The ‘cake’ of Governance in Karnataka
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 6th June 2018
The ‘Opposition’ seems or claimed to have mastered the ‘Game’ and ‘all set’ to take on the mighty rulers. According to some of the Netas, ‘Unity Wins’ is the name of the ‘Game’. However, that’s much more than that. The charade of unity behind a mask is perhaps much more in the ruling party, even if the ‘united opposition’ which has been newly minted would line up its Netas to dismiss the same. This is because there is much more defiance amongst the ‘opposition Netas’ on leadership, a question they would want to be discussed ‘only after elections’ as per News Reporters in the commercial news media. The ‘take’ of such Netadom is that the current leadership may not be able to withstand ‘electoral defeat’ and still stay put as ‘Leaders’ of the party or enough fragmentation of the ruling Netadom upon such an event. This might be something to be best answered by time rather than ‘through debates or by conjectures’. However, the electoral tussle continues and so is the rush of Netadom ‘to build and to destroy images/imagery in public perception’. Even in the age of ‘Game’, the commercial news media continues to provide solace to the Netas that they can move on and it shall handle perceptions as well as elections, with some ‘gullible souls’ being ever ready to fall to such machinations. The electoral outcomes however have continued to defy the same and shall continue to do so.It should perhaps be noted that Karnataka outcome wasn't based on some Unity, but rather inspite of disunity amonst the so called Opposition parties, but that continues to be ignored by the Netas, parties as well as the commercial news media.
Now all this is happening mostly on account of ‘Performance’ while ability to mobilize a larger number of people or ‘unity’ for votes might just be the first step. In fact the other factor might be rather mediocre performance of the Netas in the concerned government unit going into elections. That has been the reason behind the political tumult and basis upon which the ‘Game’ hypothesis of electoral fortunes at the Centre as well as States (http://www.managementparadise.com/article/9759/the-prophecy-of-the-game-part-ii ) is based. It has not been noted enough by the Netadom as well as the commercial news media that not ‘all’ Netas are losing in states and some do come make a ‘comeback’. This happens on account of ‘relative performance’ or more appropriately ‘expectations/perception of relative performance’ of such Neta vis-à-vis the main challengers. It is also not noted that while the Ruling party at the Centre might lose seats in states under its own governance/mis-governance, however it still is/might be doing rather better in some other states where it may not be in power. So it’s going to be a test of the ‘Unity’ and ‘Performance’ or public expectations/perceptions around the same. However, this seems to keep getting forgotten in a huff ( http://www.managementparadise.com/article/9823/the-karnataka-election-analysis ). All this happens even it is Performance or relative Performance is being debated with gusto as each of the side is only wanting to punch holes in the argument of the other side and the current ruling party is seen to be on defense on ‘current issues’. Discussions on state level performance or relative performance is seen as irrelevant. And of course some ‘cycle pathways’ which are seldom used is only compared to some idols or little relevance only with no growth in industrial works to be measured against (not discussing any irrelevant temple here). Perhaps it’s time that the Netas realize that forgetting ‘Game issues’ is a sin.
While the Karnataka electoral outcomes might have brought a sigh of relief amongst Netadom, however its lessons seems yet not to have synced in fully and the rat race to ‘chairs’ continue in full gusto. That is, you may have beaten another Party/Neta, but you haven’t yet beaten the ‘Game’. In fact, the ‘unity’ points to an acknowledgement or adoption of the ‘Game’ by the Netas in the Opposition. So besides the ‘Unity’ or such masks, the Opposition Netas will also need ‘Performance’. And continued slippage on this count would also have its impact on the electoral fortunes. The ‘power grab’ focused Netas and parties would however continue ignoring the ‘Game’ and find solace in ‘Unity’ basis brokered deals and arrangements. And our commercial news media will continue to ‘sell’ this new found ‘unity amongst castes groups’ as a united opposition and the only saving grace for our huge democracy and ignore the ‘Game’ of the voting patterns of the public. That performance in Karnataka or other major states have a bearing on electoral outcomes of parties in other states as well. Seems the lessons are going to still take some more time to sink in. Let the ‘Game’ evolve….