There are many theories on how the British conquered India, but perhaps the one on which there is credible evidence is about the role of a well drilled army. First the French and then the English took Indian soldiers who were already with Indian princes but by training them in team warfare and drilling them properly, the Europeans were able to defeat armies ten times their size. The Indian armies fought as individuals often loyal to their local leader rather than as a team and, in fact, often fought among each other.

Modern armies consist of ‘rank and file’. In the UK, political parties also claim to have a rank and file of members. There is some discipline about obeying rules. Members are supposed to abide by their party’s constitution and bear allegiance to resolutions of the party’s annual conference. There are regular monthly meetings to discuss politics and local issues. Candidates for elections are chosen in the British Labour Party by the local constituency which the candidate is to contest. The selection follows well-laid out rules and often a secret ballot is conducted among delegates to the selection meeting.

I am driven to recount this example as I observe the shambolic fashion in which all parties are behaving in the Maharashtra elections. India does not seem to have any political party which can claim to have ‘rank and file’. Each faction seems to have its own leader who wants a ticket, and, on not getting it, defects to another party. The Congress has to edge out a senior MLA to accommodate the President’s son. (Would it be asking too much to have a convention, if not a law, that during the President’s term no family member should take part in electoral politics?) Seats are assigned to individuals from the top, and there seems to be no connection between the candidate and local members.

... contd.