To retire, particularly from mainstream power politics, is a noble thought. A little like a glutton’s dietary vow. So, when a senior cabinet minister of the UPA government chose not to contest the last Lok Sabha polls, it seemed he was graciously hanging up his boots to sit, look back in leisure at a long career, reminisce and probably even write his memoirs. But soon after his party’s expected rout, he was seen scrambling to get back to Parliament through the Rajya Sabha. True to the dynastic traditions of his party, the Lok Sabha seat vacated by the father had earlier gone to the son, who in turn had miserably failed to convince the electorate.
Now, suddenly the son has taken on Rahul Gandhi, though obliquely. The issue is, of all things, dynasty. Hilarious, it is. But what could the real reason be? It is a fact that the son of the former minister is in the eye of several scandalous storms with the rumble of probes and charges of financial impropriety pursuing him. Sure, there is a countercharge for every charge and there is a BJP diary for every Congress diary. These veterans know well how to handle a few corruption allegations. Then why attack Rahul Gandhi at this juncture?
