DOES IT MATTER WHICH COALITION OF PARTIES COME TO POWER IN INDIA

Very little.

1. If it is a Congress led coalition, then the Government would continue with its current policies and the track set in, except some nuance change here and there to accommodate the wish lists of coalition partners.

2. If it is a BJP led coalition, then there would be symbolic gestures to appease hard core Hindutva supporters, be it trying to have Uniform Civil Code, relook at financial subsidy for Haj pilgrimage, building of Ram Mandir, early hanging of Afsal Guru and hesitant moves to have a fresh look at Nuclear treaty. Rhetoric against Pakistan may go up. There may be slight shift to have more friendly ties with Israel. To earn brownie points, BJP would alter the course adopted by Congress in this or that area or subject, i.e., matters which would not fall in the ambit of being contentious or momentous. Yes, the rhetoric on the course change would be strident to make the point that BJP is different from that of Congress. That is all. But to a large extent BJP would be hamstrung in making much head way in matters, which are labeled as Hindutva agenda, because of stiff opposition not only from Congress but also from major alliance partners of BJP, apart from the civil society. BJP would also be wary of world opinion in implementing Hindutva agenda too stridently, for example, the curricula in the schools and colleges.

3. Whichever group Communists support would have to function with partially accommodating some of the dictates coming from the left, such as, re-negotiation of Nuclear Treaty, fetters on business, not opening / increasing any more foreign private investment in equity of Indian entities, such as, Insurance, hard-line on America, not opening market for giant retail companies of the world, etc.,

4. But the important point to be noted is that on most of the policy matters, mainly in the economic realm, the course has already been set during the last ten years and deviating from the same would be difficult, whichever coalition is in power.

5. Whether it is the Congress or BJP led alliance which comes to power, demands of alliance partners would be for plum posts in the Government and more largesse from the Centre to the States where they are in power. Alliance partners would exploit the opportunity of being in power at the centre to consolidate their own position in the States where they have good following. The opportunity to improve personal financial position would not be lost sight of by the leaders of alliance partners.

End-note: The tragedy is that whichever group comes to power, the burning issues of the society would continue to receive largely lip sympathy followed by some half hearted measures but not concrete remedial action, though there would be high sounding rhetoric from whichever party in power of measures taken in that direction. And what are the serious issues:
· Naxalite / (internal) terrorist virtually ruling over 60 Districts in the country,
· the intended beneficiaries (poor / unemployed people ) not getting the benefits doled out by the Central Government,
· drinking water problem,
· abysmal medical facilities / most unsatisfactory position in the area of elementary education
· low agricultural yield
· pension for all old people,
· and more importantly, three meals a day for all.