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Open Forum
New Delhi, 20 May 2014
Perform or Perish
QUALITY OF
DEMOCRACY CRITICAL
By Dr S Saraswathi
(Former Director,
ICSSR, New Delhi)
Perform or perish is the lesson the voters have sent out
this election. The BJP-led NDA Government can ill-afford to bask in its poll
glory. Political challenges before it are no less serious than economic.
Clearly, judging by the political climate in the poll period and high voter
turn-out, there is no doubt that people are no longer dormant politically. They
cannot be taken for granted. Nor can be treated like door mat once the election
results are out.
Election for the 16th Lok Sabha has raised
worldwide curiosity about its outcome to an extent never witnessed before. It
also raised unprecedented tension among contestants and enthusiasm among voters.
The new Government, of which permutations and combinations being worked out, will
have to face and overcome many challenges from different quarters in its march
towards development and good governance – the two foremost priorities put forth
before the electorate. To achieve these two, a strong, developed, united, democratic
Indian society is needed.
Economic problems such as inflation, price rise, declining
growth rate are national problems. Deficiencies in the health, education,
housing and other sectors are problems of infrastructure. Besides these, there
are many social issues which cannot be eradicated without people’s cooperation. Together, they
make up developmental problems to be tackled not exclusively by politicians but
by government with the advice of professional experts. All that we need is less
politics and more expertise in these spheres.
Apart from such developmental problems, there are certain
challenges before the new government in safeguarding and promoting democratic
norms and institutions. Fortunately, we
have not faced threats to survival of democracy in terms of conducting
periodical elections and forming popular governments despite mass illiteracy, massive
poverty, economic disparities, ethnic heterogeneity, communal passions, caste
divisions, linguistic antagonisms and so on. But, democracy does not lie solely
in or end with conduct of elections.
Democracy is what the democracy does and how. From this
perspective, we have reasons to be concerned about the quality of our democracy.
Manipulation of constitutional and democratic institutions, flagrant violation
of rule of law, and naked show of double standards that have been possible
under prevailing style of governance are some major challenges today. How
democratic is the Indian democracy is a relevant question that we have to
answer.
The survival of Indian democracy in the decades following
independence is attributed to what is termed as the “consociational” political
system by some scholars. Consensus among different groups underlay many major
national decisions making democracy work smoothly in India. In recent years, not only
this consensus is missing but even a desire and necessary efforts to arrive at
a consensus are missing. Even coalition partners hold different views at times
and also air them openly. The result is continuing confrontationist approach translated
in real politics as politicization of anything and everything. Party
differences have penetrated deep into the society. These do not spare even
private lives.
Lack of consensus in a parliamentary democracy may result in
majoritarian rule and suppression or marginalization of minority opinions.
Majority will is generally mistaken as general will. There is little regard for
civil society organizations except for bulk votes. Parliamentary
system has become synonymous with the “tyranny of the majority” – that is,
parliamentary majority. Hence, elections and government formation are but a
form of number game. Even the semblance of building national consensus on
issues is weakening day by day.
It is the power of this majority that promotes many corrupt
practices – defections and break-up of political parties, use of three “M”s –
money, muscle power, and mafia - and coalition “adharma”,
that is, unprincipled support or opposition within a coalition to sustain or bring down a Government. On the other side,
the voice of the minority gets silenced – minority not just by the size of social,
economic, political group, but also by ideological convictions.
To reverse the growth of this kind of unprincipled politics,
there is need for building a climate of broad national consensus on major
issues. In this context, we need to take note of minority politics that fails
to get representation in Parliament. The
first-past-the-post system ignores the presence of minority. But, in practical
politics, that minority exists. When it fails to get accommodation in Parliament,
it throngs outside, on the streets. Street level politics will be the result –
a situation that could be handled partly by resorting to a policy of consensus-building.
Inter-State and intra-State disparities that have triggered
demands for separate States have to be addressed non-politically. This will be
a major challenge for the Modi Government.
The complex relationships developing between political leadership and inclusive
development tend to seek remedy through reorganization
of States. This is going to be one of the biggest challenges before the next Government
particularly in the context of the long delay of nearly two generations in the formation
of Telangana.
Election campaigns have brought out several deficiencies in
our democratic institutions and governance through mutual attacks. Epithets
such as anti-people, communal, crony capitalist, feudal mentality, casteist, political
dynasty, remote control system are often used against one another making it
clear to the common man that all these are present in the existing Indian
democracy in varying degrees. Do we want to steer clear of these corroding
influences and build a better democracy? It is time to decide. The Government
will need cooperation of all political parties, corporate sector, and civil
society organizations to cleanse Indian politics.
An atmosphere of negativity and pessimism has resulted from
a spate of scams unearthed in recent years. It is even rumoured that officials
have developed inertia and hesitate to record their views and to take action.
Functioning of constitutional and statutory bodies like the CBI, CAG, and CVC
has come under severe criticism (rightly or wrongly) for lack of impartiality.
The Government must restore credibility of these organs and take corrective
measures to help them discharge their functions and maintain a system of checks
and balances in the interest of good governance. Nothing short of thorough
overhaul of the entire administration will give results. Cosmetic changes will
do no good.
Parliament has almost stopped its primary function of
debating issues and legislations. Its smooth functioning has become very rare.
As a result, laws are adopted without full discussion in both Houses. It can be
said without fear of contradiction that restoring the status of Parliament as envisaged
in the Constitution is one of the most urgent tasks for Modi Government. It is
indeed the responsibility of the government to run Parliament and its smooth
functioning requires cordial relations between the ruling and Opposition
parties. Mutual respect, a disposition to hear all sides of an issue, and a
desire to build consensus are essential.
With multiple parties in the fray, the days of single party
dominance at the Centre is over even if a single party gains majority by
itself. Governance has to be broad-based and inclusive whether the Government
is formed by a single party or by a combination of parties. Government by
numbers will land it in trouble in the next elections.
Therefore, the system of deliberative democracy must be
promoted to encourage wide discussion of issues and meaningful participation of
people at all levels. Democratic government must rest on a democratic society.
---INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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