People's Representatives

Amar Singh announced that Sanjay Dutt will be SP's candidate from Lucknow constituency for the forthcoming general elections. As Sanjay Dutt is a convicted person in a terror case and whose appeal is pending in Hon'ble Supreme Court, doubts have been raised whether his nomination will be accepted as per the electoral code. Promptly, Amar Singh comes out with the name of Manyata, the wife of Sanjay Dutt, as the alternative choise. I wish her all the best.

Choosing a contestant by a political party is its own business and one cannot dispute that.

But some questions still linger.

1. We merely talk of eligibility but what about suitability?

2. Are they capable of really representing the citizens residing in that constituency? Do they reside there? Are they accecible easily to the voters? Do they experience the problems peculiar and particular to that state,district,constituency?

3. What is their contribution to the Nation, Country and Civil society, as a public person, to make them an MP ?

4. What is their experience/qualification which will enable them to function as an MP doing full justice to the onerous responsibilities that go with that position. Are they equipped to participate in any debate, appreciate the contents of plethora of papers they will receive from Lok Sabha Secretariat? Do they possess the potential to become a sub-committee member on any important issue or a member of Standing Committees like PAC, BAC, etc.

5. Why should capable,experienced, qualified, hard-working card carrying party members be ignored? What is the incentive for working up from grass roots?

6. All MPs of ruling party do not become ministers. Likewise all MPs of opposition also do not become prominent spokespersons of Opposition. Definitely, back benchers are needed to beef up numbers. But are they expected to perform only barraging, walkouts, raising hands, etc and otherwise remain silent?

There should be a system of democratically electing a party candidate before he/she attempts to get democratically elected as a People's Representative. This will also end the evil of a widow/widower or offspring of a deceased MP getting nominated automatically reducing the democratic process to dynastic succession.

In this context the talk of making Rahul Gandhi being made PM by no less than our incumbant PM and our unsuccessful bidder for that post, Pranab Mukherjee, makes depressing reading. Rahul Gandhi's winning election from Amethi is itself doubtful and there is talk is in the air of giving him Medak seat in AP as a safety net
.

Congress is steeped in nomination culture (also papered over as 'consensus') from pre-independence days. Remember how Subhash Chandra Bose was hounded out after he dared to win against Pattabhi Sitaramayya despite Mahatma Gandhi. Nomination culture provides for the undeserving, less-talented, less-popular, less-experienced to jump over others. Unfortunately, other parties too follow in Congress' footsteps.

Result is people 'do not get the government they deserve' thanks to the way electoral laws have been made and are flouted.

...ponder