Evolution of Multi Dynasty Democracy of India
Assembly elections in Maharashtra State have been announced to be held on October 13, 2009 and the nominations are being filed. As the clamor for seat allocations in different parties reaches a crescendo, one thing that stands out distinctly is the criteria for giving party tickets for contesting elections. Single most important criterion for candidates seems to be the family relationships sons, daughters, inlaws, nephews etc of who’s who of Indian politics. Sons & daughters of veterans of independence struggle did join politics but they were generally low profile entrants and yet very capable. NehruGandhi Dynasty: When Indira Gandhi inherited the mantle from Jawahar Lal Nehru and subsequently Rajiv Gandhi carried the baton, the political establishment as well as educated massed started wondering aloud about the dynastic rule being perpetrated by the NehruGandhi family. It was the charisma of Indira and Rajiv which let them have their way. Sonia was stopped in the track but got more than what she could ask for power without accountability with a captive prime minister. Priyanka & Rahul have been the most written about heirs apparent to the throne which is being kept warm for appropriate point in time. Proliferation of Dynasties: This gradually had impact on political scene in states led by Laloo & Rabri Devi combine with their extended family members much to the chagrin of the people by & large. But we had to accept haplessly. And then following the cue from congress culture, there was flood all over, with every top politician having his son or daughter in the fray. Congress has just managed to stop Jaganmohan Reddy from taking over chief minister ship of Andhra Pradesh and spared the agony of having a first time young MP as CM of a large state. Punjab and Tamil Nadu had unique distinction of having a father son duo Chief Minister & Dy. Chief Minister in the same cabinets of Badal & Karunanidhi.
Today in Maharsahtra, Pratibha Patil, Sharad Pawar, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Vilas Rao Deshmukh, Shivraj Patil, Gopinath Munde, Chhagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane have their sons, daughters, relatives in the list of top contenders. This second generation just does not have any political experience and have displaced many a successful and good sitting MLAs with parties losing good candidates and getting poor administrators of future with no experience. It is to be noted that once elected they will occupy Mantralaya directly. Devolution of Power: But we are not to stop at this second generation of the top first generation politicians of 21st century. A look at news papers shows that today even for large number of contestants nominated by any party there are several connected relatives in party or political establishments. Even a village sarpanch is related to political who’s who of the area. The village level committees, zilla parishad etc. are packed with relatives of the powerful. Uneducated wives of even political micro weights are holding positions in public institutions. It was shocking to see a girl in her early twenties as “Dy. Sarpanch” on the dais in a public function in Pune. Same is the case with the cooperative societies which are packed with political lightweights who migrate to city corporations and other power structures of state assembly in due course. So the dynastic rule has proliferated and permeated down to village level in political as well as economic spheres. This devolution of power was fastest empowering of the weaker sections without a bill or an Act. It was also perhaps the most significant social reengineering in the political space without design. Fast Track for Financial Security: The main reason for this proliferation and perpetuation of family rule at all levels is the ease with which one can grow from rags to riches without even formal education. A large number of the new political contenders have connections with land or construction activities to get quick rich. All you require is right qualifications of caste certificate to be able to ride the band wagon. It was amazing to read that Kalawati, about whom Rahul Gandhi tried hard to speak in parliament during no confidence motion, wanted to
contest elections! One may not have means to make two ends meet for a square meal but political rope seems to be the best hope to quick prosperity. Political space also provides a white wash for all the crimes and sins committed and almost guaranteed protection with money and muscle power. It provides long term economic life line through contracts, agencies, and allocation of quotas created only for this purpose. A municipal corporator in jail for months and now on bail is in the fray for assembly elections. Thus they participate in true “Bharat Nirman” whether constructive development takes place or not. Who says that Indian democracy is not inclusive? Education & Politics: What I am worried about is that our democracy is getting lesser & lesser “inclusive” of the educated lot. If one looks at the candidates (if at all they have any published profile), one would have to think several times if to cast vote at all or not. Are these the kind of representatives we want to elect to state legislatures? I could not get any statistics on number of graduates in current state assembly of Maharashtra or other states. The connection of education and politics is reflected in Lok Sabha statistics with about 45% members being graduates. May be in the states it is much lower and it is time the data is published. It is time to consider minimum level of educational qualifications for the law makers. I know the degrees will be available for a price! We have stooped down to such levels that we can break any rule before it is even passed. Right To Free Education: With “Right To Free Education Bill” passed by Rajya Sabha, there is provision of 25% reservation of seats for weaker sections. With this free education facility, it would now be appropriate to insist on minimum qualifications for different levels of political institutions. For example, at Panchayat levels it may be twelfth standard up to which free education is being made available. For state assemblies and parliament it should be minimum graduation, for which also the reservations are available for admission to colleges. We must endeavor to make a reservation of at least 75% for the educated (graduates) in the political system. These
could be enforced over a period of five years so that there is adequate time for preparation and change over. Since the multidynastic proliferation has come to stay and embedded deeply now in our political system, the next best thing to do is to ensure adequate education for the future law makers. After all the current generation of educated MPs like Milind Deora, Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasad, Jyotiradiyta Scindia or Chief Minister Omar Adbullah would agree that it is important to have educated dynastic successors. And multidynasty is better than single autocratic dynastic rule isn’t it? Vijay M. Deshpande Corporate Advisor, Strategic Management Initiative, Pune September 25, 2009
Scroll down to visit my other blogs Or visit www.strami.com