Impression in the U.S. state department about India until recently has been that there are two main political formations in that country Congress(I) and BJP which need to be courted, This assessment must undergo a radical change in the light of the elections held last week to some of the state assemblies. The largest Indian state Uttar Pradesh which sent all but two prime ministers since Independence in 1947 has caused a major upset. The BJP which was all set to win the election has to contend with an equally important combination comprising Samajwadi Party of Unlayam Singh Yadav and Bahijan Samaj Party of Kanshi Ram. The Congress(I) has emerged poor third. Neither the Congress(I) nor the BJP could muster a clear majority in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It was only in Delhi that the BJP obtained a clear verdict in its favor. Similarly, the Congress (I) should be satisfied about the results in Himachal Pradesh.
in other words, the hopes of both Congress(I), which dismissed the state governments in the expection of capturing power, and the BJP have been shattered to a large extent. Both these parties tried to whip up Hindu fundamentalism in a race to capture power. The Congress (I)’s ways were subtle. The BJP’s crude.
The Assembly results have a clear message to the world: India does not have a two-party system. There are also other forces in India’s political life that the world must live with, the third force varies from state to state but the common thread is that it consists of Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits and other dispossessed elements. In Punjab, it is Sikhs; in Kashmir, it is Muslims; in U.P. it is a combination of Dalits, backward castes, Muslims, Sikhs and other small groups. Such forces in Rajasthan and Madhaya Pradesh prevented the Congress (1) and the BJP to emerge in absolute power. Even in Delhi, these forces played a role in the kind of the results that have come in finally. Interestingly, the third force is not led by any establishment India national party such as the C.P.I, the C.P. (M) or even the Janata Dal.
The new force in India’s politics has to be understood, and lived with. It cannot be ignored. It will increasingly play a role not only in the states but also, eventually, at the center, the individual components of the third force stand for greater reservation of employment opportunities for members of the backward, Dalit and minority groups. These forces have the potential to influence India’s economic policies away from free enterprise and competition and in favor of “reservation.” The U.S. authorities must understand the aspirations of this new, politically emerging class rather than dismiss its individual components as extremist and terrorist. Any attempt al ignoring and alienating these forces will cause immense harm to the longterm interests of the U.S. in India.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 3, 1993
