A local citizens’ group has decided to take the plunge from activism into politics giving rise to the question: Does an activist make a good politician? Aksheev Thakur talks to R.K. Misra, urban expert and founder of Nav Bharat Party, about why both careers don’t necessarily mix, even if the transition seems logical, as the role of a politician and that of an activist are assessed through very different parameters.
Can social activists become good politicians? Ask Mr RK Misra of the Director, Centre for Smart Cities and he says not necessarily. “If you are doing great work as an activist or a public policy expert, it does not automatically mean that you will be accepted by the people. There are different parameters that people will judge you on,” he explains, taking time out from his busy schedule to chat with Deccan Chronicle.
But what about Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, who seems to have made the transition quite successfully ? “I believe Mr Kejriwal is a very good politician but not a great activist. He used the Anna movement to come to power and became very ambitious. He got an unprecedented mandate to make Delhi a model state. But we are disappointed in him as he has become a complete politician and is only pretending to be an activist. On the other hand Mr Jayprakash Narayan and Mr Anna Hazare remained apolitical,” he responds.
“To me politics is not a career but a means to contribute to society and the nation. I joined politics to assess government policies and I was involved in writing a policy for smart citizenship. This way you are contributing more to the nation. Also, today, I have got to access to senior leaders and I work across party lines. I do not know how many MPs have got access to ministers, senior leaders and the Prime Minister,” he continues.
On his brief stint with the BJP, Mr Misra says despite the party’s claims, it is not easy to easy to rise in its ranks. “Unfortunately, politics is considered as a full-time profession. If one becomes irrelevant in politics then one is at the mercy of big politician who will spend money to assure a candidate’s win. If the government wants the services of an expert on policy matters, it should reach out to him.”
How would he feel contesting elections against candidates of other political parties as he has been working closely with them on policy issues? “Contesting elections is nowhere on my mind, but even if I do contest I will not be nervous as people across all parties know me,” he signs off.
