E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

172 Contextualising Gandhian Thoughtperson as the solution; of asking other parties to project theiralternatives to the person not to a set of policies or a team ofcompetent leaders.Some of the consequences of this style need to beidentified:(1) The unashamed emergence of a personality cult andthe theory of the indispensability of an individual ora dynasty-although the concept of indispensability isincongruent with or repugnant to the basic conceptsof democracy.(2) The magnification and predominance of onepersonality in each party.(3) The liberation of that person from the control of theparty.(4) The centralisation of the power to select candidates,in one person, thereby losing the links with the rankand file at the grassroots.(5) The emergence of a crop of leaders who depend onthe leader for their positions.(6) The decimation of those who had independentfollowings or views.(7) The substitution of elections within the party bynomination by the leader.(8) The ellipsis of democratic processes, accountability,and control within the party.(9) The a trophy of the federal principle.Almost concurrently with personalisation came a highdegree of populism and an attempt to reduce policy canvassesto a single slogan that could catch. In choosing candidates,ideological commitment, caliber, record of social or political