India’s Capital Goes To Elections: Economics Of Freebies Or Good Governance In Delhi – OpEd

India’s capital Delhi has revealed its political color by choosing saffron lotus – insignia of India’s ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). After 26 years, BJP is back in Delhi by securing 48 out of 70 seats in Assembly elections held on February 5. After a decade of rule, the Aam Aadmi Party was defeated, and Indian National Congress failed to win a single seat for the third consecutive Assembly election. On a glorious note, PM Narendra Modi wrote on twitter – “Development wins, good governance triumphs.” 

Is Economic rationale one of the reasons for change in preference? The ten year regime of “Aam Aadmi Party” (Hindi for Common man’s party) claiming to represent the interests of the masses, did give us a glimpse of what politicians, if need be, could do particularly in the key sectors of Education and Health. But the politics of Freebies overtook all economic rationale pushing a revenue surplus city-state to the brink of fiscal imprudence. The failure to focus on strengthening the basic civic services like water, roads, garbage and the bigger challenge of air quality, must have made a segment of the population wonder why governance is being overshadowed by the culture of freebies. 

The change of political color in the capital also highlights the other reality that class identities are becoming sharper and gaining ground. The vote base of the party voted out still remains strong and is largely coming from the poor, low income group whereas the party voted to power (BJP) has romped home, thanks to the middle class. As per a latest report, middle class is India’s fastest-growing major segment representing 31% of India’s total population. Their aspirations thus are a key driver of Indian politics. Does this class-divide in voting also reveal a divide in economic thinking?

The poor and low income group are generally happy with free power, free water, free bus ride but the tax paying salaried middle class is more worried about how their tax money is being squandered for short term political gains instead of making their lives better. Delhi elections testify the trend. Will this voting pattern gain traction in other cities and states also? The middle class is not a monolithic voting block but the economic hardships are making them more vocal. In the coming years it will be interesting to see if inflation, poor roads, pollution will make this class more aware of their political might and ensure that they come out to cast their vote. If they do then the churn in India’s capital – Delhi is the beginning of a new political upheaval. The freebies may no longer be a sure path to electoral success as the middle class, irrespective of caste identity, may focus more on whether Governments are wisely spending their hard earned tax money so that quality of life improves.

For a section of population which is around 400 million plus, with focus on education and dream of making big, politics is still a dirty business. But the Delhi verdict shows that for the large middle class it is a “strong no” to the culture of freebies…. all they want is good governance and cleaner livable cities. Freebie-politics is myopic. It destroys the essence of free and fair elections, and often fails to translate into long term public gains. Delhi may be showing the change of heart and mindset of a class which has gained in numbers in the post 1991 era and if this holds true for the rest of the country, then it’s time for politicians to redraw their manifestos and governance models!