It is time for an honest introspection and shunning of politics of tokenism.
(My comments on opposition parties, in DNA, Page-6, 21 may 2014)
The
results of the national poll of 2014 has presented in a spectacular development
in the present scenario. While in the last three decades, we were witness to
the coalition and consensus building in the formation of government at the
centre, this time one would be perhaps be watching a coalition to form a
political opposition to take the new government, under Mr Narendra Modi.
A
credible opposition not necessarily requires a substantial number but a leader
with credibility and one who is committed to the betterment of the nation at
large. Earlier instances of Rajagopalachari, AK Gopalan, Piloo Mody, Atal
Behari Vajpayee and LK Advani, were clear indicators that even a numerically
small opposition had the capability of taking on a government to task o issues
of governance and development.
While
the present outcome is very positive in terms of having a stable government for
the next five years, the defeat of the congress party clearly indicates a
rejection of politics of patronage, misgovernance, corruption, factional
politics and dynasty rule. So the debate on having a constructive and credible
opposition must address larger issues confronting these parties, by a radical
transformation like inner party democracy, credible public policy and social
justice, and not in the manner as suggested by the recent détente between Lalu
Yadav and Nitish kumar.
