Article: How to control Revdi culture in the country, there are valid reasons for concern

Umesh Chaturvedi
Election rallies are seen as the biggest weapon of current politics to target power. Interestingly, every party is trying this weapon of Rewari and is also criticizing its opposition for it. The election process is gaining momentum in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Many promises have been made by political parties. Despite this, even in the midst of elections, if a party feels that it is lagging behind and if a solid vote bank of a particular community can come along with it through a particular promise, then it will do so without any hesitation even with the promise of a new party.

far-fetched
There is no doubt that if political parties wish, they can curb this practice in view of the economic challenges after coming to power. But in today’s political environment full of distrust, the hope of political parties reaching a consensus on such a matter seems far-fetched.

Reason for unexpected victory
Hardly any political pundit had expressed hope of BJP returning to power for the fifth time regarding the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections in 2023. But BJP not only returned to power, but also returned with great fanfare. The reason for the victory was attributed to the ‘Laadli Brahmin Yojana’, which was started by Shivraj Singh Chouhan on June 10, 2023 in Jabalpur, a city known as the culture capital of the state.

debt burden increased
Under this, an amount of one thousand rupees is being given by the government every month to the eligible women of the state above twenty one years of age. Madhya Pradesh, which is already in debt, has made a provision of Rs 18 thousand 984 crore for the year 2024 under this scheme. Madhya Pradesh has a debt of Rs 3.75 lakh crore till March 31, 2024. It is believed that due to some new loans, this amount has increased to Rs 3.85 lakh crore.

Maharashtra is also not behind
This scheme of Madhya Pradesh was considered such an electoral hit that on similar lines, Maharashtra has also started the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. Under this, financial assistance of Rs 1.5 thousand every month has started for women aged 21 to 65 years. An annual budget of Rs 46 thousand crore has been allocated for this scheme in the state. It should be known here that the Maharashtra government borrowed Rs 82 thousand 43 crore in the year 2023-24, due to which its total debt has increased to Rs 7.11 lakh crore.

My respect in response to Gogo Didi
In Jharkhand too, just before the announcement of elections, the state government has started ‘Mukhyamantri Mai Samman Yojana’, under which women have now been promised Rs 2500 every month. This is expected to increase the additional burden of Rs 9000 crore on the state. This is being said to be the answer to BJP’s ‘Gogo Didi Scheme’, under which BJP has promised to give Rs 2100 every month to women above 18 years of age if returned to power. These promises are being made in Jharkhand, which had a debt of more than Rs 25 thousand crore till December 2023.

Neck bell, five guarantees
The problems of Congress, which returned to power in Karnataka with the help of five guarantees, have increased considerably. It is another matter that she is not able to accept it openly. The burden on the state has increased by Rs 53 thousand crore annually. Similar is the situation in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. The present ruling parties of these states have come to power because of such electoral shenanigans.

how to put reins
The time has come to stop the practice of distributing free election gifts and rabri. It would have been better if the political parties themselves had come to an opinion after mutual discussion. But since there seems to be no possibility of this, other constitutional institutions will have to take the initiative. In this context, it should also not be forgotten that the orders of the Supreme Court and the guidelines of the Election Commission have mostly played a role behind all the electoral reforms that have taken place in our country.

Hope from Supreme Court
In such a situation, the fact becomes important that the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Election Commission and the Central Government this month on a petition filed against election extravagance, free gifts etc. However, the Supreme Court has already asked the Election Commission to ban free gifts and rewari etc. The Election Commission has been turning its back on any such initiative citing lack of authority. It is hoped that this time the Supreme Court will not only find a way to remove these hurdles but will also work on defining the fine line between the obligations arising from the welfare character of the state and the promises of freebies for electoral victory.

(The author is a political analyst and senior journalist)