Politics is more than what politicians do. Do you agree with this statement? Give examples.

I agree with the statement. Different people have different ideas about what politics is.


(i)Political leaders, and persons who contest elections and hold political office, may argue that it is a kind of public service.

(ii)Some others associate politics with manipulation and intrigue undertaken to pursue ambitions and satisfy wants. A few think of politics as what politicians do.

(iii)If they see politicians defecting from parties, making false promises and tall claims, manipulating different sections, pursuing personal or group interests ruthlessly and in worst cases stooping to crime, they link politics with ‘scams’.

(iv)So prevalent is this way of thinking that when we see people in different walks of life trying to promote their interests by any means possible, we say they are playing politics.

(v)If we see a cricketer manipulating to stay in the team, or a fellow student trying to use his father’s position, or a colleague in office mindlessly agreeing with the boss, we say he or she is playing ‘dirty’ politics.