Trust?

The complete disconnect between words and deeds exhibited by the Congress party started to become apparent from the twilight years of Pandit Nehru. Until then, the great man's personal charm over the populace and political leaders managed to put an aura of artificial nobility on the party and put detractors on the back foot.

Even then, the Congress was able to maintain its charade. It was also helped by momentous historical events. However, the mask started to come off since the late 80s and by now it is completely off, revealing a face that is almost cartoonish - and ugly.

Congress has always demanded the highest conduct from its opposition and detractors, simultaneously indulging in the worst forms of political skulduggery.

Suhasini Haider's excellent post on CNN-IBN chronicles some of the party's past back stabbings.

Why has it come to this- where the UPA is in parliamentary ICU, depending on blood donations from those it has never felt the need to be even civil with in the past?

Why is it that statesmanship and floor management is a dying art while pressure politics and deal making flourishes? If this vote was about the nuclear deal, one the government says as in national interest, why didn't the Prime Minister make any effort for national consensus before this? From July 2005, when the deal was announced, to July 2007, when the 1-2-3 was frozen, to July 2008, when his government may yet go on the issue, why has he not reached out to one member of the NDA, with an olive branch, not a fait accompli? And why are Mrs. Gandhi and Master Gandhi making the pitch to the nation for a "nuclear revolution" that will light up all villages now and never before?

Losing the trust vote could actually help the party immensely. The general elections will coincide with the state elections in BJP states - where the wave of anti-incumbency against the state Governments will find its way into the general elections too. Inflation may continue to get worse. Also, the party can put back on the mask of nobility with the claim that they let the Government fall rather than indulge n horse trading (believe it or not, people buy these things).

Perhaps Congress is betting too much on free agent voters. They feel that these voters are so sold on the N-Deal that they will vote for the Congress in large numbers in the next general elections, completely disregarding chronic mis-governance, urban chaos, halted reforms, terror and naxal menace, cronyism and corruption.

If that is the case, it is the biggest irony of all. Most of Congress rhetoric is targeted at these free agent voters, who are allegedly constantly preventing it from implementing its social justice schemes.