- TCS is Parsi run (Parsis are basically gujarati speaking people), Infosys is Kannada run, Patni is Gujarati run, Wipro is run by a Gujarati Muslim – only Satyam is run by Telugus – stop yapping, also every single Tamil in the whole world will disagree with you on the IIT and software BS that you spout) COULD YOU TELUGUS STOP LYING SO MUCH ON YOUR RESUMES? It really spoils the environment for the rest of us who actually function on merit.

    “The way u r free to believe those figures that convince u, I am also free to believe any figure that convinces me.”(me – that figures)

    “I am a TDP supporter from Andhra Pradesh. We don’t go around killing people in the name of religion like u Sanghis do.” (me – no you ONLY go around killing people in the name of NAXALITE ideology)

    No wonder your PSEC RAJ (just like British Raj and License-Permit Raj before it) is coming to an end. You entire mindset is based on Open Chauvinism, Outright lying (I will believe any number), totally cockeyed view of the world, absence of fair play, lack of a democratic outlook (only 1 party TDP)

    Thank God for the Internet – this is the only way you dishonest liars are going to get smoked out.

  16. RS says:

    tota,

    As I started reading ur comments I thought u had grown up. but by the time I ended I realised that u are still to grow up.

    First of all check the meaning of the word “abuse” and then point out to me my comments here where – as u claim – I have abused anyone.

    I haven’t lied anywhere in my comments. “Run” means “manpower” and not owned. There are numerous Sillicon Valley based Cos owned by Telugus. The best software guys/gals are from Andhra and they are almost entirely abroad. It is a fact and there is no dispute about it. It is also a fact that we fill up the IITs every year.

    Every self-respecting Telugu voting for TDP is the vision of late NTR and TDP. There is no compulsion. In 18 months u will see TDP coming back to power with huge majority. Just wait and watch.

    TDP is anti-Naxal and there is no doubt about it. CBN and TDP members are on the hitlist of the Naxals. So as a party and state policy we are okay with the elimination of Naxal terror by any means.

    In contrast the Sanghis go around killing innocent people who are unarmed.

    U have acused me of being abusive. Do u think u have been at ur courteous best in ur comments addressed to me?

  17. tota says:

    RS,
    No I have not been at my courteous best.
    Here are your comments which would be construed as “ABUSE”

    So the Sanghis want us to believe the nos given by the Butcher of Gujarat to the Central govt on the riots? Lol!

    We don’t go around killing people in the name of religion like u Sanghis do.

    Just educate me who other than Sanghis love the Butcher of Gujarat?

    I am calling him the Butcher of Gujarat. U have a problem with that?(me – this is sooo polite)

    Death is what these rapists and murderers deserved.(me – of course they deserve death – unlike your psec hero “Afzal”

    If you think that all those Telugus who have been converted to Christianity are going to vote for CBN and not vote for Samuel “reddy” and Antonia “gandhi” – you have a very big surprise coming your way. And in 18 more months guess how many more converts “votes” CBN is going to lose.

    Here is your statement
    Every self-respecting Telugu who is proud of his/her glorious heritage votes for the TDP.”
    Let me modify it a bit
    Every self-respecting Hindu who is proud of his/her glorious heritage votes for the BJP.”

    Please explain to me the difference between the two statements above. Don’t you think you are being very irrational and narrow minded. If you like your Telugu identity there are other people who like their Hindu identity.

    Culture consists of language and religion (among other things) – once the majority of Telugus become Christians you will have to become a refugee in some Sanghi ruled state. – ask any Hindus in the North-East.

    And why do you get so morally self-righteous? Telugu Naxalites have killed far more people than were killed in the Gujarat riots.

    What if I say something like this
    We don’t go around killing people in the name of ideology like u Telugus do.
    Would you not agree that this is slandering all Telugus – then why do you slander all Sanghis? Also ideology is just a cheap substitute for religion (pseudo-religion)

    I’ll try and end this in a positive spirit
    1. I agree with you about CBN and I do back him
    2. I agree that we need ruthless anti-Naxal actions
    3. I will be very happy if AP becomes a rich and prosperous state.
    Peace.

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