2021: The battle of political narratives

Dr. Sandeep Shastri

The year 2021 transformed Indian politics in important ways. The second wave of the pandemic was a matter of serious concern and the actions of the central and state governments to handle the situation were under the spotlight. The year also bore witness to the crucial state assembly elections, which provided a mixed bag of fortunes for different political players. As the year came to an end, the central government’s decision to roll back the farm laws was an interesting strategic move. This year unfolded with rapid political developments, in the wider context of socio-economic and health related concerns and challenges.

The year began with an element of uncertainty. The second wave of the pandemic had already made its presence felt in the western world and its onset was anticipated in India too. Business and commercial activities had slowly resumed towards the closing months of 2020. The central and state governments were grappling with the need to balance health concerns with reviving economic activity. As the onset of the second wave of the pandemic became clear, the authorities hoped to learn from the challenges they faced in the first round of the pandemic. In many cases it was left to the states to decide the steps they wished to take in order to deal with the emerging situation. This had both its advantages and challenges.

As the intensity of the second wave varied across the country, it was prudent to leave the decisions to the states. Yet, there was an element of confusion in the absence of a uniform policy and common set of norms. This became even more evident when it came to travel regulations across states. The handling of the pandemic was also caught up in the political cross-fires, with allegations and counter allegations, placing the blame for challenges at the doorstep of the government in power in a state. At a time when one needed effective coordination and unstinted cooperation between different levels of government, to provide relief to the people, the attempt to score `political brownie points in the process` did little to help deal with the health challenge.

In the midst of the second wave, elections to five critical state assemblies were also announced. In their desperation to secure public support, all political parties put caution to the winds and went around their election campaigns with scant respect for COVID 19 protocols. Holding massive rallies at which people gathered without wearing masks, violating the norms of physical distancing and losing out on an opportunity to lead by example was just a few instances of the political class demonstrating insensitivity towards following good practices for ensuring effective measures to deal with the pandemic.

One also saw a shrill electoral campaign with a liberal dose of mutual mudslinging. The short term goal of winning an election at any cost seemed to be the priority. The long term consequences of such campaigns did not seem to worry key political players. Even after the results were announced, the blame game with accusations and counter accusations continued unabated, further vitiating the socio-cultural and political atmosphere. The political class seems to have mastered the art of spinning a narrative that helps draw a predetermined conclusion. The battle between narratives and counter narratives is not often about facts and figures but about perceptions and prejudices. This trend was increasingly evident as 2021 reached its closing months.

2021 was a year midway between Lok Sabha elections. The BJP led NDA government is into its eight year in office. This has often been the most testing period for governments in the past, when they are half way through their second term. The BJP has made every effort - and successfully - of driving the narrative with the opposition largely responding to the agenda set by the ruling party. Never before has the Congress been out of power at the national level for more than seven years at a stretch. Earlier between 1996 and 1998, it propped up the United Front governments of H. D. Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral and this was followed by the BJP led NDA being in power for six years. Clearly, the Congress has not recovered from its defeat of 2014 and the continued relegation to the backburner in 2019. This has emboldened the state based parties to wrest the initiative to challenge the ruling BJP.

In a strategic move the BJP government at the Centre, chose to withdraw the farm laws that it had championed and supported. There were clearly two factors that influenced the decision of the government. The ensuing Uttar Pradesh and Punjab state assembly elections seemed to play heavily on the minds of the ruling BJP. Retaining UP was critical to the BJP. The continuation of the protests on the farm laws would remain an irritant. Further, if Amarinder Singh had to be made part of a BJP led alliance in Punjab, the wit