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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Politics in the time of sunshine -Ruchi Gupta

Politics in the time of sunshine -Ruchi Gupta

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published Published on Jun 7, 2013   modified Modified on Jun 7, 2013
-The Hindu

 

 

While the legitimacy of political parties depends on their acceptance of financial transparency under the RTI Act, their internal decision-making processes should be left alone

The Central Information Commission (CIC) decision declaring political parties as public authorities under the Right to Information Act has again pit the political class against the people.

Political parties have increasingly lost legitimacy due to opaque financing, cultivation of individuals with a criminal background, subversion of institutions, and exposés of bipartisan scams and abuse of power. There is widespread perception of state capture by special interests and frustration with the inability to extract meaningful accountability through electoral means. That is why the public and media have hailed the decision to bring political parties under the ambit of the RTI Act as a blow for transparency and accountability.

Differentiation

On the other hand, political parties have largely rejected the decision and will no doubt attempt to block its implementation through judicial and/or legislative means. While political parties must indeed be held accountable, the CIC order merits a nuanced response wherein financial transparency must be separated from decision-making and other processes of a political party. It is also important to differentiate between political and legal accountability, and mechanisms to achieve both.

The RTI Act defines "public authority" as either a state instrumentality or any other body substantially financed (directly or indirectly) by the government. Based on the logic of democratic accountability, the RTI makes extensive demands on public authorities for not just financial transparency but also transparency of decision-making and exercise of authority. This is desirable because state power works through institutionalised channels. The powers and functions of each and every state organ are delineated through well-defined processes; state functionaries are held accountable not for outcomes, but adherence to due process. Moreover, government bodies are constitutionally liable to treat all citizens equally, except where permissible in law.

Substantiation

The CIC has held that political parties are public authorities on three grounds: the substantial indirect financing by the Central government through concessional land allotments, tax-exemption, etc; the performance of public duty by political parties which "in spite of being non-governmental [...] wield or directly or indirectly influence exercise of governmental power" to "affect the lives of citizens [...] in every conceivable way" and constitutional/legal provisions vesting political parties with rights and liabilities such as registration with the Election Commission and the ability to "recommend disqualification of Members of the House in certain contingencies under the Tenth Schedule." The argument pertaining to substantial indirect financing is compelling and complies with the spirit of the RTI Act. In the face of a recalcitrant political class, the order has also provided a foothold to force transparency and a modicum of accountability on political parties.

Operational space

The sheer amount of power exercised by political parties underscores the urgent need for their accountability; however, the often ad hoc and informal nature of the functioning of political parties necessitate further deliberation before the order can be operationalised on issues outside of financial transparency. A political party exists both in the formal and informal political space. In the formal space, the political party must exert itself to mould state behaviour, through processes defined by the institution. For instance, in the legislature, political parties shape laws by discussing and voting on Bills, and hold the political executive accountable through questions and various motions. However, a large part of a political party's existence is in the informal political space, where it must articulate a vision for society, mobilise different constituencies, and establish its credibility. All this necessarily requires a repertoire of mobilisational tools such as the projection of selected individuals and different modes of engagement with the public.

In addition, a political party must occupy reactive space as well, and respond to shifting dynamics on the ground which may entail sudden shifts in its stated or implied positions. Finally, it is important to note that political parties exist in a framework of unequal distribution of formal and informal power individually and collectively, and different power combinations assert themselves at different times to affect decision-making. It is useful to evaluate the notion of transparency and accountability of political parties against this backdrop.

To the extent that political parties operate as state functionaries through formal institutions, comprehensive transparency is an important component of accountability since it provides a measure of adherence to due process. However, accountability of political parties through transparency in the informal sphere is difficult because a) transparency itself is contingent on a degree of formalisation and b) in the absence of defined procedure, the determination of whether or not there's been a transgression will necessarily be a political and not legal exercise. There is no question that political parties are necessarily accountable for their decision-making, including for their choice of candidates, policy initiatives, and the difference between their rhetoric and achievements. However, it is worth debating if this accountability can be driven through strictly legalistic means or whether this accountability must necessarily be embedded in a variable political context.

The expansive use of the RTI Act is itself a political response to try and enforce accountability on an institutional player perceived to have run amok. It may not be the ideal mechanism for areas outside financial transparency. In the end, the political class may well emerge victorious given its legislative veto. However, if in the process it is seen to resist transparency altogether, it will only have delegitimised itself further.

(Ruchi Gupta is associated with the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan. The views expressed are personal. Email: gupta.ruchi@gmail.com)

The Hindu, 7 June, 2013, http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/politics-in-the-time-of-sunshine/article4788480.ece


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