The largest democracy in the world India, elections in India are considerably different from most other countries. In several countries, particularly those with high levels of educated youth and Internet, elections are just about speeches, involving only politicians and their party volunteers. However here in India elections are no less than a celebration, full of color, song, dance, and most importantly humor. After all it is probably only our political parties integrate all sections of the society in its core that is evident from its various wings or sections like the youth wing, women’s wing, cultural wing, minority wing, trader’s wing, literary wing etc.
All are involved in this celebration as elections are also a time of hope with waivers and promises. The arena of election battle is a free for all space with accusations, revelations, defiance, and its counter arguments. The social media and the press work overtime with their distinct opinions as entertainment across different media gets wrapped in political theme. The cheer of celebration on one side, our elections unfortunately also have a darker side.
In a battle where winning or losing alone matters, it is sad that at election times parties and politicians resort to divisive politics in a desperation to win. When some politicians lack morale and energy to keep the fight healthy, they tend to seek strength by promoting distinctiveness like ethnic identity or by splitting an entity that shared a common ethnicity. It is sad that they believe that appeasing divisive forces and promoting divisiveness in society can leverage a party’s prospects. These approaches particularly when resorted to on election eve hardly take into consideration the impact it can have on the society in the near and distant future.
Approaches such as these on election eve bring to the fore the dreaded power that elected representatives can unleash. We witness the power they hold in them, a power to change our history and destiny, all for one election. In an ever-integrative, shrinking world where every culture is experiencing a fusion of identities, views, and aspirations; we should not bring our differences in ethnicity or intra-religion to the fore. Granted or not, history shall hold these developments as backward moves for a forward society, a time when we valued differences amongst us and decided to move apart.
Politicians irrespective of their party affiliations or hierarchy are part of the common political fraternity. At the end of the day our leaders are all part of this fraternity which needs to be seen in good light. We need to fight in elections in spirit within the system rather than testing or confronting the system itself in desperation. Regional parties must beware that they must not be perceived as demonstrating nationalism only at the start of their tenure or when they have a good representation at the two national sabhas with plum portfolios. Regional political parties must be particularly careful and avoid divisive politics when they lack a role at the federal level. Adopting divisive political maneuvers with an eye on election prospects are nothing short than opportunistic politics.
