http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/editorial/Political-opportunism/articleshow/5879093.cms
Political opportunism 1 May 2010, 0612 hrs IST,ET Bureau The juggling act that attended the government’s cut motion triumph, and the deal-making shenanigans in Jharkhand underscore the rank opportunism that is accepted as the natural and normal way of conducting politics. It often becomes all too clear that notions like transparency and accountability are mere catchphrases in our political culture. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati’s critical support to the UPA on the cut motion, for instance, was passed off as a common attempt to keep ‘communal forces’ (read: BJP) at bay. It perhaps isn’t even necessary to judge the piousness of that sentiment on the basis of allegations that it had more to do with the CBI easing off a bit on some cases against Mayawati in return. Rather, one can remember not just the declaration of support, but active campaigning the BSP supremo did for Gujarat CM Narendra Modi during the 2002 Gujarat assembly elections. Granted, the BSP has an unabashed and open policy of political opportunism, stemming from the political belief that Dalit politics can gain only by having no permanent allies or foes. But, clearly, the appellation ‘communal forces’ is as convenient a fig leaf for the political class as ‘minority appeasement’. Events in Jharkhand could also be ascribed to the political churn, or rather the chronic instability the state has witnessed since its inception in 2000 — what with seven different governments (with one led by an independent MLA) since then. That has meant issues of governance being subservient to the scramble for power. It is true that Shibu Soren represents the current sorry state of the strong tribal movement for the creation of the state. The frantic attempt to maintain a toehold on power by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha offering to let the BJP take the chief ministership, as well as the latter party’s abrupt halting of its withdrawal of support move reflects the ‘politics is self interest’ paradigm. Not long ago, political parties were calling for accountability and transparency in the IPL. But those concepts seem markedly absent when it comes to practicing them politically. Capturing and retaining office is all that counts. And the larger problem is that our polity holds that truth to be self-evident. ------------------------------------ ---- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [email protected], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to [email protected] TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to [email protected] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
