Governance is commonly defined as the exercise of power or authority by elected government for the well-being of their country’s citizens in accordance with the constitutional provision, the nation’s ethos and inclusiveness. Whereas, ‘political governance’ is the latest paradigm in the evolution of political system in which power or authority is exercised in such a way, so as to primarily fulfill the political aspirations of the ruling government. Despite, India has passed its seventy five years of independence, we are far behind from the concept of governance as several prolonged issues such as communal riots, and discrimination, caste-conflict and other divisive mind-set still find an ample space while governing the nation. Now, governance’ turns to be a new model known as ‘political governance’ as all the ruling political parties in India remain engaged in administering the country by prioritizing their political ideologies and each of every administrative actions are associated with political agenda. ‘Political governance’ evolves to be discriminatory in nature as the ruling political parties purpose their targets and objectives by narrating non-constructive debate, ideas and discussion so as to displace the main objectives of governance.
At the same time, the opposition political parties are also expected to raise social issues, social evils and concern of social changes if the governments do not address the issues and they remain un-noticed for a long time. Though, for the last a couple of years, social issues like, inflation, fuel price, education, unemployment, poverty and Covid-19 management and health have been totally sidelined by other opposition parties. Politics in India are being moved around divisive cycle, such as caste, religion, culture, language etc. Such divisive politics seems to be a new beginning of ‘political governance’ as every administrative action of the ruling government as well as role of opposition parties appear to be politically affiliated and motivated. Currently, ‘political governance’ has evolved over the period in India as a strong weapon for ruling parties which amounts to be a threatening to the notion of a welfare state as dreamed by our national freedom fighters. Following are the leading factors responsible or the emergence of ‘political governance’ in India.
By Dr. Ahmed Raza
17/06/2022