Politics isn’t a farce. Those who thought the West Bengal assembly election was about Mamata Banerjee’s chair should shut up. Who becomes the chief minister of a state is of little consequence. The concern is about electoral integrity; about citizens’ rights, morality and justice. What’s really at stake is democracy, not power.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is gloating over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) victory. That can be done by lesser mortals. That political apprentice who has been appointed the BJP president, Nitin Nabin, could have merrily done that job – gloat over victories, or cry over defeats. The prime minister needs to engage with the nation on critical concerns. Who will answer questions on the fate of democracy in India?Who will clear the misgivings in people’s minds when the opposition parties are screaming about looted elections, subversion of due process by the Election Commission and denial of justice by the Supreme Court?Obviously, the prime minister must. But Modi, after celebrating the BJP victory in Bengal, started giving sermons on the historical importance of the Somnath temple in Gujarat. Are 12 years not enough for Modi to understand what a prime minister is supposed to do?Modi’s abdication of responsibilities has acquired scandalous dimensions. If he has the courage of his convictions, he will engage with the Opposition parties on questions that have far-reaching consequences for India’s democracy. He should tell the nation that the Opposition is unnecessarily maligning the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, that paragon of virtue who has done exemplary work in Bihar and Bengal.Also read: What’s There to Comment on Election Results?He should tell the nation that the around one crore people whose names were struck off the voters’ list in West Bengal were not Indian citizens and deserved disenfranchisement. He should hail the Supreme Court judge for that casual remark to the 27 lakh citizens stuck in “logical discrepancies” that they can vote next time. Or lament the miscarriage of justice. The least the prime minister can do is pretend to behave like the prime minister.This also applies to those masquerading as political experts. They are coyly admitting that there was no level-playing field and SIR was designed to achieve targeted deletions and then start rationalising the outcome. They add, “…but SIR was not the only reason. There was anti-incumbency against Mamata, there was Hindu consolidation against Muslim appeasement, people were angry over Trinamool gundagardi, corruption was an issue…etc.”That’s like a man poisoned by a doctor later scolding his wife for his nutritional deficiencies and lack of physical fitness. The crux of the matter is that the man died of poison. The doctor is supposed to give medicine, not poison. Needless to say, the Election Commission is expected to ensure a level playing field and the judiciary is meant for delivering justice.The exclusion of 27 lakh citizens for logical discrepancies and addition of six lakh voters after the finalisation of electoral rolls were unpardonable sins. That they could not vote despite the Supreme Court’s knowledge is a blot on democracy. The prime minister, who was singing the ghuspaithiya tune day and night, the Election Commission and the Supreme Court disqualified themselves as the legitimate custodians of law.Also read: The Indian State Versus West Bengal: An Election Unlike Any OtherExperts, by rationalising the results and asking whether all the excluded voters would have supported Trinamool, are only advertising their contempt for electoral integrity. Morality lies beyond numerical calculations.‘Gaza-type lesson’Who is seen as the worst political villain in the world today? The obvious answer is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, because of the barbaric massacre of Palestinians in Gaza. Videos showing Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who is now the chief minister of the state, saying Hindus should teach a lesson to Muslims in India like Israel did in Gaza are circulating on social media. Adhikari had said that “Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas” was a bogus slogan and declared that he would not work for Muslims unless they changed their religion.While citizens in India have been psyched up not to expect the Election Commission to take note of violations of the model code of conduct by important BJP leaders, the prime minister and the home minister should clarify whether they endorse Adhikari’s suggestion to learn from Israel to crush Muslims? Are we ready for a Gaza-like genocide in Bengal? Is Modi happy to see his follower in Bengal learn from his friend in Israel?On the question of anti-Muslim rant, Adhikari is not alone. BJP chief ministers like Yogi Adityanath and Himanta Biswa Sarma often use similar toxic rhetoric. The BJP indeed looks like a party of little Netanyahus.Speaking in the context of the Bengal election, a Gujarat BJP legislator Jitu Somani said, “Vidharmi (people following other religions) should not vote for me. I have never asked Muslims to vote for me. I don’t want their votes. I am Hanuman of Shri Narendra Modi and Amit Shah and they didn’t want Muslim votes, and Muslims, don’t contaminate my ballot with your votes.”Disciples of Modi and Shah, who are also itching to follow the path of mindless brutalities demonstrated by Netanyahu, will shape India’s destiny in future. Urdu poet Shauq Bahraichi’s stunning couplet sounds so prophetic, “Barbaad gulistan karne ko bas ek hi ullu kaafi hai/ har shaakh pe ullu baitha hai anjam-e-gulistan kya hoga?” (A single owl is enough to ruin a garden. What if an owl sits on every branch? What will become of such a garden?)Rahul Gandhi’s maturityLeader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi not only took a major step towards strengthening the opposition grouping by expressing solidarity with Mamata Banerjee, he even warned those who reacted irresponsibly on the basis of narrow partisan perceptions. He tweeted, “Some in the Congress and others are gloating about Trinamool’s loss. They need to understand this clearly – the theft of the Assam and Bengal mandate is a big step forward by the BJP in its mission to destroy Indian democracy. Put petty politics aside. This is not about one party or another. This is about India.”The Congress leader showed exceptional maturity even as some supporters of the party and analysts ridiculed Mamata for opportunistic political dalliances.Rahul Gandhi had presented credible evidence on “vote chori” and tried to build a nationwide movement to mount pressure on the Modi government, but didn’t get enough support from other parties. The campaign fizzled out after the Bihar assembly election, but Bengal has once again brought it on top of the priority list.Mamata Banerjee has reported misdeeds and malpractices, going to the extent of alleging “loot” of votes with the help of the Election Commission. She said Trinamool agents were forcibly driven out of counting centres and demanded release of CCTV footage. The Election Commission can obliterate all doubts in the minds of the people by releasing the CCTV footage and even allowing scrutiny of EVMs used in Bengal.The prime minister should take lead in demanding public scrutiny of EVMs and release of CCTV footage because India’s democracy has lost its credibility over the years because of sustained charges of manipulation and theft. Who else should be more worried about India’s image than the prime minister?Both Bihar and Bengal saw huge controversies about SIR. While all the political parties raised a hue and cry, the BJP, which supported SIR, turned out to be the beneficiary. This not only deepens suspicions, the charge of targeted deletions may sow seeds of a civil war in India. The deployment of around 2.5 lakh central forces for Bengal elections also raised eyebrows. What a coercive force can do to voting patterns is understood better through two examples of by-polls in Uttar Pradesh.Rampur, with over 60% Muslim votes was a Samajwadi Party bastion. The SP won the seat in 2017 assembly election with 47.47% vote against BJP’s 25.69%. In 2022, the SP vote-share was 59.71% against the BJP’s 34.62%.As Azam Khan and his son went to jail, a by-poll had to be conducted in 2022 itself. The BJP polled 62.06% of the vote against SP’s 23.66%. Akhilesh Yadav complained that central forces and Uttar Pradesh police didn’t allow his voters to come out.Pollsters seriously discuss even a 5% swing but the inexplicable 28% swing in favour of BJP within a span of months went unnoticed. In Kundarki, SP polled 46.28% against BJP’s 30.40% in 2022 election. In the 2024 by-poll, the BJP wrested the seat with 76.71% vote against the SP’s mere 11.52%, a dramatic turn of fortunes unknown in electoral history – a 46% swing in BJP’s favour! Again, Akhilesh pointed to coercive methods used by police and paramilitary forces.Sanjay K. Jha is a political commentator.