Former Supreme Court judge N. Santosh Hegde said that a political party floated purely on the anti-corruption plank will not succeed in elections at this stage as money power and diversity play a role.
Mr. Hegde, a former Karnataka Lokayukta, who has distanced himself from Team Anna’s decision to start a political party on October 2, said cultural, linguistic and religious diversity play a part in elections.
“It’s not as if everybody looks at (elections) only from democratic point of view”, he told PTI in Bangalore. “People (sections of them) have got used to money being spent on them (in elections). It will take quite some time before we can change electoral attitude of the voters“.
While anti-corruption plank is a good ground to fight elections, he said he was not sure whether one can taste electoral success only on that issue in the next 10-12 years.
Mr. Hegde, a key member of the Team which was disbanded by its leader and social activist Anna Hazare recently, maintained that he is opposed to the idea of floating an all-India party which is not “a child’s play”.
“To find 543-plus candidates for Lok Sabha elections is going to be a tremendous effort,” he said. While getting candidates in all constituencies would not be a problem as some people would definitely apply because of Mr. Hazare’s reputation, Mr. Hegde remained sceptical about “what sort of people will apply”. And how will they canvass without necessary infrastructure, he asked.
Keywords: Santosh Hegde, Anna Hazare party, Team Anna, anti-corruption movement, anti-corruption party, India politics, General Elections 2014
Well it always starts from the same bud and ends in same thing. They started with an All India anti corruption campaign pledging that they never had any intentions of going into a political arena and forming a party out of it but it seems that they are pre determined now and they are forming their agendas to float into it... well, lets hope that this time this party,if forms, then they will look out into the aspects of the country which remained always unseen , unheard, and unresolved...
We don't need more political parties. The changed required is at the grass root level. We cry about corruption and how big politicians are making, but will not think twice if we had to bride some one to get things done. It is a matter of convenience for us and unless we have the will power to give up this convenience, nothing will change. Mr. Hedge is right. This is a Social issue and change can only happen with we changing our self. Don't look for leaders to follow. Lead by your conscience and things will fall in place.
Our country has been suffering from corruption right since its independence. This has been one of the strong reasons for the backwardness of the nation and agony of its ordinary citizens (80% of total population). A number of sufferings to jansadharn can be attributed to this single cause including unemloyment, illiteracy , lack of health care and above all weakening communal harmony among various faiths followers of this nation endangering the integerity of India and even its existence . Recent incident of violence in Assam between illegeal Bangladeshi migrants and local people is the result of uncheked arrival of Bangladeshi migrants because of politics of vote . This is also a form of corruption that shook the whole nation . Even at this juncture if we do not support a person who want to give us anti graft political option and dissuade him then we are the most unfortunate people and not deserve better environment than the present.
Justice Hegde is held in high esteem and affection by all those trying
to curtail corruption in India. Almost all of them are more than aware
of the enormity of the task facing them, given the deep rooted malaise
in the country and the enormous power of the vested interest (in whose
hands all pillars of democracy seem as strong as cotton wool). They
are torn between a quiet life and voicing their concerns because they
cannot bear to see their children and grandchildren's lives ruined
just as theirs have already been.
Their situation can be compared to that of a doctor, who has no
guarantee that the medicine will work for the terminally ill patient;
or an army General, who is torn between certain massacre and a partial
victory in defending his country. (Not easy - in WW2 Italy cooperated,
France surrendered, Britain fought.)
Citizens are grateful for reality checks, but are also desperately
looking for Leader(s) to change the country for the better, or at
least achieve partial success.
So just assume it that India is not ready and things are not possible
and do nothing about it. Sit and watch how the current polical parties
loot the hell out of country for the next 10-15 years huh? Or kick start
some effort in the right direction. I don't think watching the country
and doing nothing for next 10 years is going to help than starting
something in the right direction, perhaps in the next 10 years, things
improve slowly.
Mr Hegde, has hit the bulls eye. It is very easy for us to believe
that the country is now fed up with corruption. However, we need to
realise that corruption in itself is a system that runs the daily
India with its perceived efficiency. It is a part of our sub
conscience and cannot be easily washed away. Elections are seldom
fought on plank of development, more on caste, religion etc in India.
To overcome such differences and then tiding over corruption would be
a difficult job if not impossible. Change needs to begin in the
mindset and hence a social movement was needed and not a government.
IAC has got its heart in the right place, and has got the best minds
too. I wish it comes back as a social awakening movement as its
political avatar will fail to find a support from many. Worse, even
the ones who do support it, will never come out to vote.
I fully agree with Mr. Hegde. It is too simplistic to assume that mass
in India are indeed inclined to agree that corruption is the cause of
country’s backwardness. Jagan Mohan Reddy who is in prison on charges
of massive corruption could win 15 seats out of 18 in the recent bye
elections in AP could not have won otherwise. The corruption translated
in to power and a means to enter politics is tolerated largely by
gullible illiterate caste ridden country men as “social justice”.
Situation can change for the better only with the advent of a society
with spread of meaningful education, scientific temper and life free
from nonscientific beliefs and superstitions under the cloak of
traditions.
Justice Hegde has analyzed the problems explicitly. Mr.Hazare has to think a lot before floating a party at the national level.
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