Will the Anna Hazare factor reverse fortunes?

Apr 13, 2011 - Venkatesh Kesari |

Age Correspondent

New Delhi

The impact of Gandhian Anna Hazare’s campaign against corruption could be seen on April 13, feel political leaders, who say that the feedback from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, which are going to the polls on Wednesday, is that local issues and candidates dominated the campaigning. On the other hand, issues in Assam and West Bengal are different.

Recalling that the 26/11 terror attack did not influence voters in Mumbai in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections despite strong resentment against the state and the Centre, they predicted if Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are held today, the BSP, led by Ms Mayawati, can emerge as the single-largest party .
The Assembly elections in five states would be an indicator of whether or not corruption would be a major issue which can shake the Centre once again, said senior
a MP.
According to him, the AIADMK built up its campaign in Tamil Nadu around the dynasty in the DMK and brought the corruption issue indirectly while in Kerala, the Congress is pegging its hope on the anti-incumbency factor.
According to political observers, Mr Hazare’s anti corruption campaign has brought youth and middle class women to the steets, kicked off a nation-wide debate on this issue.
But whether it will convert into votes will be known only on May 13 when the results of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry elections will be announced.
Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and a few other states will be held next year. But will corruption be a major issue there too? Reports coming in from these states do not indicate this, observers say.
The Bahujan Samaj Party continues to be the main player in Uttar Pradesh while Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has full grip in the state and can win the coming elections.
Even in Delhi, chief minister Sheila Dikshit continues to be the Congress’ face.
In these states, corruption has not become an issue despite the Gandhian Mr Hazare’s campaign and civil society’s active participation in it.

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