INDIAN STYLE DYNASTIC DEMOCRACY
Dr K Prabhakar Rao

Dr Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India suddenly needed heart operation while he was PM during his previous tenure. The gentleman has undergone a successful bypass surgery at the best hospital and by the best team of doctors at the best point of time with best faciities. Every one in the country is very happy about it. When he fell sick and needed the operation, the problem of taking care of the government was a most important consideration. He was indisposed for some time and needed rest. It could take a month or two even, to enable him to return to the job. The question was who would be the safe bet for these crucial days. There were some senior leaders in the cabinet who could be entrusted with the duties of acting PM in the absence of Dr Singh. The name of Pranab Mukherjee automatically comes out for such position. He is the most able and competent person and has time proven capabilities. Even at the time of death of Indira Gandhi his name was heard as a most possible candidate for the post of Prime Ministership. But somehow that could not happen? Rajiv Gandhi was already there as the rightful candidate to the throne for a dynastic succession. How can any other person other than one from the dynasty of Nehru could become the Prime minister . Rajiv was there even then and many considered him a suckling. Mukherjee was kept at a distance and Rajiv was pushed- in who was a member of parliament at that time. Mukherjee had to sulk in despair and for some time he went into oblivion.

Present top brass of congress party was very much hesitant to designate Mukherjee as acting PM in the absence of Dr Singh. They gave him additional duties and gave the authority of running the show to the cabinet and vice President. Finance ministry was to be taken care- of by Mr Mukherjee. Credentials of Mukherjee are well known in the country and he has world wide reputation.He is very much respected as a very seasoned leader with proven abilities and maturity. It is sad that luck was not with him and in the melee of dynastic succession at the time of Mrs Gandhi’s death , he missed the train. The leadership is scared that if Mukherjee proved himself as a stop gap acting PM, which he would surely do, he would be projected as a serious contender for the throne after next elections if congress returned to power. The chances of Rahul Gandhi who is being prepared to take over as PM would be thus be jeopardized. What a sad state of affairs indeed in a democracy titled as for the people, by the people and of the people by the peers who could not imagine that such things could happen in India.
Their souls must be surely crying and beating their chests and crying".... Mera Bharat.. Mera Bharat..nahee rahaa mahaan." It is worthwhile to recall the role of Late Mr Gulzarilal Nanda a true Gandhian as acting PM on two occasions. He came on the scene as a care taker PM and handed over to the real one and vanished unsung and un heard. Only such guys are needed in present politics. Poor guy was forgotten and was also seen going on bicycle on the streets of Delhi pushed from pillar to post and lived in miserable conditions. Probably many of his colleagues and juniors would have passed him in motorcades in Delhi not even paying glance at him. If he was in the cabinet now, surely he would have achieved the hat trick.

Rahul Gandhi was systematically inducted into politics step by step and who would refuse such offer when one knows that the country is being offered to be ruled in a silver plate. Dynastic card over rules everything in India. Efficiency, education, maturity and worthiness are no criteria when one has the card and stamp of dynasty and some one is there to pull one up. In democracy, every one has equal opportunity to contest, win and achieve positions. But this is not a straight game. Few souls control the party and everything whirls round the dynastic succession. In this murky game of politics even matured and highly experienced stalwarts of the party make statements that the prince is eligible to become PM and it is time he is introduced while the real PM is already in the chair alive and kicking ( Must be sobbing in heart and helpless to do any thing). It is also too sad when such statements are made when the actual person in chair was going to Operation Theater where he had to battle with life. There is no dearth for such sycophants in every party. Finally Mukerjee also would realize the naked facts and reconcile to his future and hopes to become Vice President or President at some point of time if he continues to be a yes man and clap and sing the chorus. Good luck to him. It was also reported that if Rahul was reluctant to climb the throne being a wise man, Priyanka should be inducted to keep the dynastic rule in process. Every one knows that Congress party gets votes based on Gandhi’s name and not on credentials and work. Therefore all the guys who want to taste power as some minister or Governor highlight the dynasty so that they are given some spoils after victory. Or else they can never reach saddle of power. The scene is same in States too. Every state leader promotes his son to take over his chair as early as possible. If a leader dies or gets killed in some Naxal blast immediately his wife or son or daughter would be given the party ticket to contest the election and she is sue to win as Indian masses are slave minded and vote blindly based on caste, group, religion and not on the merit and capabilities. No examples are required. Some of the leaders who get elected in such situations have also have criminal records with police cases registered against them which never see light of the day. Many are just fit to raise their hands in assembly when any voting is to be done on some issue and raise victory signs in meetings. Some regional parties are purely dynastic and others in the party have no place except to sing yes sir…yes sir three bags full.. one for you and all for you.. Ho…ho…
In nutshell Indian democracy has become solely for some, by some and of some people. God bless the nation and may god bestow peace on the souls of the members of constitution assembly and its chairman ( All of them are dead) who prepared the Indian constitution never realizing that Indian democracy would stoop low. May their souls rest in peace.

Dr K Prabhakar Rao