POLITICAL DIARY

New Delhi, 22 November 2008

Hereditary Democracy

NEW BRAT PACK CITE DYNASTY GODS

By Poonam I Kaushish

Q) What is the common denominator between cash and pedigree?

A) Politics, of course.

Move over canines, our netagan have usurped your pedigree. Ensuring a continuing lineage.  A fool-proof way for India’s polity to go to the dogs!

Clearly, family is the flavour of the six States going to the polls.  And the Congress “yuvaraj” Rahul Gandhi the icing on the cake.  A no-holds barred gharelu nautanki which has surpassed the ‘K’ sitcoms TRP rating.  A largely issueless election with all merrily banking on pedigree and lineage.  Indeed, India’s ‘son’ is shining.  And, how?

If Indian democracy rests on the one-man-one-vote principle, elections are all about one family and as many tickets as you can wangle norm. The Congress offers Nehru-Gandhi’s Gen Next’s baba log, the BJP sways to the lilting tune of the other Gandhi—Maneka’s son Varun along with bhai, bahen and bandhu, when it runs out of star power.  The regional satraps RJD, Samajwadi, DMK, National Conference, PDP, Shiv Sena, INLD and Akali Dal keeping in their style, believe in Patni, Putra and Putri Prem!

You name the leader and his aankhon ka tara is in the poll fray. In Chhattisgarh, the Congress national treasurer, Motilal Vora’s son was given a ticket despite losing the last two elections. So also former Union Minister Arvind Netam’s daughter, former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi cornered two seats --- for himself and wife and one for the widow of Kheragarh scion etc.

In Rajasthan, the ‘son’ shown all over. Former CM Jagannath Pahadia, Union Minister Sis Ram Ola, Gujarat and Pondicherry Governors’ Nawal Kishore Sharma and Govind Singh Gurjar and senior leader Indora managed tickets for their sons while former State Minister Tayyab Hussain passed on the baton to his daughter and not a few got tickets for nephew, niece et al.

What’s new? ‘Son rise’ and daughter ascent are the rule not only in these polls but are the norm in today’s polity. One look at India’s political map and one sees an alarming proliferation of ‘parivaar pyaar.’  While the Gandhis are regarded as India’s First Family like the Kennedys in the USA, the regional satraps all have nurtured their ‘dynasties’ with loving care.

In J&K Farooq Abdullah and son Omar and PDP’s Mufti and daughter Mehbooba play musical chairs to sit on the State gaddi. In Haryana, former CM. Bhajan Lal can’t wait to see his ladla Kuldeep wear the State’s taaj. Ditto the case with INLD’s Chautala, Samajwadi’s Mulayam in UP and BJP’s Rajasthan CM Vasundhara. Her counterpart in Punjab, Badal and son Sukhbir are the CEO and CFO of the Akali Dal.

In the South, the DMK old war horse Karunnanidhi presides over Tamil Nadu while his sons and daughter wait in the wings. In Karnataka, former Prime Minister Deve Gowda’s three sons control the Janata Dal (S). In Andhra, TDP supremo is busy serenading his brothers-in-laws. In Maharashtra the Thackeray and the Pawar clans compete for power. Then we have a sprinkling of the ‘ladli’ progenies of Karunakaran, Bahuguna and Jagivan Ram. Elections and parties are all in the family.

What to speak of those hailing from “nationalist” families.  Of wives who piggy back on their husband’s clout as in the case of the better half of the RJD  Chief Laloo’s Rabri, JMM’s Mahato and widow of former Gujarat CM Chimanbhai Patel.  And husbands who play musical chairs with wives a la former police top gun Nikhil Kumar. 

How has dynasty become so entrenched in the Indian political system? What is the impetus behind dynastic rule? What perpetuates it? Sadly, politics has degenerated to I, me, and myself and is bereft of ideology. Leading to a situation where most Parties are now subservient to one supreme leader. He or she can therefore wilfully impose their offspring on the Party.

This is today’s shameless political culture. Wherein families, even extended ones, invoke the dynastic Gods. Modern day geneticists could learn a lesson or two from our politicians, who are past masters in this science.  It’s all in the genes, remember.  Forget pop talk or shop talk, the voters’ mantra is all that the yuppies, puppies and the bahus are tutored on.  The “jenaioo” of father and son is the same.  Charity begins at home.  As dictated by the political guru.  Groomed to don the mantle – a precious family heirloom.

Alas, all this is done at the expense of better and deserving candidates.  Committed Party workers and those who have been good Samaritans have been left out in the cold.  It’s all about bhaichara.  This is evident from the long line of ‘rebel’ candidates who were denied the Party symbol.  Most who lost out in the ticket race continue to remain in the fray as independents.  Creating confusion in the rank and file.  Leading to a situation where local Party leaders are pitted against each other.  Causing rifts, even fist fights, during the selection of the Party candidates.  All parties have their share of black eyes.

Distressingly, the original promoter of this pedigree culture is none other than the Congress.  Nehru set the ball rolling and calculatedly laid the foundation of dynastic rule.  He groomed daughter Indira, who in turn promoted Sanjay then Rajiv. The rest is history.  Only Sardar Patel put his foot down firmly – as in the case of Mahatma Gandhi.  After that almost all Prime Ministers and Chief Minister have calculatedly promoted their wards.  From Kairon to Karunanidhi, Pant to Parmar, Devi Lal to Bhajan Lal, Charan Singh to Arjun Singh to Deve Gowda, a never ending lineage. To the latest Sonia aphrodisiac and her Beta No 1 Rahul.

When ends alone matter and not the means, aish karo. Principles and value-based politics are conveniently overlooked and unceremoniously buried.  Triggering off a process wherein Parliamentary democracy first relapsed into a feudal and is now a hereditary democracy, with sons and daughters and even sons-in-law becoming an integral part of statecraft – leading to new rules, guidelines and extra-Constitutional centres of power.

Here is the face of the future national leader.  His (or her) qualifications are easily described.  He must be a “freedom fighter’s” grandson or a neta’s son.  Those blessed with only daughters need have no fear.  Almost all Parties as also their top leaders are “fair” minded.”  Either they or the sons-in-law will be accommodated.  And to maintain “peace” in the household, there could even be a toss-up between the wife and bahu.  After all, aren’t parties only an extension of the families?  Besides, to keep good sambandh even sambandhis will do!

If truth be told, we are still unabashedly feudal in our outlook and ‘jo hokum’ thought process.  Most elected leaders prefer to function in the style of old feudal lords.  Party tickets are distributed not on the basis of merit, but feudal laws and connections.  If a Minister dies, give his place to the wife, son or daughter.  If you want alms, go to the Master.  If you want reprieve from law, seek the blessings of the feudal don, CBI or no CBI.  Only the Master matters – and counts.

Confirming that India’s Parliamentary democracy has degenerated into a mindset.  Only the outward trappings are democratic – naam ke vaaste.  Indeed, the incredible foisting of a whole lot of sons, daughters and near relatives at the cost of long-serving Party workers is a highly disturbing trend fraught with grave consequences.

What next?  Now that the leaders have made their own ‘issues’ the only election issue ideology, once the cementing factor, has been cast aside.  True in the long run, short-term hereditary gains could sound the death-knell of the Indian polity.  But our netagan seem to care two hoots.  All busy serenading each other with “Let’s move ahead and take a stand, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand”.  If the shoulder and hand are of the family brat pack – the new rajas and ranis --- all the better.  Hail the rising family – and my hereditary India. Say goodbye to democracy?--INFA