It is often said that 'politics' and 'ethics' do not go together. What is your opinion in this regard?…

Question

It is often said that 'politics' and 'ethics' do not go together. What is your opinion in this regard? Justify your answer with illustrations.

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Politics and ethics only appear to part ways because of criminalisation, money power and opportunism; in truth politics needs ethics for lasting legitimacy. Lal Bahadur Shastri's 1956 resignation after the Ariyalur rail accident shows how moral responsibility strengthens public life.

**Introduction**

Gandhi listed "politics without principles" among his Seven Social Sins. The belief that politics and ethics do not go together comes from politics as it is practised, not as it ought to be.

**Why Politics and Ethics Appear to Part Ways**

1. **Criminalisation of politics**: As per the Association for Democratic Reforms, about 46% of Lok Sabha members elected in 2024 declared criminal cases, which suggests winnability outranks character.
2. **Money and opportunism**: The Supreme Court struck down electoral bonds in ADR v Union of India (2024) for defeating the voter's right to know, and horse-trading persists despite the anti-defection law of 1985.
3. **Realpolitik**: Machiavelli advised the prince to appear virtuous rather than be virtuous, the logic behind divisive rhetoric for votes.

**Why Politics Needs Ethics to Endure**

SKETCH: venn | Where Politics Meets Ethics
a: Politics: power
b: Ethics: right conduct
overlap: Principled statesmanship

1. **Legitimacy and trust**: Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned as Railway Minister after the Ariyalur train accident of 1956, a benchmark of moral responsibility.
2. **Moral force**: Gandhi's Satyagraha turned truth and non-violence into a mass movement against the British Empire.
3. **Accountability at the ballot**: The 2G and coal block controversies weighed on voters in 2014, showing that unethical conduct carries a political price.
4. **Statecraft with values**: Kautilya held that the king's happiness lies in the happiness of his subjects.

**Conclusion**

In my view, politics and ethics are two sides of one coin: politics without ethics may win an election, but only ethical politics earns lasting legitimacy. Disclosure rules under Public Interest Foundation (2018) must be backed by voters and civil servants who uphold constitutional morality.

It is often said that 'politics' and 'ethics' do not go together. What is your opinion in this regard? Justify your answer with illustrations.

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