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Comedy of Democracy in Jharkhand
Raj Shekhar
Toronto, Canada
In politics, as with comedy, timing is everything. And those who forget that fundamental rule - in either realm - risk being pushed out or booed from the stage by the public. The assembly polls and race to form the government after the election in Jharkhand showed this reality recently in the both camps of UPA and BJP led alliance of NDA. In this battle to form the government after the election, as if the issue was not corruption in bidding war to buy those five or more independents, but the timing. And reason to have the election to respect the democracy was lost when this timing got into politics. It appears that Shibu Soren spent so much time in convincing and negotiating with Marandi to be part of the UPA coalition that the BJP had the first opportunity to go after the approachable and loose independents compromising or ignoring the anti defection law as some of the so called 'five independents' were elected on party tickets.
The BJP-JDU alliance was successful in keeping these five independent MLAs as their lottery tickets and while trying their best to escape with them to Delhi and Rajasthan, like a Barat party before arriving back to Ranchi under obviously much needed extreme protection to cash their lottery tickets. After all that drama of the Great Escape of 41 MLAs eluding UPA's cops like Ajit Jogi and Das Munshi who did their best in political machinations; crying foul in Delhi darbar, NDA was able to form government after the desperate UPA gave up hope to catch any willing independent MLA despite dangling attractive baits to them, simply because they ran out of time. Indeed, BJP cashed their hard earned five 'independents' as lucky lottery tickets by swearing them in immediately as Ministers as if to beat the deadline in expiring date to claim the jackpot prize. Both camps of NDA and UPA know very well that public was not concerned about the survival of democracy in Jharkhand despite BJP's cry to point finger towards the Governor Razi as the contract killer of the democracy or in turn Congress making him a scapegoat, as democracy survived after all. All these political maneuvers showed that there was no plan to murder the democracy rather marauding of democracy took place in Jharkhand.
Today these five "independent" MLAs as Ministers in this newly formed government are walking hand-in hand with the NDA leadership. They will behave as spoiled children in the NDA family to demand anything and anytime at their wish. The success of democratic governance would have been greatly facilitated if NDA and UPA respected each other's position without considering these loose independent MLA's involvement in any government formation. Under the existing rules, of course it is not possible to exclude the involvement or ignore the importance of the loose legislative seats in government formation. We have seen the importance of even one single individual ending up dominating the entire future of the government resulting in fragmentation of the democracy itself. In general, when voters see a shameful behaviour like this, they get disillusioned and seriously start to believe that democracy is a rule for fools, by the fools and to the fools! Many start to believe that democracy is sham as we are governed by those who want to govern, not by those best placed to run the government. But, is there another way? As Winston Churchill said: "Democracy is the worst form of government, but it's the best we've got". Set against the deteriorating state of our democracy in India, real electoral reform deserves attention. Many skeptics ask, can a reform of any sort be considered or fashioned? It is a mistake to underestimate the future of democracy in India unless politician's greed or any political party's power zeal to govern at any cost is not exposed to the public, the democratic system will be degraded leading into disaster. If the electorates do not take bold new initiatives to reform the democratic process, the schism between the public and their governments will continue to widen.
What we need is reform and an open debate on kind of reform itself so to bring back the decision making to the people. To eliminate danger of single legislative seat to decide the fate of future government, it is equally important in democracy to make minority voices powerful and a participant in decision making beside overwhelming majority. It is necessary to include all the participant in the democratic process so that any important issue raised does not get sidelined or ignored and decision taken remains as collective responsibility. It needs some overhaul. Democracy should be considered as freedom of mind; open to new ideas and willing to give right to others, also to think differently from one-self. The future of freedom will depend on a truly working democratic system that encourages free discussion to reform to improve the system.
It is worth mentioning that on 21 March, speaking at "Outstanding Parliamentarians Award" function where President APJ Abdul Kalam voiced serious concern over recent horse-trading politics in Jharkhand: "Let us be honest to ourselves. The arithmetical compulsions of incremental numbers and the alleged tradability of certain legislative seats, won perhaps through means allegedly dubious and undemocratic, have many a time created doubts on our democratic system in the public eye."
Today the challenge of political courage looms larger than ever: Great crises produce great men and great deeds as well.
comments
Yes I do agree for the timely issue raised by the writer.But then under present state of affairs prevailing in the country where Morality in character formation based on our ancient way of social thinking is being termed as communal because of its ingredients based on Hindu Myths We have to wait for time to remodel.Anyway credit should br given to Shri Raj Shekhar for his pain aiming reformation.The Editor should have provided space for saving the article for wider circulation.
Khagendra.
daskhagen@rediffmail.com