A lot has happenned over the last few days. Most of it unexpected. Few of it good.
The biggest of the surprises is ofcourse the rapid ascent of Sonia Gandhi on the national stage. Luck and a few bad decisions by the BJP seemed to have worked magic for her and the congress party.
What do I think of her ?
Not easy to describe. On one side, it certainly is a sign of the age-old Indian tradition of “embrace and extend” still thriving. But on the other side, I see a complete lack of charisma which worries me. Vajpayee is a tough act to follow. He commanded the respect of his coalition partners and naturally dissent was minimal. He steered BJP away from the RSS, winning the hearts of several sceptics in the process. It helped that he had a few good men like Arun Shourie around him. People who actually had the courage to think of change and the conviction to carry it through.
Now coming back to Sonia. Already, we have seen the left misbehave and Sonia not saying anything about it. Not a single word. Worrisome. Will we have a puppet prime minister with the likes of Jairam Ramesh actually calling the shots. Or will the coming days see a more assertive Sonia on the center stage. Tough to predict. Interesting to watchout for.
I am willing to give her the benefit of doubt. Manmohan and Pranab, hopefully, will be given prominent roles and the likes of laloo reserved for what they do best, witty one liners for the next day's headlines.
Which then brings us to the biggest of troubles facing the nation now : The left front. A bunch of old men trying to keep alive a proven failure : Communism. I can't find the right words to describe my feelings when I see Sitaram Yechuri talk. Watching an intelligent guy defend a losing cause is a pitiable sight. He knows his idealogy has failed the world over. Failed right here in WB & Kerala. We know it. He knows we know it. Still he continues. Like an aging superstar trying to relive his best days. One of these days, the voters will see through the facade. One of these days, He himself will get tired of repeating a lie.
Till then, India will suffer. The markets will be painted in Red.
Befitting for a nation held hostage by a couple of states and a failed idealogy.