While an obsession with dynasties has certainly blighted democracy in India, the blame cannot be placed at the doors of the Congress alone. It is slowly creeping even into the BJP at lower levels. My fear is that a time may come when ordinary, committed and hard-working political workers with no pedigree will have no place at the top in most parties.

Democracy in India is also required to battle other threats, the most toxic among them being the growing hold of money power over the political, governmental and electoral processes. The amount of money spent by each candidate and party in recent state assembly elections was of a magnitude that makes a mockery of democracy as people’s rule. The harsh truth is getting harsher: the poor may vote, but only moneybags rule. Even after the passage of the anti-defection law two decades ago, our MLAs and MPs are being lured to switch sides and thwart people’s mandate. All this has a direct impact on the quality of governance and development. For example, at the time of the Cash-for-Votes scandal in Parliament last July, a regional party from Jharkhand was bribed to support the UPA government and its leader was installed as the chief minister of the state. It was a move so unpopular that the CM tasted defeat in last month’s by-election to the state assembly. Democracy in Jharkhand has been repeatedly molested in the past five years, often with the collusion of the Governor. Not surprising then that Jharkhand continues to be one of the poorest states in India, in spite of being one of the richest in terms of mineral and natural wealth?

... contd.