Introduction: Our politicians change colours like a chameleon. A Hindutwa advocate becomes secular one fine morning and by night, he becomes a Marxist. They switch from one party to the other. This is a big flaw in the largest democracy in the world.
We are the world's largest democracy, but in our democratic system, the largest number of flaws are seen. Our politicians do not have an ideology. They are not guided by any principle or programme. They do wear labels, but they change them. A voter cannot be sure what his representative stands for. He is not certain whether the candidate he has voted for will be in the same party after the elections are over. It is really astonishing and weird how a politician who swears from the housetop he is a firm believer in secularism, overnight joins a party which has a clear religious agenda. A communist, who contemptuously says the BJP is a communal and fascist organization, declares one fine morning the BJP is the only party that can deliver. Our politicians do not have the courage of their conviction. In fact, they do not have any conviction at all.
Changing lanes
In their long political career - the politicians never retire - they switch from one party to the other frequently - like a chameleon changing its colours. They do not think there is anything wrong in it. They come out with weird excuses and of course, they do not care whether they are convincing. The Shiv Sena has always stuck to a certain belief, a well-laid out fixed programme. Mr. Bal Thackeray has never changed. The means and ends he adopts have been the same over the years. His is a party which believes in Hindutwa. This, however, does not mean the Sena is against any other community. When the Sena was in power in the state, there was hardly any communal riot. Good or bad, the Sena has projected a certain basic image. This has never changed.
How then, can a member of this party - one of the top leaders - ever think of joining any other party?
How could Mr. Narayan Rane hobnobbed with parties like the Congress and the NCP which are aggressively secular?
Mr. Rane was the chief minister of the state when the Sena-BJP was in power. He could not have shared the belief of his boss who favoured him and made him the CM. He must have had total faith in Hindutwa. In some speech or the other, he must have attacked pseudo-secular parties like the Congress, which loses no opportunity to attack communal organizations. How could Mr. Rane even think of joining the Congress? If he had the support of 24 members of the legislature - he made such a claim - he would have joined the ruling Congress-NCP alliance and even become a minister.
Can one who is a staunch believer in Hindutwa become secular overnight?
Is there no difference between the Shiv Sena and the Congress?
If there is no difference, there will be no need for the separate existence of these parties. There is another leader who also exited from the Shiv Sena and joined the Congress - Sanjay Nirupam.
What makes politicians move out of their parties? It definitely does not seem to be on ideological grounds that they make their exit.
No question of any principle is involved here. It is personal ambition, ego conflict, that make politicians go from one party to another.
Every now and then we hear of politicians changing sides, their loyalty and ideology.
The conclusion: Politicians in our country do not have any ideology.
In other democracies of the world, politicians have fixed, permanent perceptions and beliefs. For instance, a Conservative party member in Britain do not change overnight and move over to the Labour party. We do not hear of any Democrat in the US becoming a Republican. Such a change cannot take place in these democracies.
This is a big flaw in our democracy.
And it becomes a major flaw when immediately after an election, a member quits his party and joins another. This switch should never be permitted. Voters elect him believing he stands for certain principles and programme. He cannot join any other party without the permission of the voters in his constituency. If he has any grouse with his party, he should resign and seek re-election.
Another major flaw is he chance available to criminals to enter the legislature.
The cop who raped a teenager at the Marine Drive chowky can stand for elections and enter the state assembly or parliament. There is convincing evidence, the victim has given a graphic description of what has happened, a crowd that collected there after the heinous crime was committed can testify, but the man can stand for elections.
Because he has not been convicted by a court. Until he is found guilty by a court and sentenced he will be deemed as innocent.
There are criminals who are out on bail for committing terrible crimes like murder, rape, extortion, kidnapping, bomb blast, who can contest elections. In our assemblies, and in parliament as well, there are MPs and MLAs who have committed heinous crimes. There are criminals who have become ministers. Until their guilt has been proved, they can be in the legislature and the parliament.
A politician arrested for leading an agitation, who has been put in jail for defying a curfew order is not a criminal. Whether there is a conviction or not, if a man is charged with murder or rape, he should not be eligible to enter the legislature.
In a coalition scenario, it is difficult to make democracy successful.
Coalition compulsions will make a party include criminals in the ministry. The Congress party, for instance, had no go but to enter into an alliance with some parties headed by leaders who have grave charges against them. For instance, the BJP went on boycotting last session of parliament objecting against the inclusion in the cabinet of Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav against whom there are grave corruption charges. Mr. Yadav is alleged to be actively involved in a multi-crore fodder scam.
All politician parties have criminals and in the coalition set-up, they become useful. The criminals exert pressure on the major partner and have their way.
Empower people
In a democracy, people are supreme. What is democracy but the rule by people and not just rule by one tyrant? People must always be in control. That is not happening just now.
Once a politician is elected, he forgets about his constituency and does what he likes. He spends time, energy and power feathering his own nest. He becomes inaccessible and he kicks away the ladder that has got him to the top.
The people must have the right to recall.
When they find an MLA or MP not functioning properly (or not functioning at all), people should have the right of recall. The MLA or MP should be asked to resign and fresh elections held. This will enable the people to make their choice once again. This will help them keep the legislators on their toes. If this happens, the legislatures will be very careful and will attend to the needs and problems of people in their constituencies.
It is verily said eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Any good system can go bad, can be misused. Rot can set in. History shows that of all the systems, democracy is the best. It does not help establish paradise on earth and make the land flow with milk and honey, but it does help evolve a bearable, workable, nearly just collective arrangement.
First thing first and it is: Politicians
must not be allowed to change colours like a chameleon. Second thing: Criminals
must be kept miles away from parliament and assemblies.