One of the most interesting features of the primaries is that you do not have to be a party activist to vote. In many states, you don’t even have to be a party member. The result is that ordinary citizens who are too busy to be involved in the day-to-day running of parties can have a say in the selection of the candidate that a political party finally puts up. I believe the time has come for us to try a similar experiment in India. In the current situation none of us feels that we have sufficient impact on the choices presented to us and therefore on the political process. Irrespective of whether I am an active member of a party or not, if I can have a say in the choice of the MLA or MP candidate for my constituency, I will view the final ballot paper not as a choice between unknown externally imposed representatives of familiar symbols, but as an expression of confidence in one or other person in whose candidacy I had a role to play. At one stroke, potential candidates will start paying attention to our concerns and not only to the party supremos in Delhi or the state capitals.

Clearly, the current leaders of political parties in India will vehemently oppose any change. The very real fear that they will become marginalised will be at the root of their opposition. But why cannot a refreshing ‘alternative’ party like the Lok Satta Party (I hope Dr Jayaprakash is reading this) voluntarily go in for primaries and invite all voters, not just party members to vote? We can use our existing voter ID cards and go to caucuses or polling booths and have a say in the choice of the Lok Satta Party’s candidate for our constituency. The Election Commission should be willing to supervise these primaries. But even if they refuse to do so, an alternative, transparent arrangement can be made. At one stroke, we would have exponentially increased the sense of ownership, involvement and commitment of ordinary people to the democratic process. My bet is that even if this is only moderately successful in some areas, it is likely to catch on like wildfire. The established parties will be forced to follow suit. And finally we may move to a genuine democratic choice in candidates, not just cronies ‘nominated’ by party bosses or ‘inheritors’ of parties.

... contd.