An election in India holds importance for Indo-Guyanese in the Diaspora

Nov 01, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
Several Indo-Guyanese Americans are keenly following elections in the state of Bihar, India from where their indentured ancestors hail from because of the potential benefits that could accrue to Guyanese. Bihar state wants to reconnect with its diaspora far flung around the globe to assist with its development as well as to help them connect with their roots.
Bihar is the least developed among Indian’s 29 states and desperately needs an influx of development funds with potential for huge rates of return. Many in the Bihari Guyanese diaspora (from the US) want to trace their roots and some leave for India this week to celebrate Diwali. The political parties in Bihar have promised to assist the diaspora trace their roots; several Guyanese have taken advantage of a program to find their roots. A monument for indentured laborers is also planned regardless of which party wins the election with the government extolling the virtues of hard work by Biharis around the globe.
The Bihar elections have assumed national (Indian) and global significance. The major foreign media (CNN, ABC, N.Y Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, London Times, etc.) are providing coverage of the elections to see if Prime Minister Narendra Modi is still an electoral magnet that he was in April 2014. If the ruling party (alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi) at the center (in charge of the country) wins, it will be an endorsement of its plan to further liberalize and modernize India.

This will boost trade with other countries helping their economies and leading to the development and enrichment of India. A wealthy India will commit more funds (as promised by Modi at the UN and at the India-Africa summit) to aid poor countries (in Caricom like Guyana and Africa) in their development.
The elections is critical for the ruling BJP at the center; a victory in Bihar will allow it choose a list of new members to India’s upper house or Rajjya Sabha. The BJP has a majority of seats in the Lower House or Lok Sabha but is a minority in the RS where reform legislation is often stalled by the party’s opponents to stymie its development plans.

The legislatures of the different states elects members to the RS whereas voters directly elect members to the LS as well as to the state’s assemblies. The BJP has not been doing well in state elections since the general elections of April 2014. Because it is a very large state with security challenges, the election has been staggered in five phases (dates) for seats for different areas to move personnel. The final phase is on November 5 with counting of ballots slated for Nov 8; all voting is electronic making counting quick and smooth.

The chance for fraud is slim. The elections commission is very powerful with power to confiscate campaign money beyond a minimum in an election worker’s possession, election paraphernalia that violates codes, disqualifying candidates, and prosecuting those (including candidates) who violate the laws.
There are two contrasting campaign views attracting voters: economic welfare (increase in old age pension, handouts, etc.) of Nitesh Kumar versus promises of development, free education and jobs of Modi who also promises the construction of several modern mini cities modeled after Singapore. Increasingly in India and round the globe, people are turning towards self-development. There is a large swathe of floating voters who will decide the outcome.
Vishnu Bisram