The Hindu Business Line : Party discipline

POLITICAL parties in India have begun copying the methods of governments, public and private sectors in dealing with their members who publicly ventilate criticism of their policies or of their leaders.

The critics are promptly suspended, asked to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them, and if the explanation is not acceptable, dismissed from any position they may be holding in the party, or expelled from primary membership, permanently or for varying periods.

One can understand the usefulness of such a procedure when applied to paid employees of any organisation. They are under an obligation to conform to rules and regulations, and any breach of discipline or service conditions is apt to damage the effectiveness of the organisation as a whole.

But the ideologies, causes or programmes of political parties are necessarily to be pragmatic, attuned to the exigencies of particular situations. Politics, in essence, is the art of the possible, and involves compromises.

Party members, therefore, cannot be viewed as regimented automatons. From the top hierarchy to the ordinary cadres, they should all be presumed to be equally concerned with the party's credibility and acceptability in the eyes of the people. They should enjoy the freedom to urge their points of view without inhibition or fear of consequences, so that the fermentation of ideas keeps the party vibrant, dynamic and in tune with the times.

No problem arises so long as the freedom is confined to party forums, and used within its inner councils, although even here, because of the attitude of intolerance to opposing points of view, resulting sometimes even in murder, the person criticising a party policy or leader is seen as a trouble-maker and kept at arm's length.

But what if the member feels that he does not get an opportunity to air his views, or that they are summarily dismissed, while he considers them vital to the party's fortunes? Can he then go public? If he does, should the party punish him?

The answer is No. The effort should be to reach out to him and remove the causes of his sense of frustration. This may enthuse him to work with redoubled vigour in the interests of his party. Peremptory adoption of punitive measures as if he is a subordinate only leads to the washing of dirty linen in public and affects the morale of the party.

B. S. Raghavan