In Defence of Political Horse Trading

As the world’s largest democracy heads towards its biggest soap opera called the General Elections, there is a sudden spurt on the communication front as well. Media seems to be suddenly awakened from a deep slumber borne out of recession. Journalists are once again smartly playing the psephologists & destiny makers of India. Forget regional and vernacular media, even the mainstream newspapers are busy beating their own trumpets. Thanks to the impact of television, the medium that every print journalist feels it is their sacrosanct duty to criticize, elections are no less than showtime.

Newspapers are carrying the pix of reporters with every routine political reportage, like the constituency profile. Too many photos on the same page is baffling, often giving the impression of a Tutorial Advertisement where the candidate has secured distinction and hence chest inflated with pride. Reporters carrying beats as diverse as health and education have also been put on election duty.

It is party time for the communication professionals other than journalism as well. Some advertising agencies, thanks to the political networking, are making merry during the road show. Public Relation professionals are having their slice of the cake as well since respective political parties as well as individual candidates, all need a consultant for image makeover. However, in their scheme of things, the measurement of an image makeover is as good as their coverage in print media and television.

Some of the politicians have gone a step further and took the help of PR pros to launch their own website and blog. While the role of the new age media in attracting the fancy of youth can not be underestimated, the fact remains that a predominantly urban PR rhetoric has so far failed to translate into quantifiable votes. The fiasco of such a drive for NDA in general and BJP in particular has been quite evident with the Indian Shining campaign during the previous government at the centre.

The General Elections of 2009 are going to be one of the most complex one in the history of independent India. The report card of the incumbent Congress-led United Progressive Alliance is not too impressive, thanks to the global recession and terrorism. The main opposition party, the BJP and alliance has to put more efforts to keep its own house in order rather than harp on the anti-incumbency factor that has been the most dominant factor in the elections of late.

The failure of the Congress and the BJP to show an impressive report card as well to keep its alliance flock cohesive has yet again allowed the motley crowd of parties to raise their head in the form of a Third Front. Interestingly, all these fronts and alliances are all set to regroup in the event of a fractured mandate. As some of the columnists have rightly pointed out—the next Lok Sabha will see the emergence of a Fourth Front. Elected members from all the three fronts will realign, but all in the name of national interest and honouring your and mine verdict. Political compulsions will make strange bedfellows in the house called the Parliament where Lok Sabha represents bedroom.

Haven’t we seen money exchanging hands to buy loyalties, media busy with a series of sting operation and a prominent politician glorifying the role of MP (money power, of course), “paisa koi khuda toh nahin, per khuda ki kasam khuda se kam bhi nahin” (Money may not be god, but god swear it is no less than god). From Tehelka to cash bundles in Parliament, the sensitivities of the collective consciousness have started accepting this stark reality of Indian politics. Isn’t it an appropriate time to institutionalize the practice?

Even at the cost of being called an anarchist, I take the liberty to suggest the legalization of horse trading in the post poll scenario if the verdict comes out for the hung parliament. Let there be IPL-isation of the law makers in the country. At least a common man who has cast his vote will have the opportunity to know the price tag of his parliamentarian. If in the game of cricket we can accept the fact that every player has a price tag beyond his much-hyped national duty, why not in politics. I know all this sounds cynical, but in the theater of absurd called Indian politics, may be history is yet again reminding us that a chaotic state is the primary necessity of revolution.