As I write this article, I can see that the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) is leading in about 114 assembly seats out of 224 seats in State of Karnataka in South India. The number of seats BJP needs to form Government in the State is 112. BJP had 79 seats in last assembly elections. One must note that India’s software capital Bangalore is in State of Karnataka and large number of people in Bangalore face serious marital problems and many of them had to run around courts for legal battles, false cases and child custody battles. It must also be noted that the State of Karnataka has got a very high suicide rate, mainly due to family problems. About 13000 people committed suicide in year 2006.
The question is: is breaking of family system in India and specifically in urban India damaging Congress party’s election prospects?
One must note that Congress party rules the Indian Govt at New Delhi with the leftists. The Indian economy has grown well in last 4 years which created a feel good factor. This sentiment is a factor in favour of congress party even though recently there has been a stock market crash and there is a rise in inflation. However, in these last 4 years the divorce rates went sky-wards and more than 95,000 women were arrested without trial or evidence under draconian laws like Section 498a of IPC. At least, 10 million people (young and old) must have gone through traumatic experiences as the families start breaking. In India, parents and siblings also suffer as men and women have marital problems.
People facing marital problems in family discount the “fee good factor” created by economic growth. Both men and women who face separation or custody battle with not give a damn about the economic growth during the Congress party’s tenure as they are not just happy. So, people going through separation via a dysfunctional, slow and corrupt judiciary find it difficult to vote for the national ruling party. Unhappy people also contribute to anti-incumbency factors. The laws in India are passed in parliament in New Delhi. So, bad experiences with judiciary can tend to go against the party ruling in Central Govt at New Delhi. So, the people going through marital problems certainly do not go in favour of congress and that would have also contributed to a small swing in the State of Karnataka, which made BJP get almost 40% more seats.
Its difficult to imagine seeing a young man or woman running around courts say, “I am very happy with Congress party which has not done legal reforms or police reforms and I will vote for the party.” It is unimaginable that any of the 95,000 women arrested or their friends, in-laws, relatives or parents will vote for Congress party in elections.
Divorced people tend to remain away from Democratic party in US. Similar trend is emerging slowly in India. The problem for congress is the judiciary in India is totally dysfunctional and a pain unlike the judiciary in US.