Political Parties And Their Analysis

This election is a very different in nature. This time the number of youth going to vote is much more. Then the number of recognized parties and its alliances and number of rebels is much more. Number of PM aspirants and the power of secular and regional parties are more. As before there are no prominent issues or no prominent wind towards any party so this election is unpredictable. Even the pre poll alliances are so week and distributed. Most of the parties except BJP and Congress have only regional influence and strength. So let me give a small description and analysis on the major parties and alliance in this election.

This is my personal view supported with facts as per my knowledge. This is not a biased write up to harm or support any party or person. If felt any biasing its not intentional. Debate is welcome within limits.

UPA (United Progressive Alliance)

Chair Person: Sonia Gandhi (INC)

Prime Minister Candidate: No commonly accepted PM candidate as Each Party Head Aims For The Top Post. Congress PM Candidate Manmohan Singh can b considered as the PM candidate.

Present MP status

• Indian National Congress (153 MPs)
• Rashtriya Janata Dal (24 MPs)
• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (16 MPs)
• Nationalist Congress Party (11 MPs)
• Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (5 MPs)
• Lok Janshakti Party (4 MPs)
• All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (1 MP)
• Republican Party of India (Athvale) (1 MP)
• Sikkim Democratic Front (1 MP)
• Indian Union Muslim League (1 MP)

Out Side Support

Samajwadi Party (33 MPs), the Bharatiya Navshakti Party (1 MP), the National Conference (2MPs) and by the National Loktantrik Party (1 MP)

The ruling UPA government headed by the congress was formed after the 2004 general election when no party or alliance had a clear majority. it was formed with the sole aim of keeping BJP away from power. It came to power with the external support of the left and was under the guidelines of CMP (Common Minimum Program). Last year Left parties withdraw its support on the nuclear deal and with the help of SP(Samajwadi Party) the government surpassed the non confidence motion.

Advantages: it has a wide range of parties in its alliance which will be a blessing in the coalition era where no party is going to have a clear majority. There is no prominent Anti-Incumbency feeling in the national level, support of regional parties all over India, no other prominent issues against government, a huge number of leaders, secular outlook, stock market picking up, inflation down, Farmer’s loan wavier, schemes for the minority and women.

Disadvantages: No prime ministerial candidate as such because of the factions within UPA. All head of the prominent Parties in UPA has come up openly with the ambition for top post. Parties although have seat sharing in regions there is no nationwide seat sharing and many parties are contesting against each other in many places. Only a post poll alliance is possible here. Prominent parties like RJD, LJP, NCP, SP are not having a strong view or stand to b in the alliance. LJP,RJD, SP has already formed seat sharing  pact and formed the silent FOURTH FRONT.

Expected regions of support: J&K(Jammu Region), Haryana, North-Eastern States, Andhra, Orissa, Kerala, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Utranchal.

MAJOR PARTIES

Indian National Congress (INC)

President: Sonia Gandhi

PM candidate: Manmohan Singh

The oldest & the ruling party and as the party heading the Governing coalition, it has to its advantage the peoples trust. But it has lost its base in many states and it has to lay on the mercy of many regional parties in case of seats. With the secular approach and development agenda it has a nice chance to come into power after election. But it has no strength to win the majority and walk straight to the parliament. It still may have to depend on UPA and other post poll alliance even the left.

Star Campaigners: Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi

Advantage: secular nature, development agenda, support of many regional parties, minority and rural & agriculture welfare schemes and farmers dept relief package.

Disadvantage: common feeling of the PM being a puppet of the congress president, root level functioning of the party not strong, light on terror, economic crises, fluctuating price of oil and other commodities, regional parties domination, inflation.

Influential Areas: Nationalist party. Strengths in Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra, North Eastern States, Haryana, Uttaranchal

Rashtriya Janatha Dal (RJD)

Party chief: Lalu Prasad Yadav

PM candidate: NIL ( But Lalu has openly expressed his wish to b the PM)

The party that ruled Bihar for 15 years is also known for its corrupt and criminal back ground. It has a good influence in yadav community. It has 24 MPs nw and can be a decisive in this election. It was blamed for the Bihar’s under development during the 15 year rule, but that image has been changed by Lalu by making record profit to the Indian Railways during her tenure as Rail Minister.

Star Campaigners: Lalu Prasad Yadav & his family

Advantages: cast politics and minority votes, development in railways, support of the influential Yadav cast, tie up with SP and LJP.

Disadvantages : corrupt and criminal background, development in Bihar by JD(U) government, several cases still pending agains the past 15year rule in Bihar , cause for the back drop of Bihar during its rule of 15 years.

