Real politique

In three corners of the world, new realities came to bite in all the wrong places this week. Canadians saw a peaceful change of government after the latest general elections. Liberals will be licking their scandal-inflicted wounds for a long time while the
conservatives occupy centre-stage after about a decade.

In the middle east, Hamas' clear victory in the elections wasn't a welcome development to most of the world. A party that celebrates violence and has annihalation of its neighbor on its agenda is not exactly someone you'd want at the conference table, much less the dinner table! On the other hand, Hamas rode the magic horse called democratic elections to power. These elections were supported by the US with words and money - atleast $50 million of it. When elections throw up uneasy answers, do you question the principle of democracy or do you deal with the reality that it presents? If President Bush's answer at yesterday's press conference is an indicator, it is fair to say the administration is one hundred percent clueless!

The paralysis in diplomacy can't last long, of course. If the US and EU can deal with dictatorships in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Pakistan, they'll find a way to deal with a Hamas government in Palestine. In time, Hamas will moderate their rhetoric. Its easy to shout, lecture and engage in subversive tactics when you are not the buck-stops-here guy. But Hamas can't do that now. They have to use this chance they've been given. And govern.

Further east, India celebrated her 57th republic day to commemorate the adoption of the constitution. I use the term 'celebrated' very loosely here. A day or two earlier, the Supreme Court delivered a stinging rebuke to Buta Singh who stepped down as governer of Bihar. Last year, Buta Singh in a colossoal abuse of the constitution, dissolved the state legislature. The Central Cabinet signed off on the idea without batting an eyelid. Or may be they did bat an eyelid - it was a midnight meeting when they signed. The ink was barely dry when a groggy-eyed Indian President who was in Moscow at the time affixed his rubber stamp. But, wait. It gets better. In spite of the resounding slap in the face, Buta Singh vowed to take salute at the republic day parade. Have they no shame?!

The same week saw another constitutional crisis, this one in the southern state of Karnataka. Dharam Singh's Congress government supported by Deve Gowda's is on the brink of collapse. Karnataka's governer Chaturvedi had asked Dharam Singh to prove his mettle on the floor of the house today. The day brought with it a rancarous legislative session. But no vote. In a seemingly desperate move to cling to the chair, Chief Minister-for-now Dharam Singh didn't seek the required vote of confidence. The constitution, for all its voluminous speak on ridiculously meaningless and moral policing acts, is mostly silent on this important issue. Where does the authority of the executive -the governers and the President - stop?

But if there is a common thread across these very different political climates, it is this. People don't like inefficiency and corruption. It is only a matter of time polticians pay a price for it.