The emphasis on patronising and polarising the society for winning elections does not augur well for the nation.

The upcoming elections to the Karnataka Assembly are significant for many reasons and the outcome would have an impact on the general elections in the country scheduled for next year.

The issues pitched by the two main contenders in the assembly elections – the Bharatiya Janata party and the Congress – are also precursors of the issues which would dominate the Lok Sabha elections.

The detailed manifesto released by the two parties, however, places emphasis on divisive politics and rakes up caste and creed issues besides trying to outdo each other in attracting voters with promises of freebies in the garb of welfare measures.

The BJP manifesto underlines its ideological priorities. It talks about the party’s resolve to bring in the controversial uniform civil code and create national register of citizens. The BJP government in the state had during the run up for the elections scrapped a quota of four per cent reservation for Muslims and had passed it on to Lingayats and Vokaliggas.

The Congress has not only promised to restore the quota for Muslims, it has declared its intention to raise the reservation quota to 75 per cent to electorally relevant sections of the society.

Evidently the parties are not bothered about the shrinking space for the so-called upper castes who are less vocal and don’t matter electorally as a vast majority of them don’t even go out to vote. Perhaps a time will come when the general categories would ask for reservation.

The trend that is clearly emerging is that while the BJP is going ahead with its broad Hindutva ideology, the Congress is targeting castes and classes at the micro level. It has said that in order to raise the reservation to 75 percent it would go in for amendment to the ninth schedule of the constitution to protect the move from legal challenges. It has already been pushing for caste based census which is being opposed by the BJP.

It is unfortunate that the provision of reservation, which was initially included only for a period of 10 years, has not only been retained since the independence but has been steadily increased over the years. Reservations are done to overlook merit and that certainly is not in the interest of national development.

While reservations in educational institutions are still justified, those for jobs only deprive the meritorious applicants. The latest elections in Karnataka reaffirm that the political parties would like to not only carry on with reservations for electoral gains but would be keen to widen their net.

Issues relating to religion too are part of the divisive politics being pursued by the two major parties. While the Congress manifesto says the party would ban the Bajrang Dal for its allegedly communal activities, BJP leaders have described Congress as “anti hanuman ji” thus pitching it as “anti Hindu party”.

The other part of the manifesto released by the two major parties pertain to the freebies or what they call welfare measures. Rather than projecting plans to alleviate poverty by generating more jobs and opportunities for entrepreneurship, there is a race to offer more free or subsidised largesse.

BJP has offered three free LPG cylinders per year to those below the poverty line in addition to five kilograms of millet per month and half litre of milk every day. The Congress has promised 200 units of electricity free or cost besides free travel for women in state run buses and cash endowments to women and youth.

The level of political discourse is going down with the two main contenders going in for high pitch campaign. Use of harsh words and smear campaign now don’t surprise or shock anyone. The emphasis on patronising and polarising the society for winning elections does not augur well for the nation.

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