HD Kumaraswamy is the most honest of the lot – it is
proved thus – he accepted the merit of what everyone else was hesitant about.
He has dared to venture beyond – where no other
politician, big and small – had ventured so far.
And he has accepted it in a grand style – going all across
– addressing whosoever seeks to approach him.
And he firmed his position on it every time a hostile
question was thrown at him – his iteration was perfect every time – his tone
sharpening every time.
We have been listening to about cash-for-seat,
cash-for-vote and horse-trading medleys in Indian politics for a long time.
But no one accepts it unless it is otherwise, unless
someone is caught on the wrong side of the law, and is forced to accept it.
The logical way out of this is to place this practice on
the right side of the law.
Tickets of political parties on sale during elections, especially
in elections involving indirect voting process like the Rajya Sabha or the state
legislative councils polls, prices being propositional to the weight and the prospects
of the political party, has been a seasoned open secret.
Mr. Kumaraswany has removed the lid from the all
encompassing box – and this may well be the first step in legalizing this
practice – what if we have had not such demands earlier - what if we have had debates
on demands of legalizing ‘convenience fee’ or prostitution but not for this
widespread practice – Mr. Kumaraswamy is the first mover in this direction –
hope, he will get more helping hands and voices soon.
Also, Mr. Kumaraswamy is ahead of time in realizing that
such revelations won’t affect the electoral prospects of his political outfit.
He is right in realizing its merits for the larger political fraternity.
Once it becomes a legally acceptable practice with no
chances of interference from the external agencies, the ticket distribution
process would become faster and much more streamlined, the biggest headache
during the elections, and would help the parties in concentrating their efforts
on winning the contest.
Mr. Kumaraswamy is indeed a visionary with an honest
intent, as rightly reflected in his words – “If TV channels want to run this
for weeks, they are free to do so and increase their TRPs. I have only stated
how money is important in present-day politics at all levels. After BJP came to
power in 2008, the political scenario has changed. Each MLA (of JD-S) is asking
for Rs 1 crore. They are saying you make anybody the MLC...The JD(S) MLAs, who
were ministers for 40 months in coalition governments with Congress and BJP are
demanding money. Most have taken loans to contest polls in 2013 and I have to
fulfil their demands.”
