MK Stalin Opts for Cooperation in the Place of Politics of Confrontation

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Sep 02 2021 12:35 PM
P C Thomas

MK Stalin Opts for Cooperation in the Place of Politics of Confrontation

Jacob Peenikaparambil: Deviating from the path of his predecessors, MK Stalin the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has opted for a new brand of politics. He has replaced confrontation with cooperation. The latest among the decisions of Mr. Stalin to overcome the politics of confrontation with the main opposition party AIADMK is not to replace the photos of former AIADMK chief ministers printed on school bags with that of the present chief minister.

As per the media reports, the TN school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said that the Chief Minister MK Stalin told to leave the photo of former chief ministers on the school bags and not to spend Rs. 13 cores to replace it. It had been a common practice in TN to erase previous chief ministers’ identities and insert the current ruling party’s identity when the rule changed. Stalin has put an end to this practice. As a result, tax payers’ money of Rs. 13 crores is saved and it could be used for the benefit of the school students.

When the CM formed an advisory panel of legislators for tackling Covid 19, he included in the panel AIADMK leader and former state health minister C Vijayabhaskar as one of its members. Just after the election results were declared some overzealous DMK workers celebrated the victory by vandalizing an “Amma canteen”. They were promptly asked to apologize and two party workers who were indulged in the crime were suspended from the party. Stalin also decided to continue to run “Amma canteen”, which was the most popular of all welfare schemes started by former Chief Minister J. Jayalalita.

The above mentioned incidents clearly indicate that the Chief Minister of TN is focused on governance instead of wasting time and resources on targeting political rivals. The people of Tamil Nadu in general have appreciated the efforts of Mr. Stalin to initiate a new political culture of cooperation in view of improving governance and solving their problems.

As a result of the politics of confrontation taking place in some other states a lot of resources that are to be used for the welfare and development of people are wasted and governance takes a backseat, besides vitiating the political atmosphere.

Mahatma Gandhi had spoken about seven social sins and one among them is “politics without principle”. The main reason for the emergence and growth of politics of confrontation, hate and violence is the entry of people into politics with selfish motives. When persons without any commitment to the people of India and to the constitution of India enter politics, their aim is to get hold of power and remain in power by adopting any illegal, unethical and corrupt means.

The solution to the decay in politics is building enlightened leaders with character and competence who are committed to the welfare of the people of India by holding on to the core values and principles of Indian Constitution. We need leaders who follow the talisman of Mahatma Gandhi. "I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]”.

Giving priority to value education and leadership training in educational institutions is the best means for building enlightened leaders. Educating people about democracy and their responsibility as citizens is needed to stop the rot in politics and to replace the politics of confrontation with the politics of cooperation.