Influential Areas : Bihar, Jarkand, Southern UP

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK)

Party chief: Karunanidhi

PM candidate: Nil(Congress PM Candidate)

The ruling party in Tamil Nadu will have its say in any government due to the 40 seats in Tami Nadu. Although the DMK came to power with the sweet promises to its people this time it faces Anti-Incumbency. It also lost the support of PMK . Tamils Nadu’s start power politics cant be predicted as many stars has come up with there own parties or extended their support to many parties in public. Ram Sethu, war against LTTE, water crises will all play its card in this election.

Star Campaigners: Karunathi & Stallion, Kannimozhi

Advantages: its open support to Tamils in Sri Lanka, strong stand against Karnataka in Cauvery water dispute and against Kerala in Mullaperiyar Dam issue, controlling price hike, new investments.

Disadvantages: faces Anti-Incumbency, corruption, internal and family disputes, aging Karunanidhi, Ram sethu issue, power cuts, irrigation and water crises

Influectial areas: Tamil Nadu & Pondichery

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

Party President: Sharad Powar

PM candidate: Sharad has expressed his PM ambition

The Sharad Powar led NCP which shares power with congress in Maharashtra is a party which has stands on all the alliances. The party formed from the congress because of Sonia becoming the Congress president is strong in Maharashtra and North Eastern states. This time it shares seats with congress in Maharashtra but has talks with Shiv Sena, third front and left, and also with the Fourth front. Its stand can only be understood after the polls.

Star Campaigners: Sharad Powar

Advantages: secular image, packages to farmers, eltrification in rural areas, rural development.

Disadvantages: Anti-Incumbency, failure of security, law and order, farmers suicide, less infrastructure growth, roads and drains in Mumbai and other cities.

Influential Areas : Maharashtra, North eastern States, Kerala

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)

Chief: Shibu Soren

PM candidate: Nil(Congress candidate)

JMM formed to carve the Jharkhand state is presently in the ruling coalition and has its chief minister. It’s a party which is having backing from tribal’s. Its an infamous party due to its corrupt political approach and switching its stand from political side to side for money. Its political agenda is up liftment of Jharkhand and the tribals

Star Campaigner: Shibu Soren

Advantages : huge tribal vote in Jharkhand

Disadvantages: corruption, criminal back ground, switching sides for money, Anti-incurbency

Influential areas: Jharkhand, tribal belts of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and UP sharing border with Jharkhand

Lok Janshakti Party(LJP)

Chief: Ram Vilas Paswan

PM candidate: Nil ( Paswan has expressed his wish to b PM)

It’s a typical Bihari party which has a history of switching sides for power. It has lost a major number of leaders in the last state election. It has shared power in Bihar. It has a huge support of Muslims.

Star Campaigner: Ram Vilas Paswan

Advantages: Minority support, development agenda, less corrupted and criminalized.

Disadvantages: a major number of leaders and support has been shifted to JD(U) in last election. Development agenda is not match with Nitish Kumar’s governance. Polarization of Muslim and Paswan cast votes, switching sides for power

Area Of Influence: Bihar

Samajwadi Party(SP)

Party chief: Mulayam Singh Yadhav

PM candidate: Nil(Mulayam Singh Do eye the top post)

This is a star fled party in UP which has more number of Film stars in it than any other party. This is also a party that has a huge support of the industrialists. The party was in the third front and was a chief party in it until the Non Confidence Motion came last year. The congress which kept SP away till then joined hands with them to fight the common enemy Mayawathi (BSP). SP has a good support among muslims and Yadhavs in UP.

Star Campaigner: Jaya Bachan and family, Sunjay Dutt and family, Anil Ambani, Mulayam Singh, Amar Singh

Advantages: the huge fan base of the film stars and support of industrialist, anti- incumbency against BSP can turn into votes to SP, industrialist view, minority support

Disadvantages: corruption, criminalization. The cast equations of BSP.

Area of influence: UP, Uttaranchal, MP, UP-Delhi border, Bihar.

Trinamool Congress(TMC)

Chief: Mamata Banerjee

PM candidate: UPA’s PM Candidate (Read Manmohan Singh)

The sole party fighting against the Left in all fronts in West Bengal. They were with NDA and opted out after the 2004 elections. They have good influence in WB. They got the boost after the Nandigram and singur issues where they led the war front along with the parties against the Left. But still they couldn’t show a good result in the last Vidan sabha elections. TMC  have tied up with congress to fight their common enemy Left in the Lok Sabha elections

Star Campaigner: Mamata Banerjee

Advantages: the only party in WB who has a good voice and support other than the left here, they have got the boost from the Nandigram and Singur issues, Anti-incurbency and dictatorial politics of the left, the neo-socialistic measures of the Left are opposed by the farmers

Disadvantages: The left still have its strong base, TMC cudnt yet penetrate to the cities, its influence are still constrained to some pockets, no real issue against Left at present.

Areas Of influence: West Bengal

NDA & 3ed Front will be uploaded tomorrow. hope the post could generate some image of the present political scenario.