Monday Musings: Maharashtra’s power trading leaders, confused cadre & cynic voters
Absence of public representatives have left citizens with no choice but to directly reach out to civic administration
Maharashtra’s political canvas for the past few years has been a theatre of the absurd. Yet, why are the voters, who are usually vocal on many issues so quiet?
The common citizens from various cities in Maharashtra including Pune are increasingly taking to the streets to protest issues related to water, roads, traffic congestion, and other infrastructure problems. Previously too the set of people including civic organisations often raised their voice on issues they believed were not in their (or society at large) interest.
However, the absence of public representatives - corporators – for one and half year because of delayed civic elections in more than 14 municipal corporations have left citizens with no choice but to directly reach out to civic administration to press their demand. With social media, seeking the administration’s response is easier even if getting work done is as difficult as it used to be.
The issues concerning the citizenry are many. The roads have potholes everywhere. Even those streets tarred as recently as two months ago have developed potholes. The traffic problem has been perennial with no solution in sight. Big projects are way beyond their schedule; some of them have not even taken off. Some of those being implemented and are on schedule are being opposed by a section of people with environmental concerns.
Much of this is the fault of either the local body or state government. The centre should also take some blame for not doing enough to approve extended Metro rail routes.
When there are so many issues, those in politics seem hardly bothered. The political developments in Maharashtra over the past few years have seen twists and turns. Starting from Shiv Sena ditching the 2019 mandate by joining hands with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress to form the government under Maha Vikas Aghadi, to Eknath Shinde’s defection eventually making him become chief minister, and later Ajit Pawar raising a revolt against his uncle, each move has shocked and surprised the people.
Most of all, it has confused the cadre working on the ground of each political party. The ordinary workers do not know if the leader they are following will switch sides or not. After Ajit Pawar’s mutiny, many NCP workers quickly changed within hours their plans for agitation against the government. Instead, they became amenable as their leaders to the ruling dispensation.
And the common people – so agitated about everything else – are not speaking up when the political realignment can affect their present and future.
The voters’ class does not seem to have much bothered. The political equations have been continuously changing. Yet they do not seem to have impacted voter sentiments. If at all there is anything, the enthusiasm to vote among those non-committed to any political party or ideology may go down further. It may push them less ideologically driven than personality centric.
Generally, the more the political players, the more it drives voters to come forward to exercise their rights. This is simply because each party – small or big – try and mobilise voters through their cadre. In Maharashtra, the space between the opposition and those in power is getting crowded. However, the growing cynicism and apathy towards the political class may bring their already limited interest to its lowest. This may not be good for democracy where the power of the vote is precious.
