Choosing the ‘lesser evil’ only option?

Bhanu P Lohumi

Corruption has always been a hot topic of discussion in Himachal, especially when elections are round the corner. Allegations of corruption against political rivals galore during elections, but do such sinister campaigns, which die once elections are over, impact the outcome of poll, is still debatable.

Political parties on the other hand have double standards as far as corruption is concerned and winning prospects of the candidate is the sole concern. 

Factors such as corruption and criminal record are conveniently forgotten. Ironically, voters also have no contempt for such candidates and elect them as “public representatives”.

There has been consistent increase in the number of elected MLAs and MPs with criminal record and also significant increase in the assets of a large number of elected representatives. There are numerous examples of leaders facing serious charges of corruption and criminal offences, winning elections and coming back to power.

People want corrupt politicians to be rejected so that they  do not become law-makers, but feel helpless as most parties field candidates with criminal background, money and muscle power, simply because they are potential winners. 

Every party entertains such politicians and options to elect honest and well-meaning candidates are closed. Best we can do is to vote for the lesser evil, as in many cases, the track record of politicians with criminal background is enviable on development front, opine political analysts.

As per the report of the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR-2018) survey, corruption was not a major issue in Himachal and its eradication was a priority for only 44 per cent electorate, while 64 per cent preferred employment opportunities.

Of ‘Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram’

Former Union Communication Minister Sukh Ram was arrested in telecom scam in 1996. He floated his own political outfit under the banner of Himachal Vikas Congress after he was expelled from the Congress. His party won five seats in Himachal Assembly poll in 1998 and formed a coalition government with the BJP, which was headed by Prem Kumar Dhumal.

In the 2003 Assembly poll, Sukh Ram was the only face-saver for the party. He merged HVC with the Congress in 2004 and supported Pratibha Singh in the Lok Sabha elections from Mandi, who defeated Maheshwar Singh of the BJP. 

His son Anil Sharma, who was a minister in the Congress government headed by Virbhadra Singh, joined the BJP in the run-up to the Assembly poll in 2017. He not only won the election, but was inducted as a Cabinet minister in the BJP government headed by Jai Ram Thakur. 

Now, Sukh Ram is back in Congress lobbying for a ticket for his grandson Ashray from Mandi. Ashray’s father Anil Sharma is Power Minister in the BJP government in the state and is holding his cards close to his chest.

Graft as poll plank

Octogenarian Congress leader and six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh resigned from the Union Cabinet in 2012 after a local court framed corruption charges against him, but the Congress party appointed him as the state party chief to lead in the Assembly poll and he brought Congress back to power.

In 2017 Assembly elections also, the BJP made corruption cases against him as a main poll plank. Congress was ousted from power, but both Virbhadra Singh and his son Vikramaditya Singh won from Arki and Shimla (Rural) Assembly constituencies, respectively. 

Charges were framed against sitting BJP MP from Shimla (reserve) Parliamentary constituency Virender Kashyap in January 2018 by a local court in cash on camera case pertaining to 2009. The BJP gave the Lok Sabha ticket to Kashyap in 2009 and he not only won the elections, but was re-elected in 2014 as well.

The Opposition submitting a charge-sheet against the government in power has become a ritual, but after coming to power, the governments brand the allegations of corruption as political victimisation. They either withdraw cases against their own party men or dilute these so that they get a decent burial.

Criminal cases declared with ‘élan’ in sworn affidavits

In 2017 Assembly elections, 22 out of 68 MLAs declared criminal cases against them, while the number was 14 in 2012 Assembly elections. Further, eight out of total MLAs declared serious criminal cases against five MLAs in the 2012 Assembly poll.

Party wise, two out of 21 MLAs (10 per cent) from the Indian National Congress (INC),18 out of 44 MLAs (41 per cent) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 1 MLA (100 per cent) from CPI (M) and 1out of 2 Independent MLAs (50 per cent) have declared criminal cases against them in their sworn affidavits.Criminal cases against eight MLAs were of serious nature, while most of the other cases were related to voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant on duty, trespass, rioting, wrongful restraint, criminal conspiracy.

Findings of ADR survey in 2018

Voters choose candidates with criminal record for following reasons:

• 41.34% voters think cash, liquor and gifts are important factors
• 36.67% voters are not even aware of criminal record against candidates 
• 35.89% voters vote for candidates with criminal record because they feel they have done good work 
• 35.23% voters have caste and religious considerations in mind while voting  
• 34.75% voters feel criminal cases registered against candidates are not of serious nature
• 34.23% voters feel such candidates have spent generously in elections

Top three priorities of voters 

In Hamirpur

• Better employment opportunities: 62.31 per cent
• Availability of water for agriculture: 57.87 per cent
• Better hospitals/primary healthcare centres: 47.13 per cent

In Kangra

• Availability of water for agriculture: 60.13 per cent
• Better employment opportunities: 56.83 per cent
• Drinking water: 44.28 per cent

In Mandi

• Better employment opportunities: 57.11 per cent
• Availability of water for agriculture: 55.71 per cent
• Better public transport: 44.82 per cent

In Shimla

• Better employment opportunities: 59.92 per cent
• Availability of water for agriculture: 49.54 per cent
• Better public transport: 44.56 per cent

Corruption not even among top 10 priorities

Like other states, burning issues such as better employment opportunities, availability of water for agriculture, drinking, better hospitals and health centres and better transport facilities are important in Himachal as well, but eradication of corruption is not even among top-10 priorities.

