Opinion Letters to the editor
Even if one agrees with Shekhar Gupta that the results of the next general elections are wide open (Lok Sabha,2014,IE,February 26),what are the chances that the two main contenders will adapt their strategies in accordance with the peoples mood?
Hard choices
Even if one agrees with Shekhar Gupta that the results of the next general elections are wide open (Lok Sabha,2014,IE,February 26),what are the chances that the two main contenders will adapt their strategies in accordance with the peoples mood? The Congress has some good leaders at the state level,but they are occupied with games of one-upmanship and infighting. Moreover,these persons will need autonomy to function effectively and the party is still dominated by a rigid,centralised authority. It will also have to change its present norm of preferring loyalty to ability. The BJP is still struggling with its identity crisis,despite the success of Bihar model. Notwithstanding the achievements of its chief ministers,old hands and defunct ideologies continue to hold sway at the national level. So both parties will need greater resourcefulness and ideas at the hustings and if it results in a strong government and a strong opposition,it will be good for our democracy.
Y.G. Chouksey,Pune
UPAs voids
This refers to Lok Sabha,2014 by Shekhar Gupta (IE,February 26). The problem with the Congress is that it is a coalition of families driven by another family. Having been in power for almost half a century,its roots go so deep that a major reformation seems implausible. Its status quoist approach and lack of ideological clarity have beget cronyism in politics,and it takes drastic events to get ministers removed from their portfolios. Rahul Gandhis cosmetic changes evidently did not work in Bihar. Session by session,Parliament has exposed the voids in UPA 1.
Awadhesh Pathak,Mumbai
Whipped MPs
Pratap Bhanu Mehta has rightly pointed out that the hold of party whips and the anti-defection law are constricting free voices in Parliament (A battle for Parliament,IE,February 25). In such a situation,MPs have become the mouthpiece of their party bosses rather than the electorate. It is only natural then that elected representatives shout each other down to promote their partys narrow interests. This has created a disconnect between the political class and the people,spawning disaffection that
can be exploited by left-wing extremists.
Satwant Kaur,Mahilpur
Better parties
This refers to Pratap Bhanu Mehtas A battle for Parliament. The diminished stature of Parliament in India stems from the behaviour of its members. One cannot overlook the role of party machines in creating a vibrant parliamentary democracy and a diverse and democratised House. What we really lack is rules governing political parties,like internal audits and inner-party democracy. It is not the restraining party machine that diminishes Parliament,but the weak institutionalisation of political parties.
Vikas Tripathi,New Delhi
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