Assessing Political Leadership: A Call for Informed Decision-Making
It was my 10th marriage anniversary. I found myself heading towards Pabbas Ice Cream shop with my family. Apparently, the Karnataka Assembly Election results were about to be announced. The atmosphere was buzzing with discussions about the election outcome, but to be honest, the results did not surprise me. In recent times, the accuracy of exit polls has made election results somewhat predictable.
Upon entering the ice cream shop, I was greeted by the receptionist, who happened to be someone I knew. He smiled and casually inquired, “Who do you think will come out on top this time, BJP or Congress?”
In response, I nonchalantly replied, “How does it matter?” This sort of answer is quite common among Mangaloreans when they are uncertain about the political inclinations of the person they are conversing with. However, this time my response was genuine. I genuinely felt that there was no significant difference in the administration of Karnataka, regardless of whether it was led by the BJP or the Congress.
As one grows older and more experienced, they tend to seek what truly matters to them. And one of the fundamental desires is self-respect. Unfortunately, I couldn’t help but notice that the behavior of government officials towards the general public remained largely unchanged, regardless of which party was in power. The VIP culture continued to
prevail, with influential individuals receiving preferential treatment, while the common citizens struggled for their voices to be heard. Corruption persisted without a substantial decrease, and inflation remained a cause for concern. The condition of the roads, a perennial issue, did not show any significant improvement either.
Of course, it would be unfair to claim that there were no improvements at all during the tenure of both parties. Some progress was indeed made, but it was not substantial enough to clearly distinguish the administrative capabilities of the two political entities. The occasional infrastructural developments and policy changes were overshadowed by the persisting issues that plagued the state. It left many of us wondering if we were settling for mediocrity and if there were more effective ways to assess political leadership.
As I sat down with my family and indulged in the sweet treats we had ordered, I couldn’t help but ponder over the state of affairs.I asked myself, “Where are we going wrong?” Ultimately, it is in our hands to choose capable leaders who can bring about positive change. However, to make that choice, we need tangible data points that objectively measure the
capabilities and achievements of different political parties and candidates. Analogously, I thought about the scenario of picking a mango from a group of visually similar mangoes. Without any distinct characteristics or
measurable qualities, one might choose randomly or rely on illogical reasoning methods influenced by others’ opinions. Similarly, in elections, people often resort to emotional decision-making or seek short-term gains, as the true capabilities of the different parties are not clearly measured or presented.
In the pursuit of a more informed electorate, it became evident that we needed a system that objectively assessed the
capabilities, achievements, and track records of political parties and candidates. To achieve this, we required reliable data points and responsible media outlets that presented this information in a transparent and unbiased manner.
Essential data points should include the number of flyovers and roads constructed, the contributions made to the agriculture and industry sectors, and the responsiveness of leaders to the concerns of the public. These data points are readily available, but what we lack is an agency that can collect and present them in a clear and accessible manner for the public to evaluate.
The agency responsible for collecting and disseminating this information must prioritize transparency and credibility. It should refrain from running stories or narratives that solely aim to trigger emotional sentiments, as doing so would undermine its credibility and compromise the objectivity of the data. Instead, the agency should focus on presenting firm and focused data that empowers wise citizens to make better-informed choices during elections.
With access to reliable data points and responsible media coverage, voters would be able to assess the performance and capabilities of political parties and candidates based on tangible achievements and merits rather than being swayed by emotional appeals or short-term gains. This approach would pave the way for a more educated and engaged electorate, ultimately leading to the selection of capable leaders who can bring about positive change and address the pressing issues faced by the society.
As I concluded my visit to the ice cream shop, these thoughts lingered in my mind. I recognized that change would not come overnight, but it was essential to strive for a political landscape where citizens had the necessary information to make thoughtful decisions. It was through this collective effort that we could transform our electoral process, ensuring that capable leaders who genuinely serve the interests of the people are elected to power.