Campaigning for the Lok Sabha 2019 elections has already begun. There is always a possibility of it sometimes turning into a mud-slinging match. The significance of healthy debate over issues that concern the common man is lost. The situation has been steadily worsening since the late 1980s. 

Candidates are often chosen not based on their qualities that would make them a good member of parliament (MP) but rather on their ability to win elections or the ‘elective merit’.

Hence, voters succumb to false promises, propaganda and blind belief. Social media has made it easier for such propaganda to be inflicted on the voters. 

In spite of this, Pune has over the years, given many stalwart MPs, even though the countrywide picture of money, muscle and manpower, had started creeping into the city. The Lok Sabha MPs from Pune have occupied important positions as ministers in the Central government.

Kakasaheb Gadgil, the first MP from the city, was a minister in the Nehru government. He had written many valuable books despite his hectic political life. He was known for his plain speaking and presence of mind. He used to treat people around him equally and had a frank nature. Any person could walk into his home regardless of the time. He used to whole-heartedly support Maharashtrians in Delhi. He was defeated in 1957 by socialist leader Nanasaheb Gore. Later, Gadgil was appointed as a governor, then the deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India and finally, the vice chancellor of the then University of Poona.

Nanasaheb Gore got elected with the support of the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti, which demanded a separate state for Marathi-speaking people. He was also a man of letters. He had presided over the Gomantak literary meet. He was in the forefront of the movements for a separate Marathi state and the Goa freedom struggle. Gore was appointed the High Commissioner to England during the Janata Party rule. He was active in politics for over six decades. He used to comment on political developments until his death.

SM Joshi was elected to Lok Sabha in 1967. None of the candidates from the Socialist Party could win the assembly polls held simultaneously, Joshi’s win was ensured by an understanding between the Jan Sangh and the Praja Socialist Party. He had no enemies due to his warmth and humility. He had very good relations with leaders from the Congress, the Communist parties, the Shetkari Kamgar Paksha (Farmers and Workers Party) and later, the Bharatiya Janata Party. 

Joshi had a tough task of taking along leaders such as Acharya PK Atre and Comrade Shripad Dange during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. However, he carried out his responsibility easily. He was also active in politics for six decades. He remained aloof from power politics during the Janata Party government.