Why India’s Prime Ministerial candidates can never participate in debates alike the US Presidential ones

India, often described as the biggest democracy in the world boasts of elected ministers who very rarely understand the fact they are elected to carry out duties for the benefit of the citizens.

And, hence not one day goes without us bickering about how the ministers we elected to run our country are up to no good. And while they keep getting involved in scams, controversies and spewing one-liners without thinking, day in and out, we keep wondering about an alternate reality where we would get the chance to cross-question everyone contesting elections, before electing them to the post of a minister.

United States of America has it.

Every presidential candidate contesting the election is part of live debates where he is questioned about his past, his views and what his future course of action will be once he assumes office.

This, not only helps voters to get to know the person they could be voting for, but is also a refreshing change from the various tactics political parties play, right before the elections to lure voters. But, as soon as they are elected to their throne, off goes their promise button and the elected ministers ready themselves for a life of tax payers money and adjourning Parliament sessions.

Thus, it’s not really unusual to want a debate like the one US generally has.

Though, come to think of it, conducting a debate like that is much easier and feasible in a country like the United States of America, which only has two major parties.
In a country like India, which has more than 20 national parties and about 60-70 regional parties, actively playing a part in running the country in some way or the other, conceiving a debate like this indeed becomes a headache.

But, also becomes the need of the hour. We barely know anything about the people we are putting in charge of running the country. All that are we aware about them is what party they belong to, and frankly that is not enough. We don’t know if they have been convicted in crimes previously or their background or if their qualifications are what they claim it to be.

The lack of check and cross questioning is the reason why India has the maximum number of ministers who have had a previous crime- record or are quite literally illiterate.

Unfortunately, there’s really nothing we can do about it. Say, if we had a debate, for argument’s sake, not only do we have no one in the country who would be able to maintain decorum and monitor the debate in a way so that the voters come out informed. Instead, who we have, will just turn this around into a ‘burning question’ and claim that it is their exclusive.

Coming to the so-called politicians, the minutes they’re questioned about their ill-deeds, not only will they start yelling but will also feel free to slap, throw things around or walk out of the debate, refusing to answer what has been asked of them.

This, despite living in the biggest democracy of the world.

And, that is why we will continue living amidst ministers who are and will never be upto any good.

Image credit: Indiatimes