Opportunistic proclivities

 

Migration from one party to another in the political playing field is not very new to its close observers. However, the reasons for the same are often misunderstood by people and misquoted by the migrators.

A virtual war of emotional sentiments have erupted ever since former senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Eknath khadse decided to leave the party for his future endeavors at the age 68.

Being one of the most senior leaders of the party in Maharashtra and having worked very hard from the very early stages, Khadse was considered as one of the most loyalists of the BJP ideology. However, not only withstanding this instance, we also have various examples which have proved that over the time, it is only about “Opportunity” over “Ideology”.

There is a reason behind the above said transition, which needs to be understood. Politics is all about the quality of people you have that work in strengthening the party’s footprints across the geographical boundaries. With the gradual progression as the party strengthens its roots, the leaders as well become stronger and influential and start holding senior positions within the party.

A leader who commences his political journey right from being the party worker then starts envisaging himself as a corporator of the city. This journey continues from here to aspiring the positions of mayor, Member of Legislative Assembly, Member of Parliament, Minister, Chief Minister so on and so forth.

In this process of evolution, not many but some people tend to deviate from the ideal line of social service, which is ‘Nation First, then party and then self’. Now this philosophy happens to be the founding basis of the BJP.

Often with the growing position in the party, leaders are inclined to think that they are above the party. These set of leaders continue to take a dominating stand on various issues regardless of the opinion of others. Now this dominant stand is by the virtue of their influence.

However, this particular influence cannot be perpetual in politics as for change in everything is the only constant which such leaders often tend to behave in oblivion. No political outfit can be excluded from this phenomenon.

If earlier cases were to be analyzed then Shiv Sena leader Narayan Rane was made the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Chhagan Bhujbal was made the first mayor of the party. However, these leaders still migrated from their respective party’s. One has to understand that if you are an elected representative, then you are the one chosen by your party amongst many in line. Even if the leader is at an influential position in the constituency, it is the party that elects the candidate and not Vis-a-Vis.

No one will have the slightest of the doubt than Eknath Khadse was instrumental in the BJP penetrating its roots throughout the state. However, it doesn’t mean he was above party.

Besides, one also has to think about how much has the BJP given to him. He has consistently been the member of legislative assembly along with being the leader of opposition to becoming the minister in the Maharashtra state government led by BJP.

Along with Eknath Khadse, his daughter and daughter in law, both of them are elected representatives. It is indispensable for every politician to understand for himself that no party can satisfy their ever-growing demands.

Besides, the behavior of Eknath Khadse in the last two years was most verily not appreciated by the party cadre. It is wrong and unfaithful to the party which you have served for so many years to initiate a blame game within the party by specifically pin pointing at someone.

The BJP is said to be a party with differences for a reason. We have a grievance redressal mechanism within the party where in Khadse could have talked about the issues he had been facing. He as well got multiple opportunities of doing so. However, when actions and words don’t go in unison, the possibility of biased driven opinion marked with the self proclaimed pride could perhaps not be ruled out.

BJP is a party that is based on some ideology. We have a process of appointment of the party cadre where any leader, no matter how influential he is within the party, can make no claims. It is practically impossible to claim the name of the next party president as the party president of BJP is elected with a democratic process unlikely of what is done in the party with only dynastic leaders.

As far as the case of people migrating out from the BJP, the party has seen various incidents like these earlier. However, it is for those migrating outside who need to scrutinize the situation of the others who have walked on this path earlier.

Examples of Shankar Singh Waghela, Yashwant Sinha or Shatrugan Sinha are evident as the fate of these leaders is out in public domain to be analyzed. One phenomenon which is crystal clear in all such examples irrespective of the leaders of the political party’s is that, at the end it only comes down to opportunistic proclivities.