Thursday, January 2, 2014

It is too early to predict demise of conventional party politics in India

 My comments on AAP.

http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?pgNo=4&edcode=820040&eddate=2014-1-02

The arrival of AAP symbolises the strengthening of Indian democracy. The preliminary indications suggest that public policy centric discourse is gaining importance.

At the outset it is also being speculated by some that AAP represents ‘politics of entitlements, empowerment and accountability’ which will displace the conventional politics of socio-cultural and economic identity from the Indian political landscape. However, it is too early to predict the demise of the conventional party politics and the politics of accommodating the group interest. The fact that AAP has evolved from Anna led a movement and it getting formally institutionalised as a political party, vindicates the importance of party politics over NGO activism on the formulation of public policy and governance. A nation needs politics which takes care of the welfare of its people and also safeguards its socioeconomic and cultural values. India is confronted by many challenges which requires parties and political leaders, who can device strategies for the next generation, and not merely resort to piecemeal packages.

So, while the victory of AAP can be celebrated by people seeking alternatives to the present political order, however, it cannot be an end in itself.There are no fullstops, when it comes to Indian democracy springing up some more surprises.

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