Parties puzzled by silence of middle class
Political leaders are wondering why the middle class is not protesting agai-nst price rise and food inflation. A UPA leader conceded that it is difficult to understand the psyche of the Indian middle class which has firm views on every major issue but is reluctant to act on price rise that has severely affected its monthly budget. Opposition parties have been reacting on this issue mainly because the Congress-led UPA government has been justifying the fuel price hike decision. Everything is going as per the script.
But the middle class continues to remain passive ever since the prices of foodgrains, milk, medicines and public transport fares have shot up in the last one year. Some view this pattern of behaviour could be because of economic reforms, others feel this could be due to smaller families and growing urbanisation which has made this group self-centred, careerist and detached from the society. Maoists have shaken the “state” power in the past few years, but corruption, price rise are hardly agitating people, especially this vocal class, they observed.
The Congress leaders, including CWC members, have different views on this issue. No political party or organisation can launch an agitation against the price rise mainly because the purchasing power of people has not been affected. The salaried class has been getting a hike regularly, even the pension of retired government employees has been increased, farmers are getting support from the MSP and salaries and allowances in the private sector have increased significantly. They further asked if the inflation and price rise affected the hotel industry, travelling, entertainment and property prices.
The Congress has been winning urban seats in the Lok Sabha elections since 2004 despite the fact that it lacks a support base in the middle class. The party had virtually wiped out the Shiv Sena in Mumbai and the BJP in Delhi. Besides, it won Pune, Nagpur, Secunderbad, Mysore, Chandigarh and other urban Lok Sabha seats contrary to perception that its real constituency has been rural people or the aam admi. But the Congress allies in the ruling front are not enthused over the UPA’s electoral success.
“They (urban class) might have voted for us but they cannot be relied upon. Next time, they can vote for other parties,” they viewed.
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