This Article is From Nov 13, 2014

Mr Fadnavis, Don't Lose the Trust

(Tejas Mehta is Bureau Chief, NDTV)

For any reality TV show to be successful there is one golden rule: a multi-emotion-packed script with very strong and dramatic characters. That done, the lines are thoroughly rehearsed and the timing of the shock-and-awe reactions and counter-reactions perfected.

Perhaps not quite as physically ugly as World Wrestling Entertainment, but at the Maharashtra Assembly where the BJP's minority government proved their majority on Wednesday, it was all there.

The Congress screamed as if this "Black Day for Democracy" was worse than all the sins of World War 1 & 2, and the Emergency combined. The "trampling of the Constitution" pained the Shiv Sena far more than the trampling they suffered as a new-age BJP had almost no recall of a surname called Thackeray. Ouch!

The NCP was the funniest and came out with this bizarre explanation that it all happened so so so so so quickly, that even before they could react - do visualize their 41 MLAs stunned and with their mouths open - the Speaker had already declared that the BJP had won the vote of confidence. Faster than one can even spell I-R-R-I-G-A-T-I-O-N, eh?

And finally, emerging as the paragon of all virtue still unknown to humanity was the BJP. Their chests stuffed with complex technicalities on parliamentary proceedings where - say for example - even a 2 minute 19 second delay to ask for a division of votes is more important than the promise of "sushaasan and suraj".

The drama, the pain, the disbelief, the moral grandstanding and the betrayal. A myriad emotions which all appear so farcical and staged. But then it's all scripted to one reality which no one wants to face or confess: fresh elections.

Be it the Congress, Sena or the NCP - they were well aware that if the BJP's minority government collapsed and they had to go back to the people, none of them would have got the number of seats they have today. Hence, it was better to maintain a status quo. Plus, most political parties after two consecutive elections, now have empty coffers. The cadre is exhausted and wants rest to recover.

That said, couldn't the BJP have handled this better? The expectations from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his government are immense. If the Congress or any other political party had in the past indulged in any dodgy practice, it's all the more reason for the BJP to move away from that outdated world of cynical politics. After all, the BJP does believe they are different.

Maharashtra bestowed it's trust largely on you, Mr Fadnavis. The sheen will be off soon. Don't lose the trust though.

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