SHALLOW LEADERSHIP

Ever since their unexpected poor performance at the country wide polls earlier this year, BJP – the only political party with a national presence, capable of functioning as an effective opposition in our parliamentary form of governance, appears to be stumbling from one episode to another, similar to the mind less serials telecast on our DTH channels.
Soon after the public spat between Rajasthan’s leadership and the party president, the latest dramatic incident, being expulsion of Jaswant Singh, an ex-Minister and a senior leader for expressing his personal views in a recently published book.
The obvious contradictions in this action of the party are difficult to reconcile and appears to be knee-jerk reaction to hard line ‘Hindutva’ pressure from the RSS – in spite of the usual labored denials by BJP.
The official statement issued by the Party President (incompetent record so far), on the one hand disclaims the contents of the book by attributing them as ‘personal views of the writer’ and in the same breadth expels the writer from the party, thereby establishing a nexus between the party and the writer? This is the most stupid logic of managing the affairs of an organization expected to contribute towards healthy democratic practices. Distinction between the party and the individual is essential for freedom of thought and growth of democratic benchmarks.
The poor quality of leadership displayed by most political parties is disturbing for the ever growing importance of India as a nation. The growing prestige of Indian presence in the community of nations can be jeopardized by the shortage of statesmanship essential to retain the momentum we now enjoy.
Political ideology takes precedence over national interest in decisions taken by many of the party chiefs who portray themselves as ‘Leaders’. Complete lack of perspective and the convenience of shallow ‘vote bank politics’ dominates most party actions.
Qualitative reforms along with nationalistic approach must guide politicians rather than ‘ego trips’ and vested petty interests.