India, June 8 -- On May 4, the results of the elections to four States and one Union Territory were declared after a month-long, hectic, and often vituperative campaign. During the election period, education and healthcare were not priorities for any political party. Most parties competed with one another in promising freebies to the electorate, accompanied by an overdose of religious polarisation by the BJP.

Although all political parties vociferously speak about development, few seem genuinely committed to it. Their primary concern appears to be capturing power and retaining it by any means possible. No country can achieve sustainable development without investing in human resource development through quality education and healthcare....