Though it is often said that politics is a bad game and is best avoided, there are many who wish to enter politics, though their reasons for getting into politics may differ. Many look at politics as a way to acquire power, some look out for popularity, some wish to hobnob with top leaders, others join a political party due to its political ideology, a few are attracted by the charisma of a leader and a few others join politics to do public service.
Another section, which is fairly large, looks at politics as a means to make money. However, most of those who enter politics are not aware of what real politics is before entering it and are often disillusioned for a variety of reasons.
It would help aspiring politicians to understand the functioning of politics, political parties and electoral politics before they jump into the political arena. Realpolitik, a book by Mamta Chitnis Sen, an artist, journalist and writer, will help such aspirants. It cannot be said to be a complete guide or something like “Politics for Dummies”, as different parties have different ideologies and varying rules of the games, and the attitudes and qualities of the leaders differ, within a party too.
Realpolitik: Exposing India’s Political System takes a look at the politics in the country and within political parties. The book is a must read for those wishing to venture into politics. Sen has spoken to political personalities from various parts of the country, across party lines and at different levels in the party hierarchy.
She has also spoken to some ‘power brokers’ as a part of her research for the book. Sen has thrown light on a number of issues in India’s politics and the reasons why people join politics. Apart from the interviews of those in politics, Sen has been able to put to use not only her personal experience in politics as an office-bearer of Youth Congress, but also what she learnt about Indian politics as a journalist, having seen political parties and leaders from close range. The book throws light on how workers and activists at the grassroots are the real strength of any political party.
The people who work through the night to put up posters or paint walls with party slogans and messages or those who meet the people to solve their problems are the true messengers of the party, she points out in the book. Realpolitik also illustrates the various reasons people have for joining a political party, or politics for that matter, through interviews of political personalities in each category.
Arvind Sawant, currently a Shiv Sena member of the Lok Sabha, joined the party after being enamoured by the leadership, the oratory and ideology of Shiv Sena founder, Bal Thackeray. Sawant states that he started working for Shiv Sena by painting walls with party slogans, without any expectations from the party.
But over a period of time, Thackeray recognised his work by ensuring that Sawant became a member of the Maharashtra Legislature. Sawant has been quoted as saying that his loyalty to the party is unstinted. Sen points out that there are people who are loyal to leaders and also speaks about godfathers in politics. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, in his interview to Sen, takes exception to the word ‘godfather’.
Aiyar entered politics by joining the Congress due to his loyalty to Rajiv Gandhi. He developed his loyalty to Gandhi when he was working as a bureaucrat in the former’s office when he was the Prime Minister of India. Aiyar had no mass support when he began his political career, but Gandhi rewarded him by making him a Member of Parliament from Tamil Nadu. Aiyar states that after Rajiv Gandhi’s demise on the eve of the latter’s scheduled campaign for Aiyar, he got the patronage of Sonia Gandhi, who ensured that Aiyar got a berth in Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao’s cabinet.
Aiyar has now lost out on the patronage of Sonia Gandhi and has no important position in the Congress. Sen has used this case to show how it helps to have a godfather in politics. At several places in the book, Sen speaks about dynasties and shows how some families control politics.
Quoting research done by Harvard University and University of Mannheim, she points out that since 1999, Congress has had 36 dynastic MPs and the BJP has had 31. The individuals interviewed by Sen have expressed diverging views on the topics on which they spoke to her. Some have said that political parties do not provide money for activities, especially elections, while very few have said that the party gives financial support.
But all the interviewees agree that money plays a major role in political activity, primarily in elections. Chandrashekhar Desai, a BJP leader in Goa, told Sen about the play of money in elections. He has been quoted as saying that villagers in Goa ask for Rs 100 per vote in addition to carrying out public work and the amount per vote sometimes reaches Rs 2,000 too. Desai also spoke about the need for muscle power, which comes for a price.
Another important point made in Realpolitik is about the leaders’ connection with the people. Two contrasting cases stand out in the book. The first is of Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, who is accessible to the common workers and also knows almost all of them by their names.
This makes the leader popular and acceptable, according to an NCP activist Dinkar Hiroji Tawde. The contrasting case mentioned in the book is of MNS leader Raj Thackeray. Sharif Rehman Deshmukh mentions how he helped the MNS grow in the Muslim-dominated area against all odds and how he had direct access to Raj Thackeray during the formative years of the party, but after some electoral success, Raj Thackeray was inaccessible to Deshmukh, who then quit the party and, along with him, 1,500 active members walked out of the party too. The book has made a good attempt to expose the Indian political system to its readers.
To reiterate, those desirous of entering politics must read the book, but it would be useful to even those who are already in politics. It must be mentioned here that the book lacks good editing and it would help the publishers to look into it.
Abhay Mokashi is a senior journalist and Course Head, Communication for Development, Xaviers Institute of Communications (XIC), Mumbai.