Letters: Different political colours

This refers to Bharat Bhushan's article "Regional parties down but not out" (October 22). More than the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and slide of the Congress, it is the trend of marginalisation of regional parties that must mark a turn in Indian politics. Most regional parties were founded by men with pan-national credentials who circumscribed regional aspirations within national themes. In time, it led to active and meaningful coalition politics that helped democracy grow and voting percentages climb. But sadly over time, they let endemic chauvinism conquer national ideology. Their aim became insular and the vision narrow.

Amid this, the Left stood apart with an unwavering socio-political ethos. One reason it was able to provide both a platform and political glue to a variety of parties, by virtue of its principled positioning. The Third Front was its brainchild. The weakening of the Left could threaten to take away a balancing force that was even more ideological than political. Premier regional outfits will need to don mature mantles and demonstrate an ability to transcend hackneyed divisiveness. Narendra Modi's development plank was a venture to meet today's needs and that will keep changing with time. To deal with the future, our political motif will need a rich palette with many distinct hues, not just black and white.

R Narayanan Ghaziabad

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