(Dr Pentapati Pullarao)
The middle-class forms 30% of India. A middle-class Indian gets no ration or freebees or free housing. The middle class is anyone who does not get a government pension or assured employment of 35 years. But the Indian middle class is patriotic and deeply proud Indians.
The middle classes in India quietly make political parties win and then they throw them out. Middle classes usually don’t take to the streets or make noise. They demand little from governments, except peace and fairness. Most political parties ignore them. Politicians want voters who will trade their votes.
Power of Middle classes throughout history
When Lenin in Russia in 1915 was planning overthrow of Russian Emperor, he gave great importance to ‘Middle classes “. Lenin said unless the Middle Classes withdraw their support, the Russian Emperor cannot be overthrown. Lenin said: “The middle peasant (farmers) is not our enemy. The task at the moment is to come to an agreement with the middle peasantry “.
Whether it in Europe or USA, it is the middle classes who defeat governments. Middle classes defeated KCR in 2023, Chandra Babu Naidu in 2019, Jagan Reddy in 2024 and Sonia Gandhi-Manmohan Singh government in 2014. ALL THESE Governments fed some sections with “freebees’ and the “Beneficiaries “voted faithfully. But the middle classes decided to throw them out and nothing could stop their disgraceful defeats.
The “Guarantees” will be nicely eaten by the beneficiaries. The middle classes watch as they get nothing. At some time, they decide ‘enough is enough ‘and they will be strange unity and “out goes the government “.
Political parties are obsessed by caste-or religious vote banks. Political parties feel that it is easy to negotiate with such vote banks in bulk. Political parties feel in-adequate in trying to win over middle classes.
Middle classes made Modi win
In 2014 and 2019, Middle classes gave their votes to Modi. But in 2024, the middle classes drifted to other parties or did not vote for Modi. Middle classes stayed away as they felt Modi government is ignoring them.
Prof. Sanjay Kumar, leading election Analyst said: “Middle class were upset with the 2024 Budget. Many said that the government did not provide them any relief. But given the shift of the middle class away from the (BJP) in 2024 Parliament elections, middle classes, which were the backbone of the BJP, were deeply disappointed “.
Despite the horrible setback to BJP in 2024 parliament elections, no lessons were learnt. The BJP is fast losing the middle classes
Modi stresses nationalism. But no relief to middle classes
Narendra Modi repeatedly stresses nationalism, culture and tradition to ask the middle classes for votes. But after 10 years, Middle classes are tired. They want nationalism and are deeply patriotic. But they find that they are being cheated economically.
The very rich and poor get attention. Every benefit in India is linked to caste or income. Middle classes don’t fit into such categories and hence get no benefits. The middle class also knows that the NON- BJP India Alliance does not care for them.
Some truths :
- The last 10 BJP budgets ignored middle classes. Political parties think that if the taxes are marginally reduced, Middle classes are satisfied. That is not true. The middle classes are the biggest savers, and this Government has reduced interest on savings. Further, government is ruthless in levying high GST on common items.
- Inflation: The middle classes are victims of inflation. Government boasts that India has growth rate of 8%, which is highest in the world. Yet, inflation is also a secret tax on the middle classes who depend on salaries or low incomes.
- The poor classes get free rations, free housing, free power and everything free. But the middle classes don’t get such benefits because these schemes are income-indexed or caste-indexed.
- Recently, in the central budget, we found that Finance Ministry tried to remove some tax concessions if people sold their houses., after buying them 30 years ago. Even that small benefit was being removed.
- The middle classes get little help for college and university equation. This makes it necessary that their children go abroad with huge bank loans.
Modi 100 days in third term
- Rs. 5 lahs Ayush Bharat for anyone above 70 years :
This is actually a joke. Government statistics say that life expectancy of Indians is 71 years What use is this Ayushman Bharat ,if people die after 70 years? If the government was serious, it should have made the scheme for middle classes from 50 years. Middle classes cheated again. .
- 3 crroe houses to be built for poor :
The 3 crore houses will not be given to any middle class person. This scheme works on income and caste qualifications. Middle classes cheated again.
Danger of mis-reading coming elections ;
By December 2024, state elections will be completed in Maharashtra, Kashmir, Jharkhand and Haryana. In these 4 states, BJP did worse in 2024 than in 2019. But in the assembly elections, Modi is not a factor, and it is an equal fight. The BJP will do better in these states elections than it did in 2024 Parliament. Immediately, Modi followers may say that people have come back to Modi.
Such a statement, if it happens, will mean that the middle classes will be forgotten even more. Wise politicians across the world know that the anger of middle classes is deadly.
Let us hope Modi and the BJP will change. They should remember what Mahatma Gandhi said: Every action of yours should weigh whether it will help the poorest “. Similarly, Modi government should change and judge every action whether it will help the Middle classes. Modi has adjusted nicely to a c9oaltion government. Let us see if Modi changes regarding the middle classes!
(Author is a Political and Economic Analyst based in New Delhi)
