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| Cast off by peoples, queued near backdoor | | WHOSE VERDICT SUPREME? | | NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
Jammu, Jan 13: Is it ethically right or wrong? Is it politically right or wrong to induct the defeated candidates either in the cabinet or in the Legislative council? In the backdrop of the political scenario in India it is politically convenient and wise to induct those rejected by the voters in the election in the cabinet or nominate them for a seat in the Legislative Council.
It is ethically wrong to accommodate the candidates rejected by people either in the council of ministers or in the Upper House. In the terminology of politics true democracy means a Government of elected people. It is a Government by the people, of the people and for the people. This in simple terms means that those elected by the people deserve the right to form the Government. And those discarded by the voters need to muster peoples support till the next election.
In politics favouritism is the hallmark of current democratic structure. There was a time when majority of states had the bicameral system. No doubt the real intentions behind this system were to introduce checks and balances. Once the lower House adopted a bill not suitable to the interests of people the Legislative Council could block it by returning it to the Lower House for reconsideration. Later its utility was to accommodate those who were either rejected by the voters in the election or those who had no base among the voters. At times the bicameral system helped established technocrats, academicians, doctors and journalists to get a berth in the upper House and the lucky ones from the lot could make it to the cabinet. Gradually this process witnessed degeneration when political parties preferred favourites to merit while nominating people to the upper House. Later on in other states the bicameral system was found to be a burden on the state exchequer. It was found to be a stumbling block in the speedy adopting of bills, constitutional amendments and resolutions. The result was the system was abandoned. But despite continued financial crunch Jammu and Kashmir is the one state which has retained the bicameral system.
Though a number of intellectuals and political thinkers have been elected to the Legislative Council, it has also become a home for the rabble-rousers. It has become a home even for those who had either been rejected by the voters in the Assembly election or had no standing to seek an election for the lower House. It may not be a new precedent if those rejected by the voters in the recent Assembly poll are nominated by the political parties for getting elected to the Legislative Council since in the past those discarded by people have not only been members of the upper House but even had become cabinet ministers. Late G.M.Shah had been a member of the upper House for a number of years which had enabled him to be a minister in the cabinet headed by Sheikh Abdullah. It was on the strength of being a member of the Legislative Council that he had become the Chief Minister in 1984..
Well if people like B.R.Kundal, a former Chief secretary, is elected as a member of the Legislative Council he deserves it not because he had quit the lucrative job to join the Congress but as a seasoned bureaucrat he could guide the council proceedings. At least four major political parties, the National Conference, the Congress, the PDP and the BJP, which have the numerical strength in the Lower House to get about 20 vacant seats in the Council filled need to set a new precedent by suporting genuine candidates whose integrity and merit cannot be disputed to get elected to the upper House. At least the ruling NC-Congress alliance needs to set an example by picking up right person for the upper House and reject those discarded by the voters. If it is not done it will be an insult to the voters. |
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