Adding insult to electoral injury

the impact of Sonia’s renunciation. No sooner had the foreign-origin balloon burst, top BJP leadership misled the NDA steering committee by saying that Soniaji’s decision was not a sacrifice and that she had to step down after President APJ Abdul Kalam suggested it. The following day, a categorical denial from the President’s office left the BJP completely exposed. In fact, the BJP leaders had their back to the wall facing angry allies who were always opposed to the party’s post-verdict resistance to Sonia becoming prime minister. Post-verdict, while parties like the TDP and the Trinamool publicly disassociated themselves from the foreign origin issue, leaders such as Sharad Yadav were wary that the political antics of Sushma-Uma-Govindacharya would only add insult to NDA’s electoral injury. The ally’s fears came true, and after the Presidential snub, the BJP had nowhere to hide.

Next day, all that the BJP leaders could mumble were lame words on how the people of India wouldn’t have accepted Sonia. If elected MPs represent the people in Parliament, and Soniaji had 350 MPs backing her for the prime ministership, it requires a Goebbelsian brand of campaign to even suggest that the people were against her prime ministership. The Samajwadi Party also chipped in with snide comments, suggesting that her renunciation was no big deal as V P Singh and Jyoti Basu too had refused prime ministership, which I can not remember.

I believe Sonia Gandhi had made up her mind six years ago that she won’t ever become the Prime Minister. She never announced it in so many words. Given the fortunes of the Congress then, such a decision would have made her look defeatist. Not any more. She fought bravely, rejuvenated the organisation, formed wise alliances, almost single-handedly turned the electoral tide around, had an alliance of 300-plus MPs — including erstwhile critics like Sharad Pawar and only then, with nothing between her and the PM’s chair, did she announce her renunciation. History will evaluate the real significance of Soniaji’s decision in the years to come.

Give Laloo a chance

I was surprised at the media outcry over Laloo Prasad Yadav getting a key Cabinet portfolio. In a democracy, everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, but worse than even a summary trial, this has been a case of judgment without any hearing. We must give Laloo some time to perform. He is back at a ministerial office after a long time. This has been his first stint as a Union Minister. Very few ministries have such immediate impact on people’s lives like the Railways has. Problems are plenty, so is the scope for improvement. We must give Laloo at least six months and a chance to make a difference. If he does good work, we must be gracious enough to acknowledge it. If he fails, we will have every right to criticise him. But the fourth estate must agree that outright dismissal cannot be a healthy sign for any democracy.

At home with the NRIs

The NRI ministry is a wonderful concept and Jagdish Tytler must realise its full potential. The NRIs are mostly hardworking, resourceful people who feel strongly for India. But we can’t expect charity from them. Emotional bonding and business opportunity must be combined to attract them. The concept of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, courtesy MEA secretary Jagdish Sharma, was excellent and the new ministry should also make it count in terms of investment volume. We must also extend Padma awards to the NRIs and cut red-tapism to facilitate their easy participation in nation building. The challenge before Tytler is to evolve a system that can tap the vast pool of NRIs and their resources to mutual benefit. Let’s wish him luck.