Brief Review of Political Scenario in India By A Military Veteran

National Political Scenario

1. Indian democracy is not a governance by mandate of majority (more than 50%)  but political manipulation by minority voice where a coalition with just over 30% votes can form the govt. 
2.  Possibility of govt of minority voices opens up space for caste or religion based political maneuvers resulting into promotion of hate and divisions among society causing national security concern.
3. All major political parties in India are controlled by lobbies or families with no space of internal democracy within. Indian democracy is actually politics by autocracy which counter-minds the spirit of democracy. 
4. Funding of all major parties are not transparent. Major capitalists fund and support them to bargain policy concessions. It is also a serious security concern as it gives space for foreign powers and agents to own political parties in India. 
5. Criminalisation of politics is on rise across all parties.
6. India probably is only country in the democratic world, where civil servants specially so young IAS officers with very less administrative experience and maturity as collectors of district, become returning officers with final say on filing of papers of nomination and announcement of results. It promotes Babu- Politician nexus.
7. Political regionalism is on rise. Though one hand it is having positive influence in terms of more performance challenges giving rise to growth and more space for regional voice but on other hand it also encourages political desperation permitting certain anti-national activities as being witnessed in WB. 
8. While allocating tickets to candidates almost all political parties charge money or favour. There are even unconfirmed reports of Rajya Sabha tickets being sold for Rs 250 crores.   It increases influence of money on governance ignoring poor. 
9. Indian democratic system provides enough space for proxy governance. If a political leader is convicted he appoints his Dalal as CM or PM. Such space counterminds constitution totally. 
10. Some splinters groups sometimes succeed in rousing public emotions on genuine issues like corruption and crime but such moments peter out over years as either they use such momentum to create their own political identity to grab political power or are bought by existing players.
11. Political career of most of the political leaders starts with 
1. They are born in families having political influence or money or 
2. They fail to secure any job or work and their unemployment pushes them to dalali and chamchagiri of a local political leader for money or small contract works.  Their loyalty is checked on standards of they able to lick spit of leaders. In addition to money, homosexuality and use of sex among political cadres is on rise. Or
3. Criminal and local goondas making foray in politics. 
12. Parliament has little say on major issues. MPs coming from countrysides to Delhi prefer disruption in parliament to paid lobbying in ministries for their clients then discuss major issues for public cause. 
13. Cabinet works as rubber stamp to the decisions of owners of political parties to which they belong. 
14. Election commission, civil servants and judiciary are showing no signs of any attempt to check the negative trends. 
15. Media is controlled by rich and they play their tunes. 
16. Ideologically no party in power shows any difference as governance is managed by civil servants. Politicians get more engaged in administrative decisions for loot and babus take executive decisions which are supposed to be taken by politicians. 
17. Politicians try to show their performance based on populist programs or schemes then focusing on macro policy issues.  
18. International pressure for good governance guided by many suggested policy framework work better than any internal policy formulation. Most of good governance policy of Govt of India are driven by International inputs/ pressures. 
19. Indian Govt lacks capacity of policy formulation in field of macro economics and geo-political space. 
20. Politicians show no support for effective functioning of judiciary to dispose of criminal cases in short periods and use it as a shield to protect their corrupt deeds. Conviction rates of corrupt politicians and babus specially IAS is one of the lowest in India in world.   

Assessment

The above scenario and trends are likely to continue as no signs or attempts to reverse above are visible. The coming decade will see heating up of political battles driven by desperation to serve rich and lobbies.  Deepening divide between rich and poor will widen up more. Society will be more fragmented creating space for caste, communal conflicts sometimes may be violent. Caste and religion ridden society is unlikely to organise itself to resist loot at mass scale except few movements. More and more space will be available for foreign powers to intervene and influence events. Rich will continue parking money abroad rather than reinvesting their profits to generate jobs.  Criminalisation of politics may give birth to regional mafias posing open challenge to governments. Masses will be kept devoid of quality education which is seen as a threat by autocratic parties. 

Increasing population of  middle class and urbanization may throw some hope to city based political movements for reforms but unless these movement connect to caste ridden rural India these are likely to be short lived. 

Military will see more marginalization and isolation due to obvious interests of lobbies and families engaged in loot and plunder. 

International pressures will continue shaping Indian macro economic, good governance and geo-political policies. 

Recommendations

Considering above scenarios where is then hope in this hopelessness? 

1. Citizens shall give more importance to quality education, development and growth than caste, religions and lobbies. Bring development in center stage of politics for debate and judging/ rewarding performances than caste and religions. 

2. Isolate and defeat those in elections who speak language of hate and division. 

3. Party in power at Center shall not be given power in major states. Keep political power distributed among various parties to create more uncertainty for them so that performance becomes a major debate. No lobby or family shall be in dominating position to decide Indian destiny.  

4. Dont keep any party in power for more then two terms and keep them out of power for at least two terms. It will balance out their attitude to serve people rather behaving like lords. Show them power of vote. Same applies to political candidates. 

5. Become citizen soldiers and be loyal to India and Indian constitution and give issues based support to any political party. As an Indian there is no need to be loyal to any political party or leader. 

6. Vote in every election. 

7. If no candidate is suitable then vote NOTA. NOTA is powerful tool to convey displeasure and censure. Use it effectively. 

8. Political fitness of any candidate shall be seen in terms of education, qualification, experience, police and IT records and social contribution. 

9. More and more ex servicemen, retired govt and private company employees and honest businessmen shall voice their concern as independent political auditors and opinion makers to educate masses. Yatha Rajah Thatha Praja. Masses do look for such advises from successful people and elders. If one is scared of expressing opinion public-ally then educate those who are in close contact in private.

10. Use social media to express discontentment. Corrupt politicians and babus are very sensitive to such open expressions.

PLAY YOUR ROLE AS CITIZEN SOLDIER. IT IS QUESTION OF FUTURE OF YOUR CHILDREN.  NO POLITICAL PARTY OR LEADER IS ABOVE INDIA.