Down, But Not Out
Mr Narendra Modi’s drumbeaters are ecstatic, in a state of bliss. Lal Krishna Advani’s 36-hour revolt has come to nothing. It has been comprehensively crushed, with the chief rebel licking his wounds as he runs from pillar to post seeking forgiveness. On a superficial reading, such an interpretation of Mr Advani’s refusal to accept the newly anointed lauhpurush as the sole arbiter in the party, who has been commissioned to guide it to victory in 2014, is partially correct. Certainly, most of the commentariat and media endorses such an interpretation. Yet, the original lauhpurush has not emerged completely naked from the high-profile clash. He lives to fight another day. Indeed, one can argue that he will continue to remain a thorn in the flesh of Narendrabhai.
In his hour of triumph at Goa, Mr Modi and his drumbeaters were more furious than satisfied. Mr L.K. Advani had turned out to be a party pooper. Instead of the spotlight being on their man, the spotlight was on the challenger and the concerns he had raised. Once he had been crowned as the campaign chief, Mr Modi, with some justification, thought the road was now clear to his being named as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. He would have a free hand to fight both the state and national elections. Even Mr Advani’s absence from the coronation and his subsequent resignation from party posts had not evoked much enthusiasm or support from the top leadership. This view was further strengthened when it appeared Mr Advani had painted himself into a corner and had no option but to ride sulkily into the sunset.
But the script hasn’t quite played out like that. Mr Advani hobbled, rebuffed, diminished, wounded, is still very much around, and so are the people in camp Advani. News of their demise has been greatly exaggerated.
I welcome the denouement. Mr Modi is something of a loose cannon. If handed over unfettered power, there is no certainty in which direction he will fire. Besides, he has no record of forgiving and forgetting his real or perceived enemies. Happily, now there is a check. And it is Lal Krishna Advani. When he wields his recently acquired power, Mr Modi will need to constantly look over his shoulder to see what Mr Advani and his troublesome acolytes are doing; what ‘black mischief’ they are up to. This must be a source of great irritation for the new, decisive, strong leader who had assumed that since he had acquired absolute power, no one would question, much less dispute, his diktat. Well, an 85-year-old man is there to do the questioning and the disputing. And he is not going away.
Pseudo-secularists like me accept the irresistible rise of Mr Modi through democratic means. However, we are terrified at the prospect of the much-heralded Gujarat chief minister exercising unrestrained power. Many in and out of the BJP will wish Mr Advani godspeed as he sets out to perform the role of a constructive opposition in the Modi-led BJP.
Downright Dy-Nasty
Before some readers get ready to lynch me, would it be heresy for me to suggest that there must be some in the BJP wishing they too had a First Family whose word is law? The BJP rightly boasts of practising internal democracy based on merit which encourages talent. However, with the party tearing itself apart in full public view, could a few leaders be forgiven for lamenting that there is perhaps too much internal democracy in god’s own party? Multiple power centres in any organisation are a sign of robust health. Unfortunately, when they lack a high command, a free-for-all is possible.
At one time, the RSS was the high command. Today it is a diminished power centre although it still has some clout as has been demonstrated. The president of the party is another power centre, alas the present incumbent has been reduced to pleading and ‘requesting’. Mr Advani doubtless is a power centre as is Mr Modi. This quartet jostles frantically to establish primacy. As a result, we have the spectacle of Sushma Swaraj telling the media confidently: “I will be able to persuade him.” As if the current power struggle is a kind of children’s kutti. No question. Internal democracy is preferable to dynastic rule. Very occasionally, however, a dynasty may have its uses.
Editorial Decision
Someone asked me the other day how I thought of calling my dog Editor. Actually, the inspiration for this happy christening came from the Left-leaning writer George Orwell. Much to the annoyance of his Communist friends, he had named his dog Marx. Needless to say, some of my editor friends did not see the humour in my act of sacrilege.
This year, I did not...
Feel like celebrating my birthday. Instead, my wife and I ordered some Italian food and I had an extra glass of wine.
Vinod Mehta is editorial chairman, Outlook, and its founding editor-in-chief; E-mail your diarist: vmehta AT outlookindia.com
