Dr Vedapratap Vaidik

State legislators constitute the electoral college of the Rajya Sabha. In the general elections political parties employ different tactics to sway the electorate in their favour.  But during the Rajya Sabha election it is being noticed that the same parties who got the MLAs elected are making every effort to  prevent them shifting loyalty. This time Congress, Shiv Sena, BJP and Panwar-Congress have kidnapped their MLAs and kept in confinement and treated like brides waiting to with their boyfriends

All political parties are suspicious of their MLAs. They are afraid that if even a couple of their MLAs tilt to the opposition side, their candidate will lose the seat.   In many cases the fate of the candidate is determined by a couple of votes.  Offers like currency bundles,   ministerial and other plump positions are offered to placate the members   for their votes.  If the Rajya Sabha poll is also brought under this under the anti-defection law, then there is a fair chance of many elected members losing their job. As per the anti-defection law  if a member elected under a particular political party votes for  the  candidate from a different party  that elected member in all possibilities will be stripped off from his position  and debarred from contesting any further elections for a stipulated period. However, no such law is made applicable till date and that is why the political parties ferry their  members to any isolated destination to  protect them from poaching.

The MLAs are kept under constant watch with round the clock tight security. They are forbidden to move around and interact with outsiders. Their mobile phones are also kept under safe custody. But these MLAs kept under confinement have all luxuries including entertainment of their choice.  Millions are spent for their ‘safe’ stay and enjoyment.

My relevant question is, during these days of confinement how do they perform their duty as elected representative. Are they not elected to serve the people? Why do almost all political parties take this much care and ‘caution’?  It is sure this exercise is not for the benefit of the public at large.  This simply means today’s politics is not for service of the public? It is for reaping profit in abundance under the garb of social service. In current politics ideologies are compromised, duties are forgotten.  In the present day politics blatant lies, blasphemy, corruption, unaccounted expenditure, flattery and bitter slander, all such evils are accepted and have become the order of the day.  The system is being raped at will and the public has become mute spectator.   But as Bhatrihari, the 5^th century Sanskrit scholar wrote in his his ‘Nitishtak’, “Every person begets benefits and fruits corresponding to individual perseverance and merit”

 Many people active in politics are still exceptions to this, but just find out whether they could ever scale up to any top slot?  Those who become successful in their tricks claim that service is their only duty of profession. What does it matter whether we take a bath while sitting or standing up?  Whether you are in the BJP or with the Congress the resolve should be in the service of the public. Those who are serious on social service will never be looking for pecuniary and other concerns.

As Mahatma Gandhi ji rightly said “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.”   

*Dr. Vaidik is a widely travelled scholar-journalist. He has visited more than 80 countries on diplomatic and educationalmissions. Dr. Vaidik has won more than a dozen National and International awards for academic and journalistic excellence. He has been a member of several Advisory Committees of Government of India.