Opinion - The Way Political Parties Appeal To Their Voters Has To Change

The fault lines are getting wider and visible. It is no secret that caste and religion have been part of the campaign strategy of political parties to mobilize voters for long. An optimist would have vouched caste and religion would subside from the political arena every passing day, the pessimist would think otherwise. As it stands, the pessimist remains vindicated. If in doubt, have a look at the U.P. election campaign and the way various political parties have allocated their coveted positions within the party. Not one political party have taken a progressive view on this. This pattern of caste and religion arithmetic is more prominent in U.P. given its significance of the state by the number of Lok Sabha seats and assembly seats (read Rajya Sabha seats).

Democracy is by far the aptest process that ensures representation of all sections of the society into the policy-making realm. Elections alone do not make a Democracy, an independent judiciary, civil society, individual rights, human rights and a host of other institutions and rights contributes to the definition of Democracy. As part of the large wide definition of Democracy, it is also the way political parties appeal to voters, the norm is and should be all political parties should appeal to all sections of the people rather than every political party trying to take a slice of the cake (read section of voters). The former will make the competition between parties a healthy one, it will bring the important issues to the forefront rather than divisive and polarising issues. The latter will continue to reinforce stereotypes, keep the most important issues like environment conservation, climate change, infrastructure out of the public policy debates.