Skip to main content

Aged 88, facing detractors, will Sreedharan's experience help his political experiment?

By NS Venkataraman* 
With the rapid development in the field of science and technology practices, information technology and management, administrative techniques all over the world, there is a need for a high level update in knowledge amongst politicians, including ministers, both in states and the Central government, who govern the country today.
However, thanks to limitations of democracy, often semi-literate politicians and even those with dishonest mental outlook and background with little experience in administration are posted top positions. Indeed, many ministers, parliamentarians and legislators of the ruling party are not at par with the required capability to meet the challenges ahead. It goes without saying that those in the opposition do not fare any better.
With most of the ministers in the Central and state governments having little grip and knowledge about the functions of the ministries they handle, they largely depend upon the advice and guidance of IAS officers, who are seen by many as jack of all trades but master of none. There is also the view that ministers and bureaucrats are the stumbling block in the progress of the nation due to their limited understanding of issues they handle, which often turn into costly mistakes.
In these circumstances, the view has gone strong that that there is a need to improve the standards and quality of ministers and IAS officers. However, no one is really sure as to how this can be done in the present democratic style of functioning, with elections throwing all and sundry as winners by getting majority votes.
Of course, this does not mean that other forms of governance like dictatorship, communist regime and feudal system are any better. The choice of a system of governance is essentially a compromise decision.
It is in this context that one has to see the decision of E Sreedharan, who has been known for efficiency in discharging functions, for which he was nicknamed “metro man”, to volunteer himself to enter politics. He has gone so far as to say that he is willing to take over as the chief minister of Kerala if the people so desire!
Sreedharan is not the first technocrat to take the decision to join politics. Through him, the effort is appears to be to try to give the impression that there is a need to inject administrative efficiency and technological capability into political leadership.
In recent times, a number of retired IAS and IPS officers, even former judges, have ventured into politics. But they have not made any difference in administration. No doubt, Sreedharan has enormous experience in setting up metros, even as working with politicians of different hues – despite enormous pressures, whether it was Delhi or Kochi.
Not without reason, those pushing him into politics believe that Sreedharan venturing into politics would help give the impression that with him at the top the administration in a democratic society would improve.
However, it still remains to be seen as to whether Sreedharan would succeed, let alone become chief minister of Kerala. After all, democracy is all about gaining majority in in an assembly or Parliament. He is 88. There would surely be political detractors who might try to tick him off as an “aged man”.
Of course, Sreedharan is trying to project himself of having an alert mind with reasonably good health. One has to see how he able to overcome his critics. One has also to see if the “metro man” would pose himself as a challenge and opportunity for the electorate in Kerala, and whether the claimed effort to combine experiment with experience would succeed.
In the past, the electorate in Kerala have exhibited high level of maturity and have repeatedly shown that they cannot be swayed by emotion and motivated campaign and can exercise their decisions with clarity and understanding of the basis ground realities. It has to be seen how the state reacts to Sreedharan after he has made his political views on Kerala society public. While Sreedharan is a big talk in the media, would he succeed in electoral politics?
---
*Trustee, Nandini Voice for The Deprived, Chennai

Comments

TRENDING

'Draconian' Kerala health law follows WHO diktat: Govt readies to take harsh measures

By Dr Maya Valecha*  The Governor of Kerala has signed the Kerala Public Health Bill, which essentially reverses the people’s campaign in healthcare services in Kerala for decentralisation. The campaign had led to relinquishing of state powers in 1996, resulting in improvement of health parameters in Kerala. Instead, now, enforcement of law through the exercise of power, fines, etc., and the implementation of protocol during the pandemic, are considered of prime importance.

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative  Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Bihar rural women entrepreneurs witness 50% surge in awareness about renewal energy

By Mignonne Dsouza*  An endline survey conducted under the Bolega Bihar initiative revealed a significant increase in awareness of renewable energy among women, rising from 25% to 76% in Nalanda and Gaya. Renu Kumari, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Nalanda, Bihar, operates a village eatery that serves as the primary source of income for her family, including her husband and five children. However, a significant portion of her profits was being directed toward covering monthly electricity expenses that usually reach Rs 2,000. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Work with Rajasthan's camel herders: German scientist wins World Cookbook Award 2023

By Rosamma Thomas*  Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are the only awards for international food culture. This year, German scientist  Ilse Kohler Rollefson , founder of Camel Charisma, the first of India’s camel dairies, in Pali district of Rajasthan, won the award for her work with camel herders in Rajasthan, and for preparing for the UN International Year of Camelids, 2024. 

Why is electricity tariff going up in India? Who is the beneficiary? A random reflection

By Thomas Franco*  Union Ministry of Power has used its power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to force States to import coal which has led to an increase in the cost of electricity production and every consumer is paying a higher tariff. In India, almost everybody from farmers to MSMEs are consumers of electricity.

Golwalkar's views on tricolour, martyrs, minorities, caste as per RSS archives

By Shamsul Islam*  First time in the history of independent India, the in-charge minister of the Cultural Ministry in the current Modi government, Prahlad Singh Patel, has glorified MS Golwalkar, second supremo of the RSS and the most prominent ideologue of the RSS till date, on his birth anniversary, February 19. In a tweet he wrote : “Remembering a great thinker, scholar, and remarkable leader #MSGolwalkar on his birth anniversary. His thoughts will remain a source of inspiration & continue to guide generations.”

'Pro-corporate agenda': Odisha crackdown on tribal slum dwellers fighting for land rights

By Our Representative  The civil rights network Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), even as condemning what it calls “brutal repression” on the Adivasi slum dwellers of Salia Sahi in Bhubaneshwar by the Odisha police, has said that the crackdown was against the tribals struggling for land rights in order to “stop the attempts at land-grab by the government.”

Deplorable, influential sections 'still believe' burning coal is essential indefinitely

By Shankar Sharma*  Some of the recent developments in the power sector, as some  recent news items show, should be of massive relevance/ interest to our policy makers in India. Assuming that our authorities are officially mandated/ committed to maintain a holistic approach to the overall welfare of all sections of our society, including the flora, fauna and general environment, these developments/ experiences from different parts of the globe should be clear pointers to the sustainable energy pathways for our people.