BJP, Reddy Brothers and Electoral Reforms

It is said that one should do whatever it takes to win the election and then do whatever one thinks is right. So in all democracies, this applies to election promises. They are made and then broken. All this gets justified in the name of greater good. But what about all the money which gets spent? After all that is not someone’s trust fund or family wealth. If black money is spent, which is how, it is, and then the money supplier would want something in return unlike the voter who has been lied to. This is where it gets dirty.

In the last general elections, Congress spent more than 400 crores. BJP spent more than 200 crores. That is a lot of money. We know that Congress has some of the richest MPs. They also have lines into old as well as corrupt money. They have ruled the nation for most of our post independence existence. They set things up to their advantage. That is why; other parties could not compete with them. Between HR Bharadwaj like governors, Congress leaning Election Commissioners and bureaucrats and endless money they had a comfortable run. When in trouble, there was emergency to be imposed. Congress has had no reason for electoral reforms.

BJP has become a viable and a better alternative but they need money besides impeccable credentials. This is where the BJP lose their way. They need moneymen like Pramod Mahajan who can access large amounts of money to be spent on elections. Where do the BJP moneymen get their money from? That is where the Reddy brothers come in. With wink and nods from CMs from Andhra and Karnataka, these two crooks have been selling iron ore to the Chinese and pocketing the money. Of course they have been sharing their wealth with politicians from all the parties. How else can YSR Reddy family wealth be around 476 crores? Jagan Reddy has built a house, which looks like a huge modern church. And yet the focus of media is on the relations of Reddy brothers with the BJP. Fair enough. If the BJP does something wrong, they need to be hauled over coals because they are the party with a difference. We expect Congress and others to be corrupt. However, if the BJP does not indulge in this kind of hanky-panky, then they have no prayer against the Congress.

So what is the solution? Electoral reforms are the answer. We need our own version of McCain-Feingold law, which has made American politicians more honest than they have been. I do not have any suggestions to that end. But if somehow, the playing field became level for everyone, then we will not have the need for money for bribing the voters or horse-trading after hung elections verdicts.

Links with Jagan put Reddy in spot
JaganKarnataka'S tourism minister Gali Janardhan Reddy may have scored a partial victory in his battle against chief minister B. S. Yeddyurappa, but his problems in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh are mounting. Reddy's close ties with Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy have apparently landed him in trouble with the K. Rosaiah government.
The article can be read at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/Links+with+Jagan+put+Reddy+in+spot/1/70495.html