New order

The results from elections for four state assemblies in India are significant, given that they could set the pattern for the national election next year. As many had forecast, the ruling Congress Party suffered setbacks in three out of four states under the force of the resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party, which seemed set to claim victory in these states, including the symbolically important New Delhi. As the results came in, the leader of the nationalist force, the controversial Narendra Modi, termed the success recorded by his party a huge win, and made it a point to publicly congratulate leaders. In contrast, a subdued Congress stated that it would review tactics and policies.

Only in the small state of Chhattisgarh, where a massacre of its top leaders by Maoists had created a wave of sympathy, did the Congress fare relatively well. Elsewhere it struggled, with the election, unusually, in most cases a two-way race between it and the BJP. One of the most interesting electoral outcomes came in New Delhi, where the newly created Aam Aadmi, or ‘Common Man’ Party, did surprisingly well, with the leader of the anti-corruption league unseating Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit from a constituency she had made her own in the biggest shock result of the election. Ms Dikshit has said she will be reviewing the result, but has also immediately congratulated the winner.

This spirit of goodwill is something we can learn from, as we continue to wrangle over rigging allegations. The Indian state polls were held in an orderly, transparent manner — and marked by a clearly evident show of maturity. Results were not disputed, the verdict of the people was accepted. This is something we can learn from. Of course, we have a far less democratic experience compared with India — but it is time we began to learn what democracy is all about. The example of gracious conduct set across the border during the state polls is something we can place before us and use as a model for the future.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2013.

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