India – easy prey of a fraudulent, virulent political leadership

There have been long debates among political pundits over the efficacy and also the tenets of dialectical materialism or the materialistic philosophy propounded by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. We need not get into the details or spend sleepless nights to gauge the fundamentals of the thesis, anti-thesis and synthesis but it can be said, without a shred of doubt, change is an intrinsic notion of the nature. There have also been considerable changes in the Indian political scenario. What has been the intensity of this change? Has it become synonymous to rugged deterioration?

There are also different opinions of it. It should be noted that the indomitable influence of Indian National Congress in the 50s and 60s crushed like a house of cards in the 70s owing to the emergence of unforeseen developments. Now the question remains was Indian political scene without a strong opposition! No matter the presence of small parties comprising the Communists, Socialists, Right-wing Nationalists and even Centrists, there were larger leaders who were known for their eloquence, integrity, commitment, candor and also influential oratory. What’s more, they had powerful all-India appeal. These included Dr. S P Mukherjee, Ram Manohar Lohia, Indulal Yagnik, Minu Masani, J P Narayan and several others. On the word of experts, their presence along with horde of identical others enriched the Indian Parliamentary system and its adherence to a great extent.

The scene changed considerably in the 70s. A number of new issues not only indicated the gradual collapse of India’s largest political party, backed by reckless and impulsive decisions like imposition of Emergency but the Indian political structure was found to get susceptible before newer aspirations also. The vacuum was filled by Janata Party (combining several splinter parties) but the most notable feature became the emergence of regional parties. Their gradual move towards the center stage in conjunction with Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) skyrocketing in the 1990s has changed the political saga completely.

What we do see now is nothing but the continuation of tradition of 1990s. Regional parties are flexing muscles, having good says in grand coalitions forming the government and the big players are binding their mounting aspirations in the manifesto of the government – for saving the governance since it begets a mind-boggling asset.

Will there be any difference in 2009 Parliamentary Election? Not in any way. The same scene is being repeated and the political Machiavellis are found to roam with their own manifestos. It is evident neither Congress nor Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to gain a majority, meaning India will have to opt for another coalition at the center with the greater says of smaller parties.

Last of all, there would not have been remorse so much had there been the presence of silver-tongued, erudite MPs like the yesteryear. On the contrary there is an inhuman dearth of it which is rising as well. We, therefore conclude, India is going to be the mistress of a fraudulent, virulent political leadership for another five years.