The biggest democracy in the Southern hemisphere has chosen its leaders for the next five years. Indian voters gave a fresh mandate to Prime Minister Mammohan Singh and cemented the charisma of Congress President and UPA chairperson Ms. Sonia Gandhi.

Although the country’s election is said to have a low turn-out, with 40 to 50 per cent, votes were cast with enthusiasm that is unseen in the last several years. Many voters are people who are under 45 years of age and who are keen in otherwise less fundamentalist politics. But it is also clear for many that less must be expected from the Congress party. As feminist Sunila Singh remarked, “something is still better than nothing.”

Singh first term featured bold initiatives of National Rural Employment Guaranty scheme NREGA especially in rural areas. These include the absorption of poor people, mostly male farmers in the informal sector as labourers who are suppose to be paid minimum daily wage of States Rs. 90 to 150 rupees a day – still low for a country where 77 per cent of the population lives below poverty line. The administration also introduced a measure loan wavers for farmers in distress that will write off the debts of several farmers (in last years Union Budget).

Although these initiatives are limited to a few, who are mostly men, they attracted votes for the Congress Party instead of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whose administration proved to be inefficient. “Memories of the Gujarat are still fresh,” Sunila described the BJP that is said to have a more fundamentalist tendency. In 2002, riots in Gujarat erupted following the attacks to a train carrying mostly Hindu pilgrims. The riots left around 1,000 people dead and 150,000 displaced.

While the mandate of the Congress Party is uncontested, there are reasons that the post-election enthusiasm could be short-lived as issues such as women’s rights, poverty, Burmese trade and peace with Pakistan may remain in a status quo.

For years, women's groups have been lobbying for an allocation of 33 per cent reservation in Parliament and State Legislatives seats for women. The election of Gandhi is notable development but feminists like Sunila would rather be cautious, though the present newly formed Government has promised to pass the bill on 33 per cent reservation within the first 100 days.

“Sonia generally listens to women but she makes less commitment. She has to play the game with the Congress Party and other politicians. Thirty-three percent means 120 seats will be given to women,” total strength of 545 seats in Lok Sabha she explained. She also added the patriarchal nature of political dynasties of the country where husbands, fathers, sons and brothers have a huge stake in the leadership of women in panchayats or at in cities and districts .

Although India passed a law on domestic violence, and has provision of gendered budgets, in 56 ministries out of this six are major ministries much remains to be desired for Sunila. “There are teething problems in the implementations of Domestic Violence Act . We may have a budget but these budgets are not utilised.”

The victory of the Congress Party has also been attributed to its moderate perspective and handling of otherwise sensitive events including the Mumbai hostilities. Yet such moderate stance also means that it unlikely to progressively engage Burma, whose trade heavily relies on India and China who have been generally silent with the brutal clampdown of monks, the skewed process behind the new constitution, abandonment of civilians in the aftermath of typhoon Nargis and lately, the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi.

“It will not oppose the junta even if it is silently supporting Aung San Suu Kyi,” she said. Not much can also be expected from its relationship with Pakistan, who is currently in the thick of a battle with the Talibans. “Its home is not in order,” Sunila remarked.

The election may have been over but Indians are also awaiting when the President of India address the joint Parliament session and present its priorities and budget on July 1, 2009. On this day, they would validate their choices that they have made.

Sources:
Interview with Sunila Singh, National Advocacy Officer, People’s Watch, India (1 June 2009).
Biswas, Soutik. (16 May 2009). “India opts for the middle path.”
Khan, Ayesha, Aupam Chakravartty and Parimal Dabhi. (22 February 2009) “The Final Toll: 1,180.” 
Thakurta, Paranjoy Guha (22 May 2009). “India's PM faces tough agenda.”