E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Five Fallacies … 151However, it must be pointed out that there is no reasonto believe that every political party has to suffer from thesedefects. In fact, it should be possible for 'a group of 'practicalidealists' to build up a party without these defects, to present tothe electorate a new 'type' of party. (The Green Parties in someEuropean countries are indeed attempting to develop suchalternatives). Such a 'party' or 'Voters Organisation', whateverits name, can place a new model before the people, bydeclaring that it looks upon power as a means or an instrument,and not an end in itself, - to be attained and retained 'at anycost'. It is when a party wants power 'at any cost' that it.deliberately or unwillingly sacrifices values, resorts to intriguesand strategies that negate democracy, promote the personalitycult, abridge democratic processes within the party, and lose allcompunction in treating the electorate as gullible andcorruptible, and controllable with a combination ofblandishments and subtle threats, or if necessary, naked terror.The moment a party or voters' organisation declares that it doesnot believe in seeking power at any cost, that it looks uponpower as an instrument of service, and so, would not resort topopulism or try to short-circuit rights; processes andinstitutions, it creates a new category for itself. It becomes aparty that is willing to shoulder the responsibility to implementa mandate, if necessary, or to monitor the implementation ofthe mandate by others if others take the responsibility. It thusbecomes a realistic alternative.The electorate cannot be asked to choose between thosewho are willing to take up responsibility if given a mandate,and those who are not willing to take responsibility. There willbe severe, lethal limitations on our ability to influence theelectorate if we insist on not accepting responsibility. We maybe looked upon, as 'irrelevant'. The experience of the manyattempts that have made in different states should convinceanyone that the electorate did not take us seriously because we