Opinion | Building bridges: the need for new platforms for bilateral political dialogue in India

The contemporary political landscape in India, as in many democracies around the world, is witnessing a growing trend of polarization. Everyday political discourse has become entrenched in divisionism and party lines have hardened, making bipartisan engagement rare.

This is clearly seen in Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s recent observations where he stated that “the Speakers should maintain continuous and consistent dialogue between parties and set new benchmarks in politics.” Birla believes that the traditions and systems of Parliament and state legislatures should foster a sense of Indianness to realize the vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. Birla’s comments point us in the direction of ancient Indian discourse, which was based on samvada (dialogue) rather than vivaad (dispute), encouraging mutual debates to further mutual understanding of persistent governance issues.

In the past, Indian parliamentarians have had the opportunity to challenge ideas without coming into conflict on several issues of national interest. Such interactions took place mainly in an informal atmosphere – a great example are conversations over coffee or tea during breaks in sessions in the Central Hall of the old parliament – facilitating understanding and even empathy across ideological divisions. However, it seems that today’s politics in India has lost the spirit of friendly exchange. Political identities have become stringent, constraining representatives who hesitate to associate with members of opposing parties for fear of unwarranted criticism. So much so that politicians may go to great lengths to avoid being photographed with political opponents at public events.

Worryingly, this trend in Indian politics reflects the divisive political climate in the United States, where Democrats and Republicans are invariably under fire, as if by an innate tendency to disagree with each other. Such disagreements often turn vitriolic, with ad hominem attacks distorting an atmosphere in which political violence seems inevitable. A few years ago, Arun Jaitley used the phrase “compulsive contrarianism” to describe the reflexive behavior of opposition parties towards each other. The policies proposed by one party are opposed by the others, not on the basis of merit, but solely on the basis of political competition.

However, India’s modern history shows that some of the country’s most consistent policies in the 21st century – the Aadhaar program, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the National Pension Scheme (NPS) – have been implemented in various regimes with valuable input from many parties. This underlines the importance of bilateral cooperation to ensure long-term progress and stability. In 2024, more than seventy years after independence, the need for a dedicated platform to encourage bilateral political dialogue in India has never been more urgent.

One potential solution to India’s growing political divisions is the creation of a neutral, apolitical forum where parliamentarians and policymakers can meet to discuss critical sectors such as health care, technology and education – areas that directly impact the lives of citizens and do not should be held hostage by partisan quarrels. Universities, known for promoting critical thinking, could be an ideal setting for such an initiative. The MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) in Pune, with its long-standing commitment to promoting peace and dialogue, stands out as an ideal candidate to facilitate these bilateral discussions.

Founded with a vision to bring about social transformation through education, MIT-WPU has a history of engaging students, academics, and professionals in conversations that expand the political horizon. Its founder-president, Professor Dr. Vishwanath D Karad, believes that the philosophy of MIT-WPU is consistent with Swami Vivekananda’s pursuit of spirituality, which can only be achieved through the sharing and integration of knowledge. The university’s programs already emphasize global citizenship, leadership and ethics, which is a natural extension of including political leaders in dialogue-based initiatives. It is also the first university of its kind in India to offer a two-year full-time Master’s degree in Political Leadership and Management. By creating a bipartisan platform, MIT-WPU can provide a space for policymakers on all sides to gather, exchange ideas, and work toward common goals.

In 2023, MIT-WPU hosted the first edition of the innovative Bharat National Legislators Conference (NLC Bharat), where Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) and Members of Legislative Councils (MLCs) from across the country gathered at one place to exchange ideas. During the meeting, many MLAs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a partnership with old constituency Vidhayak Yuva Sansad (Youth Parliament MLA). As a follow-up to NLC Bharat, 40 MLAs attended the NCSL Legislative Summit in Louisville, Kentucky in August 2024 to engage with global counterparts and share legislative challenges across borders.

Rahul V Karad, founder of NLC, says elected representatives cutting across party lines need a forum where they can debate governance challenges, necessary improvements in electioneering and our political system. “The paths may be different, but all our goals are the same and that is the development of the country,” Karad said, again emphasizing: “Even though we come from different ideologies and follow different paths, our goal is one – nation building and progress.”

This conference is part of the need for more bipartisan politics in India, where the younger generation of leaders are largely disillusioned with the political establishment. Many aspiring political leaders are discouraged from pursuing public service due to toxic environments and rigid party lines. A cross-party platform could help change this, accelerating constructive political engagement and proving that politics can be collaborative, not just competitive. A university-backed forum could also attract young politicians by highlighting values ​​such as ethical leadership, national development and the common good that transcend party politics.

India’s political history provides examples of leaders who successfully bridged political divides. Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, often spoke about the importance of debate and dialogue, saying: “Democracy is good. I say this because other systems are worse.” Nehru believed that healthy, respectful disagreements were essential to a functioning democracy, but he also recognized the need for cooperation on key issues. Similarly, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a champion of bipartisanship and was famous for saying, “The political game will always go on. Political parties will come and go. Pages will form and fall apart. But the country must remain. Democracy in the country must remain eternal.” Both leaders exemplified commitment to national unity and working across party lines to achieve common goals.

In today’s political landscape, the lack of such collaborative efforts is felt more than ever. By creating a platform where politicians can engage in meaningful conversations on apolitical sectors such as health, education and technology, MIT-WPU can help depolarize Indian politics. The stakes are high, but the potential benefits are enormous.

Constructive cross-party dialogue can lead to more robust policies that are sustainable across regimes, ensuring continuity and long-term impact. The problems India faces today, from public health crises to rampant inequality and the challenges of technological innovation, require collective solutions that transcend partisan politics. More importantly, we need a new generation of leaders committed to collaboration and constructive debate, ensuring India continues to progress towards a more inclusive and united future. As people like Nehru and Vajpayee showed, it is possible to engage across political lines while remaining true to one’s principles. It is time for India to reclaim this heritage.

The author is a visiting fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. He is a famous political analyst. He is the author of several books, including “24 Akbar Road” and “Sonia: A Biography.” The views expressed in the above text are the author’s personal and exclusive views. They do not necessarily reflect the views of News18.