In parameters of Human Development, regional parties and BJP at the same level

NEW DELHI: A BJP-sponsored comparative study of delivery of ‘ good governance’ by different political parties— conducted ostensibly to show how better the party-ruled governments have performed—has ironically lauded the achievements of other governments both at the centre and in states.

Released on the evening before Good Governance Day by PM Narendra Modi at the BJP’s Parliamentary Board meet, the report titled ‘Politics of Performance – A Comparative Study of Delivery of Good Governance by different Political Parties in India’ has looked at the post-reforms period between 1991 and 2013 and, predictably, concluded that BJP governments, particularly Gujarat, have fared the best on key parameters including ‘Ease of Doing Business’, economic growth, infrastructure development and E-governance. But interestingly, on other important parameters like ‘Perception of Corruption’ and ‘Financial Inclusion’, the report has acknowledged that Left-ruled states fare much better than others. In parameters of Human Development such as access to safe drinking water, the report also says that regional parties and BJP have the same consistency in increasing access.

Speaking with ET, Director of BJPaffiliated Public Policy Research Institute which prepared the report, Vinay Sahasrabudhe said, “The report has not been prepared in the spirit of one upmanship with other parties, but to contest the often cited refrain that all parties are the same. We aggressively contest this notion and through rigorous and sincere research wish to convey how BJP is different from other parties because of its ideology of good governance and development which benefits everyone.”