PARTY ACTIVITIES BY MINISTERS

Two current happenings have prompted me to jot this.

The completion of one year in power of Narendra Modi Government was celebrated by the BJP in various ways. While the government announced slew of programmes on the occasion, the party also arranged meetings across the length and breadth of the country, which was attended by various ministers.

Similarly, after the declaration of bye election in Aruvikkara Assemble constituency in Kerala, almost all the ministers of the Kerala Government are touring the constituency to campaign for the UDF candidate.

Both the above activities raise some pertinent questions.

Once an elected representative assumes office as a minister in the State or Centre, the person owes allegiance to the entire population of the State or the country and ceases to be a mere representative of the party on whose ticket the person was elected. While so, is it correct for the minister to attend the functions organised by the party purely for party matters? Does it not amount to misuse of official machinery? The expenses incurred by the ministers for travelling form Delhi to various states to attend the meetings organised by the party is met from the exchequer, which means it is a burden on each one of the population. It is true that the ministers might have got arranged some "official" programmes at each state to circumvent this. But again the question of propriety in a minister attending the concerned public meeting by the party needs to be considered. I fully agree that the minister continues to be a member of the political party and hence he should attend the meetings convened by the party. But this should be limited to the internal meetings of the party only and not a public meeting organised by the party, I feel.

Similar is the case where the State Ministers actively indulge in the election campaign of the candidate. The public attending the campaign is bound to consider the promises made by these leaders as the promises from the minister and not the political leader and hence this should amount to misuse of official machinery or be considered as election misconduct. The ministers also use their official vehicles during the campaign which also should tantamount to election misconduct. I urge upon the State Election Commission to look into the issue and initiate suitable steps in the matter.