Crorepati MLAs on the rise 

• The ability to win is the sole criteria for the allotment of tickets and corruption takes a backseat, it seems. People are skeptical with respect to ever increasing assets of public representatives during their tenure and the trend is same in all major political parties. Average assets of 30 re-elected MLAs were Rs 5.79 crore in 2012, which increased to Rs 10.39 crore in 2017. The average growth in assets of 30 re-elected MLAs from 2012 to 2017 was Rs 4.60 crore (79 per cent).
• The number of crorepati MLAs has also increased and against 44 (65 per cent) crorepati MLAs in 2012, the number increased to 52 (76 per cent) in 2017. All 21 Congress elected representatives (100 per cent), 28 (64 per cent) out of 44 BJP MLAs, lone CPM MLA and both Independent MLAs are crorepatis. 
• The value of assets of 35 per cent MLAs was more than Rs 5 crore and above; 21.31 per cent MLAs have assets between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore; 18.26 per cent between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 2 crore and 5.8 per cent below Rs 50 lakh.

Leaderspeak

‘BJP committed to zero tolerance towards corruption’

Corruption is certainly an issue in elections and the BJP is committed to having a policy on zero tolerance towards corruption. The state was reeling under corruption during the Congress regime headed by former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, but now in BJP’s 15 months’ rule, there has not been a single case of corruption. The raids conducted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on excise, transport and revenue officers are a result of zero tolerance against corruption. The ‘main bhi chowkidar’ campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a powerful tool against corruption and corrupt people and every BJP worker is a chowkidar. The Congress government had framed politically motivated cases against the BJP leaders and some of these cases have been either withdrawn or dismissed by the courts on merit. He said the case against Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) was framed on frivolous charges as it was headed by Anurag Thakur, son of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. The case stands dismissed by the court. — Satpal Singh Satti, State BJP chief 

‘BJP quiet over corruption cases involving leaders, their kin’

The BJP is claiming that no case of corruption has surfaced during the NDA government, but it is not true as “Rafale” was the biggest scam of defence deal. The BJP was hushing the corruption cases involving its leaders and their family members. Why are allegations against BJP chief Amit Shah’s son not being investigated? Not all cases are politically motivated and in case cases are being withdrawn on the pretext of being politically motivated, then the Law Department and Attorney General’s remarks should be made public. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is claiming himself to be a chowkidar then how come Nirav Modi, Vijaya Malya and Lalit Modi managed to flee?  Gimmicks like ‘chowkidar and chaiwala’ will not work in the Lok Sabha elections and non-performance and failure to fulfil the 2014 Lok Sabha promises will be the issues. — Kuldeep Singh Rathore, President, Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee

‘Both BJP and Congress are in the same boat’

Corruption is always an issue in public perception, but the BJP and the Congress are in the same boat on this sensitive issue. The power has centralised under the BJP rule and so does corruption. Big deals are being finalised without observing any formalities, which smack of corruption. Earlier, the magnitude of corruption was small, but now bribing is preceding the deals. How has the Adani group been entrusted with the operations of five airports for 50 years? The government said papers pertaining to the Rafale deal were stolen from the Ministry of Defence which has seriously dented the credibility of the government and created an impression that the country was unsafe in the BJP regime. Corrupt politicians hop from one party to the other and their acts of corruption are condoned by the parties for giving tickets and plum posts in case party returns to power. Both BJP and Congress are indulging in politics of convenience and sacrifice principals for winning elections. — Rakesh Singha, CPM MLA from Theog 

Studentspeak

I prefer candidates who work for the welfare of the general public, irrespective of corruption charges. For example, Pandit Sukh Ram was convicted in a criminal case, but he brought telecommunication revolution to a small state like Himachal. People are indebted to him. As a result, he and his family members win during election. — Praveen, Business Studies, HPU

To eradicate corruption, qualified and well-educated youth with a clean image should be given a chance, as they will bring new ideas for reformation. The country needs a change and young blood with innovative ideas is the need of the hour. — Gunjan, Department of Tourism, HPU 

Money plays a significant role in elections and the corrupt has more money and power, which implies better chance to win. Law should be amended to debar the corrupt and criminals from contesting elections. Fast-tracks courts should be established to decided corruption cases in a specific time period. — Umesh, Department of Law, HPU

Honest people should come forward and join politics. Dynasty politics should be based on merit. Honesty, qualification, conduct, welfare of people should be the criteria and tickets should not be allotted on the family name. — Jagdamba, Department of Law, HPU