One is distraught to see the manner in which persons have been merrily joining and swiftly leaving political parties, these days.
Joining of a political party must be only after one understands and is in consonance with the ideology and the underlying principles, programmes and practices of that party. It has to be a well thought decision. Joining a political party can never be a sightseeing, kite flying or a fishing trip.
It is nauseating to witness the hurry with which persons change parties, without any application of mind, only to change once again with greater hurry. There seems to be no limit to the number of times, or to the speed with which this can be done.
This exposes not just the utter immaturity of such persons, but their corrupt intent, all of which can be fatal to the sanity of political arena meant to serve people with a passion for their good.
The greater share of blame should go to the political parties that display their political bankruptcy by instantly accepting persons within its fold without pondering whether they fit within their own framework, if at all they have one.
Are we to presume that such political parties, while poaching all and sundry, have abandoned all their ideals and principles so loudly proclaimed otherwise?
Why not then ‘trade’ the political horses by holding an open public auction, like the IPL does with the players? After all, even the crooked ones must have a system.
Ideally there should have been a moratorium — either mandated by law, or voluntarily opted for by each party — of not fielding as its candidate, or extending support to, any person in any election, who has not completed a reasonable period of time as its member. A kind of quarantine period, to suppress viruses of political rot.
What has been going on is disgraceful, and it will continue till January 28th which is the last day filing nominations for the ensuing assembly elections only reflects the sad state of affairs that politics has stooped in India’s most literate State.
Our only saving grace is that we have Pratapsingh Rane who has remained glued to one political party for almost half a century. We may not see another Mr. Rane in today’s arena of political pygmies.
