Politics is an entreprise

By Nav Raj Pokharel


The time-proven aphorism, ' example is better than preaching' could be a divineguideline to the leaders who are lost in the political labyrinth 'like a crow in the fog'.
The political gridlock the country is entangled in is not because it is of a serious nature demanding meticulous and prudent strategies to resolve, but it has been deliberately complicated placing the profit-oriented party motif.

It seems every human being has compellingly developed the unique feature of profit-oriented faculty, a skill to fight for survival in the present day complex world. No sector, profession and vocation humankind steps into is spared of the tenacious hold of the motif. It is the part and parcel of human activities.

Everything, including the so-called social service is now considered a business deal, in which takings are of prime concern to the entrepreneurs. Government has become the federation of the political associations where representatives of political entrepreneurs develop strategies for the promotion of their goods and services assembled under their party trademarks and brands.

In the federation, when representation happens to be diverse, shrewd and tactful entrepreneurs form coalition and get business resolutions ratified by the majority.

They are always effortful to remain in the equation that has the upper hand while a deal is struck. They always eye on the dealings that yield hefty margins, incurring loss rarely.

Political gridlock on the report of delineation of constituencies, date for Constituent Assembly polls, republicanism, Melamchi, YCL, and so other issues you mention of public concern are obviously more entwined with the profit concerns of big political business houses.

The principal base for taking decisions on any issues is goaded more by the party interest. Peoples' aspiration, necessity, want and desire are only for the namesake until mounting pressure is poised over their head.

The issues of stand off at the apex politics are but few examples of the party-acumen's apprehension of long-term party plan. Party acumen is more apprehensive of loosing customers if the market is opened for the rival companies.

It seems, commerce follows us like the shadow at every step we tramp and every breath we take. Everybody has turned into an entrepreneur. Noble leaders were urban myth.

Therefore, people now consider the political arena as one of the best sectors where political entrepreneurs swarm, marketing their ideology. Once successful, it gives them more than anything they would have gained from other sectors, if pursued.

Politics can avail one with the power to control over the state machinery at one's will; giving the power like that of the God to control over human activities as well as generating prosperity. That is why influential politicians and their parties harvest rich every time they are in power. I deduce it is the superlative form of all businesses devised on the earth so far.

So, like that of business rivalries leaders of different parties rival among themselves to popularize their brands in the market with advertisements inoculating the people to choose their companies and services.

Have the big rival industrialists ever reached a consensus over producing same merchandise under one brand name? I have not found such understanding reached anywhere down the annals of history so far, even if the size of the market is small.

However, history has ample records of merger of similar companies, take over of management of other companies, coup d'état and illicit interventions in the markets by powerful business tycoons.

Viewed from this spectrum, is the impasse of political parties not exactly the same rivalries of the business world? Immediate declaration of republicanism will equip some political entrepreneurs with strategic victory in future, which to some others is sure to incur loss. To recognize the peoples' mandate through the first meeting of the constituent assembly on the so-called crucial issues could be diverged from what it has been speculated. This prompts the political entrepreneurs prefer to remain inconclusive rather than decisive.

Whatever the political entrepreneurs' gambit may be, they need to be sensitive for the rest of the real political, administrative and other socio-economic problems innocent people of this country are facing, owing to the gridlock at the top brass enterprises.

At this juncture, people want the political parties to exhibit more accountability for social responsibility in entrepreneurship.

Scholars and intellectuals through their writings; professionals and technocrats through their actions, various sections of the society through their protests and the common people through their wilting-heads are urging the political parties to rise above petty party interests. They suggest, "Keep the rivalries aside for some time and help the general life return to normalcy , make the place suitable for civilized people to live in, do away with all sorts of terror, extortion and intimidation and give people good time to live while they enjoy their tenure in the federation." Set an example for the future entrepreneurs to follow.