One of the most and frequently talked about topic in Indian politics is the ‘Anti-incumbency’ factor.
Since India is a vast country with a parliament at the centre and State assemblies in more than 30 states, at least every six months, either an assembly election in a state or by- elections in a number of state assembly seats or MP seats, will be held, at the instance of the Election Commission of India, whose main duty is to notify, conduct and supervise the elections and also to redress the grievances of the elections, if any.
Therefore, the political parties, frequently, being forced to face the election,seeking the peoples’ mandate in their favour, have also to tackle with this most relevant ‘anti-incumbency’factor in the Indian politics during the elections.
However as far as the politicians are concerned, the most dreaded factor and a nightmare of the Indian politicians is the ‘anti-incumbency’ factor, when they are in power. When they are not in power and in opposition, it is the easiest and the foremost tool or we can even say a ‘ploy’ employed by them as a weapon to oust the people from power and get themselves installed in power.
However it is necessary to know what is meant by an‘Anti-incumbency’ factor. It is nothing but an unfavorable public opinion developed against a person who is in official position or power. It is unfortunate to note that anti-incumbency factor develops even if there is no any major criticism against an official or a politician in power.Then the motivating factor behind such an anti-incumbency factor is a ‘craving for change’.
In a democracy the anti-incumbency factor often facilitates a change thereby giving a chance to the political aspirants or political opponents who wish to come to power.
Sometimes, the anti-incumbency factor may not work out, if there happens to be a more charismatic leader like Narendra Modi, the Gujarat Chief Minister and if he happened to be a more skillful and an adept politician, thereby nullifying the anti-incumbency factor. Similarly, the anti-incumbency factor has not worked out in the case of states like West Bengal and Tripura, where the left parties have been ruling for years together.If we choose to analyse why anti-incumbency factor has not worked out there, perhaps the style of functioning, the simplicity and unassuming nature of the leaders at the helm of affairs in the concerned states, may be the very strong factors working against the ‘anti-incumbency’ factor.
Barring the above examples shown above, in most of the states in India, still the ‘anti-incumbency’ factor is the most dreaded one as well as the most cherished one both by the ruling parties and by the parties in opposition respectively..
Leave Your Comments