"Powerless & lonely"
In politics, it is difficult to say for how long new equations will last, or, for how long one will rule
Power changes, equations change and for those who lose it, the situation is tough. When Jayalalitha was sworn in Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu the ripples were felt in Delhi’s Tamil Nadu house. Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi had walked out alone with a piece of luggage in her hand. No one came forward to help her or drop her to the car after she emptied her father’s Chief Ministerial suite. It can be very lonely at the bottom.
She was put behind bars on May 21. It is unfortunate what happened to her. What her future will be even she doesn’t know. How long will she be in Tihar? Well, as they say in politics, you never know what the future holds for you or how long one is going to rule. We are told that she has been on her best behaviour and facing the situation bravely. ‘To see who is who in DMK, go to Tihar’ may sound pleasing to some, but fact is that it is a sad state of affairs. One thing is, however, certain — the public will not forgive those who are corrupt.
Jayalalitha and Mamata Bannerjee are strong women. One sees them working on a daily basis and can’t help but notice that Jayalalitha has shed her famous cloak which she used to wear as Chief Minister in her last term. Though she has lost weight age, too, has caught up with her. On the other hand, Mamata now adorns a white chaadar over her sari. Is it superstition or just a new style of dressing?
While Jayalalitha seems sober, it is difficult for Mamata to hide her excitement. During the elections, Jayalalitha didn’t really have to work hard as she relaxed in Ooty, confident as she was that the people of Tamil Nadu would throw out the corrupt DMK Government. Mamata, on the other hand, had to streetfight with the Left till the very end. So, one expected plenty of action in the weeks that followed — new alignments to be formed over afternoon teas with leaders at the Centre. And why should this not happen. It is time they enjoyed their fruit of labour.
Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi has been working on her own projects that involve the poor and the downtrodden. Her problem is how to get them implicated. The Gandhis mean well. Political leverage, public support and sympathy is with them. Unfortunately, it is the people around them who can’t stop playing one against the other. The party because of its non-performance is losing ground. Wait and watch is the policy for the present.
However, it may prove to be a fatal mistake. Contradictory statements must stop. Letting senior leaders sit on the sidelines and allowing new faces run after cheap publicity must also stop. Why is it that senior leaders are looking on haplessly?
For a Congress leader who has put in hard work, it’s a tough call. Will they carry their bags soon, is what they are asking? Will they, too, be walking alone soon? Not many answers are forthcoming.
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