Binish Thomas (Special Correspondent)
Imagine two people hoping to contest an election. One has spent years helping local residents, solving problems and earning people’s trust.
The other has done very little for the public but belongs to the caste or religious community that has the largest number of voters in the constituency.
Who should get the election ticket? :
The answer should be obvious. The person who has worked for the people and proved their ability deserves the opportunity. Unfortunately, Indian politics does not always work this way.
Political parties often look at the caste and religious backgrounds of voters before selecting their candidates.
In many constituencies, a candidate’s religion or caste can become more important than their achievements, honesty or ability to serve the public.
This raises an important question: Are political parties choosing the best leaders, or simply choosing candidates who belong to the right community?.
Why should religion decide who gets an election ticket?
Before elections, we often hear people describing constituencies as Hindu-majority, Muslim-majority or Christian-majority areas.
In other places, a particular caste may have a large number of voters.
Political parties study these numbers and often select candidates from the community they believe will help them win. But is this the right approach?.
Just because a constituency has a large Christian population does not mean that only a Christian can represent it.
Similarly, a Muslim-majority constituency does not necessarily need a Muslim candidate, nor should a Hindu-majority constituency automatically be represented by a Hindu.
People vote for different reasons. They want good roads, better hospitals, quality education, jobs, clean drinking water and honest leaders who listen to their problems. These needs are the same regardless of religion or caste.
For example, imagine a Hindu leader who has worked for years to improve schools, hospitals and roads in a Muslim-majority constituency.
Should that person be denied an election ticket simply because they are not Muslim? Certainly not.
If the leader has earned people’s trust through hard work, that should matter more than religious identity.
The same principle must apply to every religion and caste.
Political parties should ask one simple question before selecting a candidate: What has this person done for the people?
The Vijay example and the larger question
Tamil Nadu provides an interesting example for discussing this issue.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay formed his government with a nine-member cabinet. His approach to choosing leaders raises a larger question about what political parties should value when selecting people for important positions.
The focus should be on a person’s achievements, leadership qualities, honesty and ability to serve the public. A good leader should be able to recognize talent regardless of religion or caste.
If a Christian is the best candidate in a Hindu-majority constituency, that person should get the opportunity.
If a Muslim has an excellent record of public service in a Christian-majority constituency, religion should not stand in the way.
The same should apply to a Hindu candidate contesting in a Muslim-majority area.
What matters is whether the candidate is capable of representing everyone. A minister or elected representative is not supposed to work only for people belonging to their own community. Their responsibility is to serve every citizen.
Ultimately, Vijay’s government, like any other government, should be judged by the work it does and the results it delivers.
That is the standard political parties across India should
follow.
Achievements should matter more than caste
India has a long history of caste discrimination. Many communities have faced unfair treatment and have been denied opportunities for generations.
This is why the Constitution provides reserved seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in legislatures.
These protections are intended to ensure that historically disadvantaged communities have a voice in government.
Such constitutional safeguards are different from political parties informally deciding that a particular constituency must always have a candidate from one caste or religion.
The concern is not about denying anyone representation. It is about making sure that capable people are not overlooked simply because they belong to a different community.
Consider two candidates from different backgrounds. One has helped hundreds of families, improved public facilities and worked honestly for the constituency.
The other has little experience but belongs to the community that the party believes will bring more votes.
Should the second person automatically be preferred?
If political parties continue making decisions this way, deserving leaders may never get the opportunity to serve.
A person’s achievements should speak louder than their caste or religion.
Good leaders are losing opportunities ;
Another problem with selecting candidates mainly on the basis of caste or religion is that it can allow a few powerful individuals to control politics within a community.
Suppose a political party regularly gives an election ticket to a leader from a particular community. Over time, that leader may become influential enough to prevent other capable people from the same community from getting opportunities.
Even someone who has worked hard for the public may be denied a ticket because they lack the support of the established leadership. This is unfair to the individual and to the voters.
Political parties should encourage new leaders to come forward, especially those who have proved themselves through public service.
A young person who has spent years helping villagers, improving schools or fighting corruption should have a fair chance of entering politics.
That opportunity should not depend on whether an influential community leader supports them. Every community has talented people.
But no single person should be allowed to decide who can rise within it.
When political parties choose candidates based on merit, they create opportunities for honest and hardworking leaders.
When they choose candidates mainly through caste and religious calculations, they risk losing those leaders.
Winning an election is not enough :
Political parties may argue that caste and religion are important because they help candidates win elections. There is some truth to this.
Parties want to win, and they naturally study the voting patterns of different communities. But winning an election and becoming a good leader are two different things.
A candidate may win because of community support but fail to improve the constituency. Another candidate may come from a different community but have the experience and dedication needed to solve people’s problems.
Which of these candidates would benefit the public more?.
Political parties must look beyond the number of votes a candidate might attract. Before giving an election ticket, they should examine the person’s past achievements, honesty, experience, relationship with local residents and ability to solve problems.
Has the candidate helped people during difficult times? Have they worked to improve their community?
Are they accessible when residents need assistance? Do they understand the constituency’s problems?.
These questions should matter far more than caste or religion. Parties should also give deserving newcomers a chance instead of repeatedly selecting the same influential leaders.
After all, the purpose of politics should not be limited to winning elections. It should be to improve people’s lives.
India needs leaders who serve everyone :
India is home to people belonging to many religions, castes and communities. This diversity is part of the country’s strength.
But political parties should not use these differences to divide constituencies or decide who deserves to become a leader.
A Hindu should be able to represent Muslim voters. A Christian should be able to represent Hindu voters. A Muslim should be able to represent Christian voters.
What matters is whether the person has the ability and commitment to work for everyone.
The Election Commission of India’s Model Code of Conduct prohibits appeals to caste or religious feelings to secure votes. Political parties should follow the same spirit when selecting their candidates.
This does not mean ignoring the difficulties faced by disadvantaged communities or removing constitutional protections meant to ensure fair representation. It means giving capable people a fair opportunity instead of judging them only by their identity.
India needs political leaders who are selected for what they have achieved, not simply for the caste or religion they belong to. A constituency belongs to all its people, not to one community.
And the person chosen to represent it should be the one who has proved they can serve those people best.
