The new government must realise that they will not tolerate corruption and poor governance. BJP has found its way to electoral damnation in Karnataka by shooting itself in the head, and Congress to a convincing victory. The results throw up a few key lessons worth exploring; they also underscore the new government’s priorities in terms of good governance as against just mouthing motherhood platitudes, or worse still, squandering taxpayers’ money in motherhood expenditures.
First, a deadly combination of visible, almost publicly touted corruption, discernible maladministration and infighting drove the nails into the incumbent’s coffin.
Simply tinkering here and there does not remove the stench of corruption. Sadly for the BJP, taking on corruption at the highest levels as a principled stand in favour of clean politics has backfired electorally – but it must not read the results as a signal to abandon principles. What is worth cheering is that the much-maligned Reddy brothers, who brought in unprecedented illegal money power and comprehensively poisoned politics, have been drubbed.
Second, historically the voters in Karnataka have always voted differently in the state and national elections. A case in point is 2004 when both elections were held together; the same voter, at the same instant, voted differently. Thus, for winners to gloat and argue that “winner takes all” would be a trifle misplaced.
Third, the first priority of the new government should be sending a strong signal that it stands firmly for a truly independent Lokayukta. This result, among other things, is a clear mandate against rapacious corruption and bad governance of the incumbent. And to not respond to this immediately, would be akin to living in denial.
Fourth, the new government should not emulate a neighbour where politics is defined entirely by vindictiveness at the expense of what is good for the common weal and turn the clock back on beneficial ongoing projects such as the Bangalore metro rail, E-Sugam (comprehensive computerisation of sales tax), Sakala (right to guaranteed services) to name just a few.
These are extraordinary projects that were non-existent before 2008. They have come up in daunting circumstances – with the overall ecosystem and political leadership being sadly limited – by dint of the efforts of a handful of committed IAS officers under the leadership of S V Ranganath, the respected chief secretary of the state. None of these projects should be stalled; instead they must be strengthened and expanded through a full mandate, and the long pending clearances since February 2012 for Phase 2 of Metro rail must be immediately procured.
Fifth, what else would constitute ‘good governance’ in the Karnataka context? There is growing anger in Bangalore about poor city administration and a call for greater accountability in terms of spending more tax revenue resources generated from the city on the city itself. Thus, the new government must set up a unified special authority, empowered in law and with a positive political and executive authority, for all aspects of urban administration of the Greater Bangalore area. Decades of underspending of almost 76% on municipal services on a per capita basis, vis-à-vis the Zakaria committee norms, need to be urgently redressed.
Good governance would also include taking forward the recent International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)-Karnataka government agreement, which has helped raise agriculture growth to about 5.8% over the last four years as against the preceding decadal average of 2%. And Karnataka’s trailing other states on the national league table in information technology and e-governance – areas where it used to lead earlier – also needs urgent correction.
It needs to emerge as a preferred investment destination for industry and IT again with grounding of existing Global Investors Meet projects. Mining linked investments, which can bring in over $15-20 billion of new investment, need to be courted and secured by the new government. Further, the ongoing downward slide in child mortality (130), infant mortality (35) and remarkable increase in institutional deliveries (over 90%) need to be further improved and consolidated.
Likewise, the World Bankfunded BRTS corridor in Hubli Dharwad and gas from the Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline – 1,000 km completed in a record time of 2 years and 7 months after securing 400 clearances from the state government – need to reach the end consumers. Gasbased power projects need to be set up on a war footing.
Lastly, Karnataka has become the first state in India to launch a mobile governance pilot to deliver about 140 citizens’ services to citizens ‘anytime, anyhow, anywhere’. It is an excellent initiative that needs to be rolled out to ensure that the state’s young population gets services literally in the palm of its hand.
Karnataka has spoken loud and clear. It has voted against the clear and present danger of corruption and maladministration. The new government needs to deliver on good governance initiatives and live up to the mandate that it has secured. Government must not forget the Latin proverb ‘Inveniemus Viam Aut Faciemus’ (We will find a way or we will make one), for the citizens are telling them just that.
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