We all say that politics is a dirty game. Besides that it is also a very diplomatic game where you have to play your cards right. Switch phenomena is very common or one can say a very strong rule of the game. Many politicians have made it a practice to switch sides for better career opportunities. The reasons could be many. They may do so for becoming a minister. They can also aim at any other influential position. Their decisions at times may solely be influenced by monetary considerations. Such allegations have often been made in the past rocking our political scene on several occasions.

Politics has become a game that must be played to secure power by hook or by crook and retain it at all costs. Someone has aptly remarked that ‘During Ram’s time, politics was bhakti (devotion), in Krishna’s time it became yukti (skill) and in the hands of Gandhi and Subhash it became shakti (power). Then it became mukti (freedom) while in the hands of patriots Ashfaq Khan and Bhagat Singh but now it has become sampati (property).’

The phrase in Hindi Aya Ram Gaya Ram is very apt to the politics scenario. It continues to have a derogative connotation and its application is confined to politics alone. It is not cited in corporate or other sectors where it is taken for granted that the people will move from one place to the other to get emoluments consistent with their talent. The parties that have been affected so far are the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (POP) both of which are heading for a bitter fight in the Kashmir region in particular. The People’s Democratic Forum (PDF), a conglomeration of various groups, has also been exposed to certain upheaval on this count.

The to-and-fro movement of politicians will step up some buzz with the approaching polls. Those denied nominations by their parent organizations will desperately try to move to other outfits that are willing to accommodate their electoral dreams. It denotes essentially an individual activity not conforming to acceptable standards of public life. For each of their actions they have a plausible explanation. Admittedly there are strong anti-defection laws to deal with elected political leaders. It is not easier for them to defect. The problem nevertheless is that at the Central level these well-intentioned measures have been subjected to varied interpretations leaving scope for manipulations. Even today while the splits are not recognized, the mergers are permitted. There is, therefore, a revolving door. The State also has a deterrent against defections. The legislation has not faced any trial so far. As a result the presiding officers have not yet been called upon to judge it in the light of actual situations. All said and done, nothing prevents the politicians from walking in and out of different parties at least till the elections. Let us, therefore, keep our fingers crossed and wait for the right politicians joining in the right party.