NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sought people to discuss internal democracy in political parties. Seen as a veiled attack on reports of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi soon occupying the top party post, Modi demanded that people should discuss whether democratic values are enshrined in the core value of the political party.
Speaking at the annual Diwali Milan function at the BJP headquarters here, Modi claimed that the country is not familiar with internal democracy within a political party. He said it should be the central topic of debate in the country for the sake of the good health of democracy.
“Besides organisational structure, values and ideologies championed by political parties should be debated along with shortcomings. It should also be seen if the wavelength of a party workers at the bottom of the hierarchy matches with that of the top leaders or nor,” Modi said.
Incidentally, the Prime Minister did not refer to any political party while arguing for the discussion. While speaking on the same occasion last year, the Prime Minister had sought a debate on simultaneous elections.
The Congress is reportedly going ahead with organisational elections, which will come to a final conclusion with the election of the party president. BJP chief Amit Shah has claimed that he began his political career as a booth in-charge, but rose to occupy the top party post because of internal democracy in the party.
However, it has been seen that the BJP president is chosen and the formality of election is conducted during the national council meeting. BJP leaders claimed that the Prime Minister’s reference to internal democracy was in the context of the top post not being available to a party worker outside the family controlling the leadership.
Besides the Congress, a number of regional political outfits—including Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, National Conference and DMK—have seen dynasties controlling their leaderships.