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Day 55 – Case Study Q 5.

5. You are the founding member of a political party that was born out of an agitation against corruption in the country. Even though you and your partners never wanted to contest elections, the circumstances were such that you were forced to enter the very same political system that you abhorred for its disconnect and corruption. But then, someone has to cleanse the system after all.

Your decision to form a political party has been welcomed by many and your supporters are eagerly waiting to witness the transformation that your party would bring about in the political discourse. However, as the days pass by, reality dawns at you and your partners. It is getting difficult to run the party and pursue its agenda without adequate money. Donations have thinned and the party workers are demotivated. A sense of despondency has creeped in wherein everyone believes that it is impossible to bring about a change without money and muscle in Indian politics.

While you are deeply worried about the party and its followers, a business tycoon accompanied by a  famous media honcho visits your party office. They have an offer. If you agree to twist the tender and procurement rules in the favour of the businessman after you come to power, they are ready to fund your party and become a mouthpiece of your ideology and agenda through various media.

This appears to be an offer that you can’t resist. What are you going to lose? Literally nothing! Rather a symbiotic relationship with the gentlemen would ensure the revival of your party and also a genuine shot at power. Your partners and party workers are infatuated by this offer and they insist that you accept it. Even though it would mean a compromise with the fundamental ideals of your party, sometimes stepping down from the moral plank can give you enough leeway to fulfil your aspirations.

Now answer the following questions:

  1. What options do you have in this situation?
  2. Of all the options available to you, which one will you choose and why? Elaborate.

(a) What options do you have in this situation?

Option 1: Accepting the offer from business tycoon and famous media honcho

Option 2: Rejecting the offer from business tycoon and famous media honcho

Option 3: Through persuasion, I can appeal to him and try to change his attitude towards politics, not by bending to his rules, but making him realise what can be done to earn money through honest means.

(b) Of all the options available to you, which one will you choose and why? Elaborate.  (250words) (20)

Solution:

  • Stake holders:
  • Me as a political leader
  • Party supporters and members
  • Public
  • Business tycoon
  • Famous media house

Ethical dilemmas:

  • Ethical vs. Unethical decision
  • Upholding integrity vs. party survival
  • Protecting objectivity vs. compromising for the party goal

Option 1: Accepting the offer from business tycoon and famous media honcho:

Positive consequences of accepting the offers:

  • Survival of party and better utilisation of resources
  • Achieve the goals to bring change in the politics
  • Getting the required fund to run the party and keeping our supporters happy as they also want me to accept this offer.

Negative consequences of accepting the offer:

  • Against deontological ethics
  • It shows lack of integrity
  • Will lose party cadre in long run and one way it is to just cheat people, as the money who has donated up till now they want change in the very politics itself.
  • Reduce the public support at the grass root level.

Option 2: Rejecting the offer from business tycoon and famous media honcho

Positive consequences of rejecting the offer:

  • Reposing the faith of the workers
  • Integrity will be upheld
  • This short term pain will leads to long term gain
  • Doing justice to the people at large
  • Adhering to legal framework

Negative consequences of rejecting the offer:

  • It might be a challenge for Party survival.
  • Some of the party workers who want me to accept the offer might get disappointed
  • Businessman and media may offer the same to other parties to achieve their goals.

Option 3: Through persuasion, I can appeal to him and try to change his attitude towards politics, not by bending to his rules, but making him realise what can be done to earn money through honest means.

Positive consequences of this offer:

  • As my goal is to transform the politics, can be achieved through right means
  • If he gets convinced I will get the money to survive my party.
  • I will upheld the public image as a leader, and lead them by example.
  • Adhering to deontological ethics or deontology

Negative consequences of this offer:

  • He might not understand the cause what we are fighting for.
  • If he is looking for only profit then he won’t accept it and he might go and offer the same with other party.

My response in this situation:

I will chose third option as I don’t want to compromise on my values, as a leader I have to lead by an example and leadership is a source of inspiration (to guide people), rather than just trying to reject his offer, I will make him realise the values of truthfulness, honesty and ethical business, request him to support me and by doing ethical means he can earn trust from the public and he can earn more money through this means.

For me the driving force to enter politics is about being able to govern the people to achieve certain objective with power and authority guided by certain well established ethical values which will lead to acceptance and success. If I don’t get more money I will try to better utilise the resources, what I have rather than increasing it through illegal means.

Here not only goals but means are equally important (as well established by Gandhian philosophy), thus if I accept his offer, as a business tycoon his main motive will be to gain profit and if this happens my very goal itself will be defeated and it will lead to the crony-capitalism.

Best Answer: none.

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