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The men who must win

Back we find ourselves, once again, in a scenario that is becoming a bit too familiar. Yes, unfortunately it is election time again.

Except for some realignment, a few party-hopping here and there, and a couple of issues like the 'foreigner' and 'Kargil', not much has changed in the political arena since the last poll. The voters are still a disillusioned lot, both with the frequency and the futility of the whole exercise. Too many elections, too much political noise and the constant atmosphere of instability have already cost the nation dear. What the people want now is relief. Relief arising out of a stable, good government.

It would come as no surprise to anyone if I say that the general public has lost faith in the political system because of tainted politicians. Most people feel that all politicians are bad, that they are interested only in looting the country. Well, that is not true.

In fact, I would, without sticking my neck out too far, say that in every Lok Sabha, 60 per cent of the MPs are nice, non-controversial and by and large clean. But because the remaining 40 per cent are non-gentlemen the rest get stuck with bad reputation. This impression needs to be corrected. And only the people can do it. After all, the fault lies with them too; it is they who vote the MPs to power.

I will risk sounding stale and preach the obvious: people should, instead of voting along party and caste lines, choose the most deserving candidates, the ones who are educated, honest, efficient and committed to national values. The day we start thinking before we cast our votes, our problems will be solved.

(Incidentally, is it not most amazing that none of the political parties have included population control in their manifestos?)

Like I mentioned, there are quite a few good candidates around, cutting across party lines. They must, should be madeto, win. The list includes Dr Manmohan Singh, Yashwant Sinha, P Chidambaram, Jaipal Reddy, Dr Karan Singh, Jagmohan and Sunil Dutt. Jaswant Singh is not contesting, or he would have been another. If we can ensure that the next Lok Sabha contains 100 per cent such people nothing will go wrong. If these people lose then we, the voters, would be to blame. That would mean that we do not want good people.

It is the responsibility of the voters that self-seeking candidates are defeated. They defect from party to party in seek of power and money, thinking that the electorate is a bunch of fools. People like Arun Nehru, Mayawati, Madhukar Sarpotdar and M K Subba -- here's our chance to show them that we are thinking individuals capable of independent decision.

Another thought that comes readily to mind is that if people like Chandrababu Naidu loses then no chief minister would ever dare to be a performer. They would be scared and disillusioned -- what's the point of working your heart out if what you get as reward is a slap on your face? Then again, voters should not provide Naidu a handle to become a power-centre in Delhi.

And finally, we come to a thorny candidate: T N Seshan. It is very difficult to say anything about him. What do you say about a person who once wanted to contest the presidential election but now has settled for the Lok Sabha - that too against L K Advani, who used to be his best friend? I mean, what is it that drives such a man?

Surely it is not selfless public service.

Rajiv Shukla