Leadership is a comprehensive concept which applies to all human activities and institutions. There could not be a single definition of Leadership but leaders can be defined by attributes they represent.A common definition of a leader in any arena of life may be given thus.if ur action inspire others to dream more,learn more do more and become more you are a leader.A leader is one who transfer vision into reality.poltical leadership however is a little different due to compulsions of electoral politics in a democracy where the leaders have to create a winning arthmmetic needs short term populist decisions propaganda, allurement to interest groups by raising identity issues,offering privileges and even doing out pecuniary or other gifts.The urgency to create a winning arithmetic in an electoral policy is indispensable ,nevertheless, A leader should desist from delusion,deceit,untruth. A leader needs to win election to realize his vision and implement his plans and policies.He should appeal to the psyche of people and commit himself to address their grievances .But in the process he should not compromise on his grand vision and ethical and moral values. Just winning the election by hook or crook would give birth to many problems .For instance evoking religious sentiments for electoral gains may pose threat to peace and unity of the country, populist welfare programmers that would lead to increase in burden on budget consequent upon increase in public expenditure especially subsidies without adding anything to public assets. A leader has a big and futuristic vision which he realizes with the people and for the people .Removal of poverty and inequality, good health, education and shelter to all equal opportunity, freedom and dignity to all may be some of such long term goals. But change or reforms cannot be thrust on people by force .A leader has the capacity to influence and persuade people to realise a certain mission or objectives. Leaders have great ability to convince persuade and inspire. Leaders influence people, accept good ideas and just and fair policies.
There are many genuine issues that need to be addressed but leaders dither due to political consequences such as the issue of non-merit subsidies in India, the Article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir or the issue of reservation and uniform civil code etc. True these are like hornets nest. But building consensus and public opinion is also one of the important attributes of a leader .Martin Luther King ,Jr rightly remarks that a genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a moulder of consensus. While electioneering both the trends are observed rubble souring and finding faults on the one hand and making excuses for failures. A leader in opposition should not only point out what was not accomplished by the ruling party, but how to achieve these goals .A leader of ruling party should not find any excuse for failing to meet commitments, but should reassure that they would make double efforts to plug the loopholes and achieve the targets .Leaders should not only find faults, but remedies. A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. One who sees only problems and not the solutions is not a leader. Leadership- is about taking responsibility not making excuses.
( The author is a freelancer. Views are his own)
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