Why politics and principles don't go together

For us, the people of India, the sanskars of democracy which we have been carrying on for centuries; the democratic spirit which is in our veins, finally won. The people of India got rid of the emergency and re-established democracy in a democratic way. It is difficult to find such an example of defeating a dictatorial mindset, a dictatorial tendency in a democratic way, in the whole world

- Prime Minister Narendra Modi in latest Mann Ki Baat

From being unreliable to untrustworthy, politics in India has come a long way, but the wrong way. It might look like a sweeping statement but the developments over the past eight years clearly substantiate what I say. Developments in Karnataka, Goa, MP, Uttarakhand and now Maharashtra are the glaring examples of what politics should not be.

Once the people vote for a candidate with a particular political colour, he or she should stick to it and not play with the people's faith and feelings. People elect Independent candidates too with the hope that the latter remain truly independent and that they do not change colours after the election results are announced and the parties and alliances gun for support.

Now, let us X-ray the developments in Maharashtra. BJP and the Shiv Sena fought the 2019 elections together as the NDA and won a comfortable 161 seats in the 288-seat legislative assembly. But the alliance broke after Shiv Sena refused to join the government stating that the BJP broke its promise of sharing the Chief Ministership 50:50 meaning both the parties were to rule for two and a half years each. BJP denied having made any such pre-poll promise and stuck to its guns pointing out that it had won more seats (105) than Shiv Sena's 56.

One pertinent question that arises is as to why did the Shiv Sena make this promise public and tell its electorate that they would have their CM for 2 ½ years? The party would have probably won more seats than 56 instead of losing 7 as compared to the 2019 position. From the Sena's perspective, let us accept that it was perhaps a secret deal with the BJP.

Then why did the Lotus party break the promise? Having failed to woo back the Shiv Sena, BJP tried all means, yes, all means, to capture power and finally formed the government with the help of NCP leader Ajit Pawar in a pre-dawn coup of sorts on November 24, 2019. That government lasted barely 80 hours and Ajit Pawar was pulled back into the NCP fold led by his uncle and Maharashtra strong man Sharad Pawar – an experience that Fadnavis does not want to remember, at least in public domain.

Fadnavis lost face and has been waiting for a chance to strike back ever since the Maha Vikas Aghadi government took charge with the Shiv Sena-NCP and Congress as partners. He started his power play with the elections to the Rajya Sabha and the legislative council by exploiting the dissatisfaction among the Sena MLAs and the Independents supporting the MVA and upset the calculations of CM Uddhav Thackeray as we discussed in previous columns. But the larger blow to Thackeray came last week and at least 22 Sena MLAs led by Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde rebelled against the CM and escaped to Surat and Guwahati later.

This Operation Lotus that has been described by the pro-BJP media as Fadnavis' political master stroke, gives rise to several questions on the style of functioning of the Thackeray/MVA government.

First and foremost: How did the MVA government and its Home Minister not sense when such a large number of elected representatives with security cover crossed the State border and the Gujarat police took care of them? One can understand if one or two MLAs give a slip to the police and move away. But it beats common sense that 22 MLAs including, Minister of State for Home Shambhuraj Desai, get away citing "personal reasons" and hoodwink the Maharashtra police!

The police might plant stories saying they informed their bosses. I doubt if anyone would have taken it lightly if timely alerts were given. Please view this in the light of Sharad Pawar's stinker to the Home Minister asking about the intelligence failure. Or this reflects the style of functioning of the MVA Government led by Uddhav Thackeray who is accused of closing all communication channels – first during the pandemic and later due to his ill health and surgeries.

It is customary for any CM to take a briefing from the DGP and City Police Commissioner on the intelligence and law and order. Has Uddhav failed here? Even subsequent handling of the increased number of MLAs escaping to Surat and then to Guwahati was also a shabby affair. While firefighting, the Uddhav camp has miserably failed to keep its flock together.

One probable explanation for this could be that many of those who deserted Uddhav face inquiries amid allegations from BJP whistleblowers like Kirit Somaiya. Hence, Uddhav probably allowed them to go to safe havens rather than getting entangled in the ED web. As I write this, Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut, a close confidant of Thackeray household, has already received ED summons.

BJP camp denial notwithstanding, it is clear that the Operation Lotus strategized by Devendra Fadnavis has approvals from the party bigwigs. Once bitten, twice shy. Fadnavis obviously does not want to take chances during this wave of defections. As I said earlier, he lost his face when Ajit Pawar joined him and ditched him later. This explains the delay in BJP officially declaring its support to Sena rebels or taking their support to form the government dethroning Uddhav. So, the Shinde camp will be holed up at Guwahati till Fadnavis is absolutely sure of the Sena MLAs not re-joining the MVA or for that matter, the Shiv Sena.

But now this chance seems to have diminished since both the camps have locked horns in bitter street fights and legal battles. Uddhav camp has already made the Deputy Speaker suspend the rebel MLAs for violating the party whip to attend a meeting. Remember, Maharashtra state legislative assembly does not have a Speaker after the resignation of Narayan Patole after he was appointed the head of State Congress. The election of a new speaker is now sub judice as the Supreme Court is seized of the matter

Meanwhile, the Shinde camp challenged their suspension by the Deputy Speaker. Some of the issues that we will have to closely watch are the Supreme Court ruling in this matter, the options before the Shinde group to merge with BJP or whether the Sena rebel group can be allowed to sit as a separate group. The dispute over which group is the real Shiv Sena will have to be dealt with by the Election Commission who grants recognition to political parties. For Shinde to claim the party tag and symbol, the EC will have to be satisfied that the split is complete.

PM Modi's double engine doctrine – of the BJP ruling at the Centre and State – could well be working sooner or later. His growing ambitions – from Congress-mukt Bharat to opposition-mukt Bharat – may soon be successful. But at the end of the day, it is the people's faith in politicians that takes a huge dent. It is unfortunate that this is happening in June which is painted as the month of the infamous Emergency which saw the trampling down of democracy in the country. Forty seven years after the Emergency, we are forced to witness and experience different kinds of threats to democracy. And we boast to the world that India overcame threats to its democracy!

(The columnist is a Mumbai-based media veteran now running websites and a youtube channel known for his thought-provoking messaging.)