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Amar Ujala Bureau, New Delhi.
Published by: Yogesh Sahu
Updated Mon, 27 Jun 2022 06:17 AM IST
essence
Political commentator Rashid Kidwai says, when ‘Aaya Ram-Gaya Ram’ happened, it was criticized because it did not have political and social acceptance, but it is not so now. The ethics of politics has gone three steps back. The defector works solidly.
Resort politics is once again in the news with a dissident group of Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde making a halt from a Surat hotel to the Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati. By uniting here, the rebels have put the Shiv Sena and MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray in trouble in Maharashtra. On several occasions resort politics has benefited the rebels, but in some attempts they have failed.
The ‘ugly’ spectacle of democracy
The 1982 Devilal-BJP alliance failed to stop the MLAs from escaping from the hotel where they were kept. Congress leader Sachin Pilot recently could not succeed in toppling the Ashok Gehlot-led government. Resort politics has also raised questions on ethics. Former Secretary General of Lok Sabha PDT Acharya considers it the most ‘ugly’ spectacle of democracy.
This practice, he says, should not extend to other democracies. He accused the media of sensationalizing instead of exposing the ‘ugliness’ of resort politics. “It shows the weakness of our system,” he said. It brings to the fore the immoral and characterless aspect of our democracy, which is a sign of its downfall.
Political Ethics Three Steps Back
- Political commentator Rashid Kidwai says, when ‘Aaya Ram-Gaya Ram’ happened, it was criticized because it did not have political and social acceptance, but it is not so now. The ethics of politics has gone three steps back. The defector works solidly. As we saw in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Intellectuals do not criticize it and the media considers it an act of cleverness.
- When did ‘Aaya Ram-Gaya Ram’ come: The term ‘Aaya Ram-Gaya Ram’ came into the Indian political lexicon in 1967 after Haryana’s leader Gaya Lal switched parties thrice within hours. It continued to haunt political parties in the country despite the 1985 Anti-Defection Act. Looking at the developments in Maharashtra, it seems that this issue will continue for now.
Two decades of fencing of honorees
- Rajya Sabha Elections, June 2022: The Congress on June 10 shifted its MLAs from Rajasthan to the luxurious Taj Aravalli Resort and Spa in Udaipur, fearing horse-trading by the BJP ahead of the elections. The BJP accommodated its MLAs at Devi Ratna Hotel in Jaipur’s Jamdoli, but the party called it a training camp. As the race for seats in the Upper House intensified in Haryana, the BJP shifted its MLAs to a resort in Chandigarh, while the Congress shifted its MLAs to Raipur for fear of horse-trading.
- Rajasthan, July 2020 : Sachin Pilot openly revolted against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot along with 18 Congress MLAs. He was then sacked from the post of Deputy Chief Minister and Rajasthan chief of the party. Pilot and his MLAs were reported to be staying in hotels in Haryana and Delhi.
- Madhya Pradesh, March 2020 : Congress MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia revolted against the party and were kept in a hotel in Bangalore. The rebels sent their resignations from Bangalore. The rebellion finally succeeded after the fall of the Kamal Nath government.
- Karnataka, July 2019 : Rebel MLAs of Congress and JD(S) and BJP MLAs indulged in resort politics, which included staying in luxurious hotels on the outskirts of Bengaluru and Mumbai. This was known as Operation Lotus.
- Gujarat Rajya Sabha Election 2017: Fearing horse-trading, the Gujarat Congress barricaded its MLAs at a resort in Biddi in Karnataka’s Ramanagara district ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections. Ahmed Patel managed to retain his seat.
- Bihar, 2000 : When JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar faced a trust vote, the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, fearing defection, sent their leaders to a hotel in Patna. Nitish Kumar resigned ahead of the trust vote.
Expansion
The politics of Aya Ram-Gaya Ram of the eighties in India has achieved a whole new height. Now the rebel MLAs and MPs themselves are consuming cool air in luxurious resorts and are scorching the opposing camps by pouring out political heat. Be it an attempt to topple the government in Maharashtra or take MLAs to luxury hotels or resorts to mingle together during the recent Rajya Sabha elections, in this new trend, the party which holds the reins of these MLAs will go to these hotels or resorts. turns it into an impregnable fortress.
The politics of Aya Ram-Gaya Ram of the eighties in India has achieved a whole new height. Now the rebel MLAs and MPs themselves are consuming cool air in luxurious resorts and are scorching the opposing camps by pouring out political heat. Be it an attempt to topple the government in Maharashtra or take MLAs to luxury hotels or resorts to mingle together during the recent Rajya Sabha elections, in this new trend, the party which holds the reins of these MLAs will go to these hotels or resorts. turns it into an impregnable fortress.
Resort politics is once again in the news with a dissident group of Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde making a halt from a Surat hotel to the Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati. By uniting here, the rebels have put the Shiv Sena and MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray in trouble in Maharashtra. On several occasions resort politics has benefited the rebels, but in some attempts they have failed.
The ‘ugly’ spectacle of democracy
The 1982 Devilal-BJP alliance failed to stop the MLAs from escaping from the hotel where they were kept. Congress leader Sachin Pilot recently could not succeed in toppling the Ashok Gehlot-led government. Resort politics has also raised questions on ethics. Former Secretary General of Lok Sabha PDT Acharya considers it the most ‘ugly’ spectacle of democracy.
This practice, he says, should not extend to other democracies. He accused the media of sensationalizing instead of exposing the ‘ugliness’ of resort politics. “It shows the weakness of our system,” he said. It brings to the fore the immoral and characterless aspect of our democracy, which is a sign of its downfall.
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