The problem for the BJP, and indeed the Left, is what are they going to do in Opposition. Their election attacks on UPA—Advani on the Prime Minister and Prakash Karat’s tantrum on the nuclear deal—failed to stir voters. But now they have an opportunity. Given its history, one can safely predict that the Congress will begin to act in a high-handed, authoritarian fashion given its large numbers. I gather that Rahul and Priyanka admire their grandmother more than their great grandfather. That points to a neglect of democratic traditions. Indira Gandhi invented the doctrine of the popular mandate which allowed her to invade the sphere of the judiciary. There is a warning in that history likely to repeat itself.

There is already a crisis of public institutions in India. The neutrality of the Presidency was luckily not tested in this election but there were fears before May 16 as to how Pratibha Patil would perform if the result had been less clear cut. She herself announced that she was seeking independent advice from retired Attorney Generals because she could sense the anxiety. The CBI has been subverted for political purposes. The Mulayam Singh Yadav case showed that the CBI blew hot and cold depending on the exigencies of coalition dharma.

The BJP and the Left will do well to become guardians of people’s freedoms. The BJP will have to restrain its parivar thugs from attacking Christians and Muslims and any dissidents whose art or literature they don’t approve of. Once they do that, they can reclaim their proud moment during the Emergency when it was the Jan Sangh, along with the Old Congress discarded by Indira Gandhi, who fought against her tyranny. It is this task which will be required again to be performed. 

... contd.