FAQ of the Freedom Team

This draft document is work-in-progress

Question 3: Is FTI a political group or a political party? Will it become a political party? Will it remain as a common platform or coalition for different political parties and independents with shared beliefs?

FTI is an informal association of leaders wanting to contest elections to reform India. Clearly that means, as far as the intent of its members is concerned, that FTI is a political group. But it is a loosely defined political group or association. As a political group, FTI does not intend to do anything directly political until its minimum goal of 1500 high quality leaders (3 per constituency) is met. Till that critical size is achieved, FTI will focus on elaborating and refining its messages and strategies, so that effective action can be undertaken.

In brief, FTI is definitely not a political party at the moment. But of course, it could easily become a party if its 1500 leaders so desire. It will be the first major decision of these 1500 members whether they want to deliver 300 seats as a united party, as 550 parties, or as 550 independents. FTI (and that is not what it may be ultimately called) will therefore begin its career purely as a coalition of the willing. Its future will evolve organically once the full group has assembled.

This flexible approach is exemplified in FTI’s Principles of Coalition Building.

Some other reasons why the answer to this question should be left to the future are:

1. By trying to become a political party at this early stage, FTI will pre-empt coalition building and defeat its primary purpose.  Parties need a huge paraphernalia, of leaders, constitution, manifesto, and the like. Freezing these things at an early statge is counter-productive. If FTI were to firm up as a political party, then small or large parties led by good leaders (like Lok Satta or Swatantra Bharat Party) will find it hard to form a deep and meaningful relationship with FTI as members. So FTI should remain sufficiently flexible to have others come to this group or for its membes to merge with other groups if needed, once its 1500 leaders have assembled.

2. Flexibility in approach will allow self-interest to drive this loose coalition. Leaders of small groups and parties will find it in their interest to join FTI as members (while continuing with their own parties) if it remains loose and flexible. They already know that they cannot make a significant dent on Indian politics on their own and common sense says they need to align with like-minded people. But if FTI firms up as a political party with its own leadership team, manifestos, etc., they will feel unwelcome and won’t come in.Such good leaders will come to FTI if they are convinced of the compatibility of their values and attitudes with those of FTI. The FTI message must therefore resonate with them. Second, they must retain the ability to influence strategy and to potentially form part of the leadership team of FTI (which itself is a leadership team for India!). FTI provides them with these incentives

FTI ‘brand’ is a concept at this stage

FTI is focused exclusively on India’s reforms. It has no ego (in the negative sense) or great love for its ‘brand’, no identity to ‘defend’. Therefore it has no label beyond that of a `team' at the moment. If it ends up providing a useful service to the society, its ‘brand’ will automatically evolve. It will definintely need to build a brand in order to certify candidates at the elections. However, the name, form and shape of this identity is completely unkown at this stage. It could be FTI or something quite different. Today, FTI is a concept, not a product. This concept will lead to the product: a Seal of Quality for the candidates it will sponsor (each will have to be a member of the team).

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