Our First and Last Hope for Quality Governance

V S Rama Rao

30-04-2018

The Quality of Governance depends on the Quality of Government. The Quality of Government depends on the Quality of the Collective Leadership of the Individuals Elected / Selected to form the Government, and, on the Constructive Contribution and Critical Scrutiny of the Leaders Elected to sit in Opposition.

The Quality of the Leadership of both the Ruling and Opposition, and also of the other Parties and Independents, depends on the Character of the Individuals Elected by the Polity! The Ultimate Body to Ensure this Character is the Voting Public, Enabled by the Letter and Spirit of the Representation of Peoples Act (RPA), and the Authorities Ordained and Entrusted to Implement it in Letter and Spirit, with Total Functional Freedom, and Immunity to Possible, ‘pre and post’ Influences from all sorts of Unscrupulous Parties, Individuals, and Power Wielders with Cynical and / or Criminal Minds, devoid of Moral Character.

But the Hapless Voting Public are Seriously handicapped due to the Gross Inadequacies of the present RPA, which cannot Preclude Criminal Muscle and Money Power and Evil Influences on the Functioning and Judgment of even the Strict, Honest and Upright Implementers of the Act, and also the Temptations and Threats on the Voters by Corrupt Candidates and Parties, flush with Countless Money Bags, and aided by Ruthless Goons, ready to maim or murder with Impunity. Under the Circumstances, the Quality of the Candidates, of the Electoral Authorities, and also of the Voting Public, remains a Dubious Dream, and more often than not, a Pathetic Casualty!

Thus, it is only the Quality of an Inviolable RPA and its Unbiased and Intrepid Implementation by the Authorities in the Election Commission that can form the Foundation for the Quality of Governance, by Disciplining the Political Parties fielding Candidates, and the Voters, to Permit and Elect only Quality Individuals of Character and Eminence to Represent the People and to serve as Legislators and Lawmakers, to both in Government as well as in Opposition.

Only when Manifest and Demonstrable high Quality is Prescribed with Strict Provisions in the RPA, Implemented, Enforced, and Ensured with Absolute Freedom to the Election Commission, and Consummated with a Fair Choice to the Voting Public, can we Hope for Upright, Knowledgeable, and Efficient Quality Legislators and Lawmakers, who can give us a Good Governance, and Corruption-free Development, with Manifest and Demonstrable Quality.

But alas, which Political Party, or Political Leader worth the Name, is Truly Interested and can Demonstrate Guts and Gumption to Bring about Electoral Reforms, Amending and Strengthening the RPA, to Strictly Preclude Unworthy Candidates and to Preempt Unholy Practices that Mar and Vitiate the Whole System, Before, During and After the Election Process! It is not that they don’t Know the Flaws and Weakness of the RPA, but rather Deliberately and Gleefully Use, Misuse, and Abuse the RPA, to have their Way and have their Candidates elected, by Hook or by Crook. None of these Hypocrites want to “Change” the RPA or “Chastise” themselves.

Nonetheless, if at all we Dream of Quality in Governance, our first and foremost Endeavour should be to see that the RPA and the Election Commission are Equipped with Real “Teeth”, so that the Whole System can be Comprehensively Exorcised of Unworthy Candidates and Unholy Practices, and the Sacred Election Ritual can be Ruthlessly Implemented and Religiously Consummated!

This will be our First and Last Hope for Quality Governance with Reverence to Moral Values and Professional Conduct, and Character.

Will Their Highnesses, the Political High Priests, Spare a Thought for this?!

                                               

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