NB: From a Facebook post by Anikendranath Sen, journalist
Gogia Pasha, or his ilk, might well have been the mentor of the BJP. The leadership excels at illusions of light and shade pulling legislators with flexible spines and hungry eyes out of a hat when required to form a government. Take the present situation for example, even as we celebrate the well-deserved victory of our exuberant young cockroaches who’ve laid the saffron scourge low for the moment. But soon the question will arise : who are the real cockroaches?
The present dispensation has eaten away at the vitals of our establishment for the last 12 years and despite the temporary setback are pushing on regardless for a more permanent change that’ll redefine the shape of our Republic.
Delimitation is the name of that game and even as we rejoice at the departure of a Dharmendra Pradhan here or look towards a possible exit of a Nitin Gadkari there, the actual cockroaches or termites are busy working towards a paradigm shift in the way the game is played. They need 363 members in the Lok Sabha for a two-thirds majority that’ll give them the strength to change the rules of the game. They have 318. They need 163-166 votes (depending upon vacancies) in the Rajya Sabha. They have 152.
Under Article 368 of the Indian Constitution, certain major structural amendments (such as electoral reforms, changes to federal judicial structures, or the highly anticipated Delimitation Bill) require ratification by at least 50% of the State Legislatures after being passed by Parliament. The NDA’s current strength significantly exceeds this required threshold. Out of India’s 31 states and Union Territories with legislative assemblies, the NDA governs 22 states.
So it’s just 45 short in the Lok Sabha and 14 in the Rajya Sabha. A total of 59 men and women ready, willing and able to change their minds in a notoriously fickle market. At a generous ₹100 crores per head that’s just ₹ 5900 crores, a mere bagatelle for what could well be the world’s richest political party. Besides if carrots don’t work there’s always the stick of the ED, IT dept etc etc.
So congratulations for the victory and by all means pursue the other scoundrels. Gadkari looks promising considering what he’s done to petrol-driven vehicles both two and four-wheeled. But bear in mind we have this brand new building ready to seat 1272 members and just 788 able to fill them at present.
So even as you watch the right hand of our ruling political leadership please keep an eye on their left hand as well and both legs for that matter. Most of all don’t get dazzled by success!
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