Indian politics is going through challenging times, with the incumbent Government facing several charges of corruption.
New skeletons seem to be tumbling out of their closets on a regular basis throwing ministers, parliamentarians, senior politicians and bureaucrats into jail. Many others, facing serious corruption charges, await their term in prison.
Not that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which constitutes the main opposition, can claim to be squeaky clean. Its last stint in the government was marred by controversies; and its current regime in the South Indian State of Karnataka has been caught in a cobweb of graft and mismanagement.
Many ills plaguing the political establishment can be minimised and a better atmosphere for growth be created if more young people and professionals enter and gain a foothold in politics.
This change has to percolate from top to bottom. A country with a youthful population (with an average age of 35) need not and should not depend on septuagenarians and octogenarians for leadership.
Ageing politicians must realise that they can find more favour with the youth if they become mentors and step down, providing opportunities for new talent to lead the country.
Young and fresh faces can add immense value to politics.
Leaders such as Lal Krishna Advani (BJP), Dr Manmohan Singh, Pranab Kumar Mukherjee and S M Krishna (Congress) must step down and give way for the youth to carry the mantle of political and administrative responsibilities.
Student politicians
Political parties seem to forget that most top leaders of today were products of student politics. Some of them are Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and Former Union Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav.
This hotbed of Indian politics, which gave young people opportunities to fight for causes in which they believed and hone their latent leadership skills is waning.
People with dubious credentials dominate student politics today, with little or no attention to scholastic or social issues.
Reforms have not touched the heart of student politics. Senior politicians should ensure that the functioning of their youth wings are made transparent, making it an attractive option for the average student to join.
Grass root democratic establishments like Panchayat Raj can be a good breeding ground for budding politicians. But these are being used by powerful politicians to plant their family members and cronies.
Closed shop
Politics is rapidly becoming a closed shop for many. Politicians are promoting only their own families, forgetting that a successful Party is based on strong cadres of workers and competent members of the public.
The current format of the ruling United Progressive Alliance is an example to demonstrate ailing politics in India. Young, energetic and educated parliamentarians have been relegated to backbenches, while the incompetent and corrupt have been appointed to important positions.
An ailing government falling alarmingly in the popularity quotient would do well to revitalise itself, presenting an unsullied and energetic face. This would boost public confidence and support.
Apurv Shukla is a young writer based in Auckland
