labels: economy - general
It''s the economy, stupidnews
13 October 2003

Arnold SchwarzeneggerMumbai: It was not Arnold Schwarzenegger's testosterone but the budget deficit that brought about the change in the governor of the state of California. California, the largest state in the US, boasts of the fifth-largest economy in the world, an economy larger than even a developed country like France.

Gray Davis, the incumbent governor, was re-elected just about 10 months back for a second term as governor. In recent months, he oversaw the budget surplus, which was a $70-billion slide to a deficit of $38 billion. He also oversaw the power situation go into disarray and a whopping rise in unemployment, particularly in the prestigious Silicon Valley.

This angered the voters no end and they launched a signature campaign for his recall. Voting was held again and he was replaced by an administratively and politically inexperienced, verbally challenged and muscularly over-endowed hunk of a bimbo.

The right to recall is a phenomenon unique to the politics of the US and what happened in California has sent shivers down the spines of other non-performing governors. Should the right to recall be introduced in India? The idea was mooted sometime back but since it was a good idea, it was given a quiet burial.

So what can the Indian voters do with their non-performing states and which are the non-performing states? These states are unofficially designated as BIMARU (sick?) states. The states are Bihar, Madhya Pradesh (MP),Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (UP). If you look at any of the economic parameters, be it the gross domestic product (GDP), fiscal deficit, the Human Development Index, the Index of Development, fertility or mortality rates, their parameters are far below the national average. Further, these states are a drag and are pulling down the nation's economy.

Recently in UP the voters watched haplessly the Taj about to be vandalised, human skulls in the compound of a legislator, a minister impregnating a young poetess, legislators stabbing and buying each other and, yes, there was a change in government. What was the change? Madam M was replaced by Mister M. Wouldn't the voters in UP be better off if they had the right to recall?

But there is hope yet. Last week, the Election Commission of India announced elections in four states, three of which are BIMARU states. The BIMARU states where elections are being held are MP Rajasthan and Chattisgarh (recently carved from MP). The fourth state is Delhi. So what if the voter cannot recall the representatives? At least once in five years they have the power to give the non-performing ones the order of the boot.

Digvijay SinghLet us take the case of MP first. Five years ago, Chief Minister (CM) Digvijay Singh was re-elected with a comfortable margin. He was re-elected because he had done good work, especially ensuring that schemes for the underprivileged were well implemented. At re-election time, the CM himself admitted that a lot work needed to be done especially on the infrastructure front.

Five years later, the roads of MP are a joke and the power situation in MP is a bad joke. What was the CM doing all these years? Well, he was trying to be more Hindu than the Hindutva brigade and has been worshipping the cow. From now till election date he can worship the cow till he is blue in the face, but that is unlikely to fetch the votes.

Rajasthan has been to some extent unlucky as it has had two consecutive draughts. This is where disaster management and good governance comes in. And what did CM Ashok Gehlot do? He cleverly distributed the draught-relief measures and monies to his constituent caste base. Later, to appease the other castes, he promised reservations to the Brahmins and other upper classes. From now till election date he can promise reservation to all and sundry till he is blue in the face but it that unlikely to fetch the votes.

Ajit JogiChattisgarh was created in 2000 and carried over the legacy of parent state MP. For the first year there was only bickering over who should get what. And what did CM Ajit Jogi do? He played politics. He tried to enlarge his tribal and Scheduled Caste base and although he claims to be a Scheduled Caste person, hardly anyone believes him.

Jogi also wanted to create a spanking new futuristic city, which would replace Ranchi as the capital of Chattisgarh (a clever ploy; this way he would be remembered for centuries). He also got enmeshed in several scandals and the Central Bureau of Investigation is now after him. From now till election date he can run to Sonia Gandhi till he is blue in the face but that is unlikely to fetch the votes.

Delhi is one of the most prosperous states in the country. Albeit a small state, it has demonstrated that all you need is good governance to run a state effectively. CM Sheila Dixit was a rookie politician with no administrative experience when she became the CM of Delhi. However, she has succeeded politically as well as economically.

Sheila DixitOn the political front she has managed to keep the Brutuses at arms-length and has managed to get the contentious conditional access system postponed till election time. On the economic front, she managed to negotiate successfully with the neighbouring states to ensure that there is adequate water and electricity for the citizens.

Dixit brought down pollution levels in Delhi by introducing compress natural gas amidst stiff opposition. She built 55 flyovers, which reduced congestion. She introduced the Bhagidari Scheme, a joint venture between the state and the citizens to ensure better security and safety for the citizens. Lastly, she also ensured that the schemes meant for the betterment of the juggi jophriwallas were implemented.

From now till election date, all she has to do is place before the voters her achievements and the programmes she proposes to implement in the next term and that is likely to fetch the votes.

After all it is the economy, stupid.


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It''s the economy, stupid