CIVIL society groups have always been engaged in mainstream politics in one way or another, albeit at its margins. Rarely have such groups been credited with making a difference to the outcome of elections to state legislatures. In the erstwhile united state of Andhra Pradesh I was witness over the years to the activism of civil society groups, popularly referred to as non-government organisations (NGOs) and to their eventual frustration in not being able to make a difference on an electoral platform. Mainstream political parties either ignored them or regarded them as hostile entities to unite and work against.
The recently concluded elections to the Karnataka state legislature have a different story to tell. Many commentators have pointed to the role played by at least two civil society groups, Eddelu Karnataka (Wake Up Karnataka) and Bahutva Karnataka (Pluralistic Karnataka). One commentator put it pithily stating, “Among the main reasons for the Congress party’s victory in Karnataka, was the boost it got from the social work of civil society organisations such as Eddelu Karnataka (Wake Up Karnataka) and Bahutva Karnataka (Pluralistic Karnataka).”
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CIVIL society groups have always been engaged in mainstream politics in one way or another, albeit at its margins. Rarely have such groups been credited with making a difference to the outcome of elections to state legislatures. In the erstwhile united state of Andhra Pradesh I was witness over the years to the activism of civil society groups, popularly referred to as non-government organisations (NGOs) and to their eventual frustration in not being able to make a difference on an electoral platform. Mainstream political parties either ignored them or regarded them as hostile entities to unite and work against.