Our media has done us a disservice. The fourth estate is charged with the responsibility of being a watch dog for our democracy and is hence provided with virtually unlimited press freedom. While they have been very zealous in protecting their freedom they seem to have shown less concern for the health of our democracy. How else can you explain their total lack of concern for the lack of democracy in most of our political parties? While dynastic politics has become more the norm than the aberration, our media is interested in presenting leaders as the czar or czarina of the party thereby encouraging dynasties rather than democracy. They then pontificate endlessly on TV on why we should vote!
Are we being given the right options for democratic expression? Take the present national scenario. The two main parties are the Congress and the BJP. If I am a democratic, centrist person, shades of which most of us are, where is my option? Either I must go with the right wing but democratic BJP or I must choose the centrist but dynastic Congress. Talk of Hobson's choice! Clearly there is space for a third option, which is why we periodically have the Third Front - a loose knit, highly malleable group that is more an affront than a front. We deserve better.
Which is why I propose a new third option. A national party that comprises several regional parties. Let's call it the Federal Democratic Congress. The basic idea will be as follows:
- The Federal Democratic Congress will not contest state elections, only the central election.
- Only regional parties with a democratic, non-dynastic succession process can become constituent parties of FDC.
- All office bearers of FDC will be elected by card carrying members of the constituent parties. This will ensure that all constituent parties maintain a verifiable base of party members. This in turn will help inner party democracy in the regional parties.
- The FDC will not have any direct party members lest it becomes a national party that could compete with its regional constituents. It will only be a party of regional parties.
- The regional parties of course can contest both central and state general elections.
Now let's see how such a party would fare.
Several powerful regional parties who are today stuck for alignment options will immediately see value in this new party. The AIADMK led by Jayalalithaa, Telugu Desam Party led by Chandrababu Naidu, Mayawathi's Bahujan Samaj Pary will all be interested. Other leaders like Sharad Pawar, Nitish Kumar, Naveen Patnaik, Mamata Banerjee should be interested as well. These are powerful leaders with a strong mass base from Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Orrissa and West Bengal. This means that parties from every region of India - North, South, East and West - could straight away be constituents of this new federal party. A leader like Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who is trying desperately to create space for himself in the BJP and one who's credited by the media to have friends across all parties, could set up such a party. He could strengthen his case for leading such a party if he could rope in Dr.Abdul Kalam, under whom he was Vice President, to get to be the convener of FDC. Imagine the stature and the consequent media coverage that such a party would have.
Why should regional leaders prefer the FDC over the loose Third Front? Firstly, it'll be an association of equals. No single party will form the core around which the front is built. Secondly, the FDC clearly rules out entry of any dynastic party since in the core it is democratic. So all the parties know who can't become constituents of FDC. There will hence be no threat of party X replacing party Y since in most states mass leaders oppose dynastic politicians. So this won't be a loose conglomerate which will keep changing as and when parties win or lose. That augers well for long term political success. Also, since each one of these leaders is self-made, they know that others are pulling their weight too and are not free loaders in elections. Thirdly, leadership tussle within the FDC will not be after winning general elections. It will be during the elections for office bearers. Hence the chances of the arrangement breaking apart once in power are lower. Constituents will also think twice before breaking away since FDC will offer them some stature even in state elections. Fourthly, unlike the third front it won't be seen as a forum for those out-of-power since the binding reason is powerful regional parties that are not dynastic. Finally, since there is no national party as the 'core', there is no threat of challenge in the home base for any constituent party from any other party in FDC. In other words state leaders can work for this federal party without having to constantly look over their shoulders.
How will we benefit? We get a strong centrist party which, because of its democratic credentials, will always be inclusive. Communal and casteist tendencies will be moderated since several parties with varying ideologies will be the constituents. The party will never suffer for want of leaders. Indeed several ministries could be headed by ex-CM's with tremendous management capabilities. Ideology will be strongly tempered with practicality since these are leaders who never forget their need to win elections. Most importantly we get a chance to bring democratic and centrist tendencies back into the national mainstream parties. The Federal Democratic Congress can do for us what the Fourth Estate has failed to.
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