Disorder polity

Mr.J. Narayan of Lok Satta writes:

• "We can discern three phases of politics since 1947. The first phase (1947-67) saw nation-building and Congress monopoly. The second (1967-89) saw a challenge to Congress monopoly and the emergence of alternatives. The third phase (1989-2000) witnessed fierce competition for power in each state and at the national level. We are now entering a fourth phase—characterised by anger and ennui, delegitimisation of politics, cynicism, rejection of established parties, fragmentation, invoking primordial loyalties, zero-sum-game politics, rampant corruption, and increasing incapacity to address challenges or have an honest conversation with people, a failure of nerve, and intense, reckless populism.

• Where do we go now? Is Indian politics bound to degenerate and lead to anarchy? Is our economy doomed because of failed politics? Will India be an also-ran, instead of being a major world economy? Will the next generation continue to suffer unnecessary poverty, pain and anguish? Is there a way out of the political morass? These are the inevitable questions today."

Second national liberation and appetite for legitimate

J P Narayan has put it in a very nice way to see the politicians and business making:

• “From time immemorial, politics and business have been inextricably linked. Clean politics needs clean money. Good and sustainable business needs political support.
• Wise and mature statesmen always accepted money from business, but kept policymaking and governance beyond its reach. Gandhiji accepted business support, but evolved strategies for national liberation. Patel declined large contributions when there was a hint of seeking favour. Jimmy Carter put all his personal wealth in a blind trust so that his private interests would not influence his public policy, and emerged out of White House as a pauper who lost all his assets.
• In India, politicians have developed an inexhaustible appetite for illegitimate funds. With increasing disconnect between politics and people, voluntarism is dead, and mercenaries have to be hired even for simple political activities. With vote disconnected from outcomes and public good, the voter has to be persuaded with money, liquor and other inducements. The first-past-the-post electoral system — where marginal vote is all-important for determining victory — exacerbated vote buying. In Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, an expenditure of Rs 5 crore for an Assembly candidate is quite common.”