LAWLESS BY MANDATE: WHEN ELECTED POWER TURNS INTO PUBLIC BULLYING

 It is alarming when elected representatives openly threaten government officials. The recent incidents involving Shidlaghatta MLA Rajiv Gowda, accused of threatening a senior woman officer of a municipal corporation, and Puttur MLA Ashok Rai, whose video threatening the town municipal commissioner went viral, are not stray events. They point to a growing culture of lawlessness among elected politicians.

These threats are not always meant to force officials to act. Often, they are meant to display power. The message is simple: an MLA can intimidate officials and face no consequence. This is not governance. It is intimidation performed in public.

The response to these cases exposes the problem further. The Shidlaghatta episode led to staff protests and a show-cause notice. The Puttur case, despite video evidence, drew far less censure and no prompt party action. This uneven response tells officials that accountability depends on political convenience.

The problem is not limited to individual MLAs. It has been normalised by senior leaders as well. Haliyal MLA and former minister R. V. Deshpande, a multiple-time cabinet member, is widely known for publicly dressing down officials at meetings.  

At the root of this behaviour lies a dangerous sense of entitlement. Many legislators appear to believe that winning an election gives them control over the administration. Officials are treated as subordinates who must obey. This is a feudal mindset. An MLA is a constitutional representative, not a local strongman.

Democracy provides lawful ways to deal with non-performing officials—seeking explanations, escalating complaints, or approaching higher authorities. Threats and public humiliation are not governance; they are goondagiri. They have no place in a constitutional system.

The damage is lasting. Officials become fearful, decisions are delayed, and honest officers are discouraged. Governance weakens, and public trust erodes. A system where administrators fear politicians more than the law cannot function well.

Political parties must act decisively. Selective outrage and delayed action destroy credibility. Party leaderships—especially those in power—must enforce clear limits, discipline offenders consistently, and allow the law to take its course.

Above all, there must be a renewed stress on humility and restraint in public life. Democracy does not elect bullies. It entrusts power to those who respect the law. That principle must be defended before further damage is done.