O J's Corner : Reflections

Family fiefdom

Expressions like dynastic rule, family fiefdom have been ruling the roost in Indian politics for a long time. Mahatma Gandhi never had a regime of his own in the country. Neither did he nurture his progeny to don his legacy. Nobody could carry on his legacy. That is a different matter altogether.

Jawaharlal Nehru did not foist any position on Indira Gandhi, except Congress presidentship, when she was instrumental in causing the dismissal of the first Communist Ministry of E M S Namboodiripad in Kerala.

Indira Gandhi found youngest son, Sanjay Gandhi, good enough to rule the country, but fate would not allow him to continue for long. The unwilling eldest son, Rajiv Gandhi, took over where Indira Gandhi had left the legacy behind.

His widow, Sonia Gandhi, has been holding the reins for long to have either her son, Rahul, or daughter, Priyanka, to take over the lineage of Rajiv Gandhi. The electorate had given Sonia the mandate to rule the country. But her foreigner-tag was too much for political rivals to digest.

Now Dr Manmohan Singh is keeping the position in tact for the Rajiv progeny. No doubt, they would take over sooner than later.

Many politicians had opposed the dynastic rule of the Nehru family. Some of the leading politicians had broken off from the Congress opposing the dynastic regime.

Sharad Pawar was one among the opponents of family fiefdom. Quite paradoxically, he himself is choosing his daughter to don his mantle at the earliest.

His daughter, Supriya Sule, is being groomed to take over the Sharad Pawar political lineage. As a prelude, she is being inducted into the Rajya Sabha on a Nationlist Congress Party ticket.

The Rajya Sabha by-election for the seat vacated by Vasant Chavan, a Dalit NCP MP, is being held on September 18.

Earlier, several party functionaries had approached Sharad Pawar for the seat. He apparently told them to keep off as it would be better to have a Dalit candidate for the vacancy caused by the death of  a Dalit MP.

Now he has changed tack allowing his daughter to contest the by-election for the Rajya Sabha seat. This would make things clear. His daughter, who is a greenhorn in politics, is going to be his heir-apparent.

Till now, it has been a foregone conclusion that his nephew, Ajit Pawar, would be his successor. Ajit Pawar is a senior Minister in the Congress-led Government in Maharashtra.

Pawar would like to have his daughter as well as his nephew to hold court in the whole of Maharashtra, which has been his fiefdom.

Afterall, what is wrong with influential politicians grooming their wards to lead us all? Anyway, before long, the people would have a feel of the practices of the fledglings.

Charan Singh’s son, Ajit Singh, had carved a niche for himself in north Indian politics. Devil Lal’s son, Chautala, did not lag behind. Jagjivan Ram’s daughter, Meira Kumar, is doing well as a Minister in the U P A Government. Earlier, E M S’ son could not fare quite well.

Examples are umpteen by which the progeny have been exemplary. Some have flopped. Let those who can take on the rough and tumble of politics flourish.