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Subcontinent politics

The appointment of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as PPP chairman is an emotional, distress reaction, often witnessed in the subcontinent which proves that the region is yet to mature as a democracy. Politics in South Asia still remains personality, not programme, oriented. There are a few political parties in India like the Left and the BJP which have not succumbed to family-centric politics so far. By making a teenager head the biggest political party in Pakistan, which is supposed to be the second most dangerous territory after Iraq, the PPP leaders are not doing any good to the bereaved family of Benazir Bhutto or the people of Pakistan.

Rettavayal S. Krishnaswamy,

Chennai

The PPP’s decision shows that major political parties in the subcontinent prefer familial succession to a truly democratically-elected leader. Several parties in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan squander away every opportunity to do away with the practice of dynastic succession in the event of a vacuum caused by the exit of a popular leader. This practice will not foster true democratic values in the parties. It is difficult to comprehend how they can convince the electorate of their commitment to democratic values.

P. Prasand Thampy,

Thiruvalla

The appointment of a political novice as party chairman, overlooking other senior members, smacks of sycophancy. Even more ridiculous is the disclosure that Benazir wrote a political will saying her husband should succeed her as party leader. The principle of democracy stands negated when political leaders begin to treat their parties as their own property and fail to recognise the people who have toiled for years. A part of the blame is also due to the senior leaders themselves, who seek to ride the sympathy wave, generated by their leaders’ assassination, to power.

C.P. Prasanth Gopal,

Chennai

Besides adding to the list of tragic end of leaders in the Nehru-Gandhi and Bhutto families, Benazir’s assassination has exposed the harsh political realities prevalent in India and Pakistan. The PPP and the Congress have both been unable to look beyond the families of its leaders. In both the cases, the individual became the face of the party to its countrymen.

Both the parties did not develop second-rung leaders who could assume leadership on merit. After losing Benazir in tragic circumstances, the PPP is forcing the leadership on her son because he has the famous Bhutto surname. The Congress and the PPP need to understand that individuals and a family name do not make a party.

Krishna Kumar,

Ahmedabad

Bilawal’s appointment has sent the message that in South Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, top political posts rest heavily on family legacy. The tendency does not augur well for healthy politics.

Jetling Yellosa,

Warangal

In her will, Benazir nominated her husband to succeed her as PPP leader. When alive, she assumed the title of the party’s chairperson for life. When she could not run even her party democratically, how can anyone describe her as a great democrat? Her death is certainly tragic but let us not become emotional and describe her in terms that she does not deserve, given that she ran one of the most corrupt governments in Pakistan.

Mohd. Salahuddin,

Mumbai

After all the eulogies showered on Benazir as a champion of democracy, her will came as an anti-climax. The anointment of her teenage son as PPP leader, with no role for the party’s rank and file, is a negation of democracy and a clear evidence of the grip that political dynasties have on our destinies in the subcontinent, be it in politics, movies or any other aspect of our lives.

M. Rao,

Ollur

The PPP’s decision to appoint the 19-year-old as chairman of the party is a reflection of South Asia’s political reality, marked by dynastic politics. True, Pakistan does not have a long democratic tradition. But when even democratic India is not immune to the attraction of political dynasties, Bilawal taking over the reins was along expected lines.

J.S. Acharya,

Hyderabad

Although Bilawal’s appointment as PPP leader may pass off as situational expediency, the retrograde tendency, similar to Rajiv Gandhi’s coronation in our country, is prevalent largely in South Asia. The inherent feudal attitude behind this circumscribes the creation and growth of political parties based on certain ideologies. Only parties based on a strong secular economic agenda can contribute to a dynamically evolving democracy.

Kasim Sait,

Chennai

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