When will the political parties in our country actually pay their attention towards the sector? The answer is right before us. After our special story on the industry's expectations and the missing bioscience agenda on political landscape, the manifestos have proven to be a dud. The print and e-copies of the story to the manifesto committees of the major political parties too have not yielded any result. The congress party which is demitting office after one decade, in its manifesto laid emphasis on almost everything but science. Perhaps it won't generate enough help in the hostile anti-incumbency challenge. The main challenger, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) which is leading in the opinion polls at the moment, too its manifesto, doesn't seem to have much for the sector. Also, the Aam Aadmi Party which is the flavour of the season, has hardly put anything there to read out. Left parties are no different.

Meanwhile, most venerable section of the sector are those who need support and encouragement. The bio-manufacturing, entrepreneurship, education and research needs special boost. Like any other fellow countrymen, the only one at the moment they are looking at, is the next government. There is a unanimity that political diaspora has to understand their needs to ensure the best outcomes especially in healthcare and agriculture. The complex regulatory scenario and prevailing confusion has added to the woes of companies who have to always run from pillar to post for seeking clearances.

No doubt ensuring the safety and well-being of people is supreme but that has to be based on logic and not unfounded emotional misconceptions. There have been individual government agencies and officials who have indeed worked tirelessly to promote the sector. However, the lack of coordination and unanimity on key issues within the outgoing government came as great disappointment for them. While at the moment, we are not sure about the political party forming the next government at the centre but we are confident that the political ideology will guide most of the decisions. The public perception surely is important for any democratic government but so is the long term vision for their betterment. And unfortunately the lack of enough knowledge about this industry in the general public has become a negative factor. Perhaps the industry requires to establish a direct connect and open a dialogue with the common masses. The mobilization of strong public opinion can surely force any political parties to make amends to the rigidity of few outdated principles.

As one of the political analysts had pointed out, the political parties will keep following populist themes and if you have to make them see your point, you have to make it positively popular. As the nation awaits next dispensation to take over the reins, the industry too will curiously look on.

Finally, when the dust settles down and the election euphoria fades out, all we will be left out with is hope. Let it not die even if the expectations are not met.