The document discusses the 2014 Indian elections and options for political leadership. It outlines the major political parties, BJP and Congress, and their prominent candidates, Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. While Modi has overseen economic growth and development as Gujarat Chief Minister, concerns remain over the 2002 riots. The document argues that the current UPA government under Manmohan Singh has failed with corruption and policy paralysis. It concludes that India needs leadership change and a Prime Minister that will work for the people rather than political interests.

1. The Battle for Supremacy!!

2. Political Parties: Major Candidates
-
Indian National Congress
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

3. 2014 Elections: Strategy for the
People
The founding fathers of the nation or the architects of
the constitution had perhaps never in their wildest of
dreams imagined that the Indian democratic system
would one day become a forged democracy.
The Constitution envisages the people of the country
electing their representatives to the Lok Sabha.
 The largest political party in the Lok Sabha in turn
was expected to choose their leader to be appointed
as the Prime Minister.

4. The Prime Minister was to nominate his council of
Ministers from amongst his party MPs and those
amongst the coalition partners based on his
perception of the capabilities and experience of the
elected representatives.
That was all well said. But have we as a country stood
by the spirit of the constitution?

5. The Maladies:
No one today can fight an election without money
and muscle power. A common man can only be a
voter and never a candidate in the system. It will
always be the chosen rich or the powerful that would
represent you in the highest body of democracy.
Candidates being nominated for a price or because
they belong to a particular caste, religion, ethnic
group or linguistic considerations are the norms.
This is particularly disturbing as Indian people value
secular democracy free from divisive and partisan
influences.

6. Qualifications, experience, capabilities and character
of individuals have very little impact in the present
muddy and opaque system of selection of candidates.
After the votes are cast, the voters are forgotten and
even despised
Under the circumstances, the voter has to learn to
work within the tweaked system to elect a
Government that would work for the betterment of
the people. India needs a Government which will
perform and towards the common man’s interests.
The rural and the urban class definitely deserve a
better treatment and quality of life

8. Political Party Option: INC
The present UPA Government consisting of the
Congress Party and its allies has proved a disaster.
The so called “coalition dharma” has proved to be an
“adharma” to the nation, opening up the gateway to
corruption and nepotism
Law and order situation in the country has become
unmanageable. Our political class has abetted to
refashion a Gandhian society into a sick one, where
not a day passes without a rape being reported

9. Even in matters military and foreign affairs the
Government is paralyzed to the extent of
compromising on India’s sovereignty

11. The BJP:
Though their record of misdeeds has been relatively
less, probably because of limited opportunities, have
they shown any resolve to eliminate corruption? The
Karnataka example of squandering the mineral wealth
and above all exporting the plunder to China has no
parallel. Though they shout endlessly about the
Bofors scandal or the Bhopal tragedy victims, they
have done very little while in power to bring these
issues to their logical conclusion.

12. the Bangaru Laxman episode, Petrol Pump and Gas
Agency allotment Scam or the Jain Hawala case.
Fundamentalist threats to Christians in Orissa and
the demolition of Babri Maszid are fresh in the minds
of the people

13. Prime minister Options: BJP-
BJP’s Narendra Modi has done much better than any
other political party or individuals in the state of
Gujarat in terms of generating job opportunities and
improving the quality of life to its people.
There have not been any major corruption charges
against him individually or within the state
He has shown his firmness in handling political
power brokers and the bureaucracy

14. He has won the state elections thrice continuously
indicating the approval of the people. He does appear
to be leadership material worth giving a chance. Yes
the Gujarat riots haunt him.
He has however not been indicted by any court for
his complicity in the affair till now

16. Indian National Congress:
UPA’s Rahul Gandhi has himself rejected proposals
for being appointed the PM of the country. Why have
an unwilling horse run the race?
 His educational qualifications, experiences in
governance are very limited. He has indeed gone
about doing party work in UP during the recent
elections. His infrequent utterances and speeches in
various forums do not reveal any exceptional vision
for the country or the people of the country.

17. As for Dr Manmohan Singh the current PM who has
staked a timid claim for the post, the least said the
better.
He has failed to show any leadership quality in all
these years as the PM.
 The country has had enough of him.

19. The Choice:
Looking dispassionately, the country needs a change
very badly. Going by past record of political parties,
once voted to power they are usually back to their old
ways irrespective of their promises or experiences. An
individual may be a better option
It is for the people to make their choice of the leader
based on the demonstrated performance and
experience of the available candidates within the
existing system

20. India has any number of honest individuals with
great leadership qualities capable of steering the
country to its glory which it rightly deserves. But in
our system there are no way such talents and
capabilities can be put to use at the national level
It is time social workers, organizations and
prominent people like Anna Hazare go down to
villages and educate the people so that voters’ power
is utilized for the benefit of the people and the
country

21. Conclusion:
The country can no longer tolerate corrupt politicians
with criminal background designing laws for us.
The old and the tired legislators need to give way for
the young and those of the present generation.
Routine standard responses to grave situations and
issues of national importance no longer impress
people. The country has been deceived enough by
feeding on divisive stories and issues such as
secularism, fascist forces, religion, caste, language etc

22. If we fail to make use of the next general elections to
bring about the much needed transformation, India
runs the risk of becoming a failed state under a fake
democracy.
The answer is change, new faces and a PM of peoples’
choice