This refers to the article, “Remaining in power, promoting dynasty” (November 4) by Kalyani Shankar. A majority of political upheavals stems from the rat race for power. Be it Punjab, Uttar Pradesh or Tamil Nadu, every State is going through a power struggle as the founders want their heir apparent to succeed them but are confronted by other aspirants from the old guard, leading to a split-like situation.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi wants to hand over the baton to her son, but the old guard is lackadaisical in supporting her idea. In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav has successfully held his flock together amid rumours of a split doing rounds and his adversaries raring to fish in troubled waters. The writer is right to observe that ours is a democracy where political leaders' personality cults and charisma create fiefdoms, where every leader longs to see his/her political successor at the helm of power. And why not: Democracy is a game of power!