For Sidhu Paaji, the political future looks uncertain

A former Indian cricketer, then reticent opened up once he was at the commentary box. Those who have played with Navjot Singh Sidhu would vouch that the latter hardly spoke during his playing days.

But after calling it a day, Sidhu has never minced words. His one-liners are legendary and the shayaris make for an interesting listen every time he is on television. But with due respect, the ex-Indian opening batsman hasn't read the political pulse too well. Had it been so, he wouldn't have found himself hunting for a platform to relaunch his career on.

So, will he or won't he? Having quit the Rajya Sabha as a representative of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sidhu also a former Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar seems to be unsure of his political future. The bargaining with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hasn't reaped him any benefit as the former's convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal refuses to make the Sardar the party's CM face in the Punjab assembly elections due next year. Don't blame Kejriwal. He can't afford to antagonise his loyal lieutenants by backing an outsider and that also from a party he just can't tolerate.

It's all about being 'politically bang-on' and Sidhu finds himself staring at political darkness at this point of time. This reminds us of the 1996 tour to England, when Sidhu decided to catch the next flight back home midway because of differences with the then Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin. The Lion of Patiala did make a comeback into the Indian team only to play his last international match in 1999.The reason is simple: He had by then made more foes than well-wishers both in and outside the team.

Talk about his political career, Sidhu wasn't the happiest man on earth when he was asked to make way for Arun Jaitley for the Amritsar Parliamentary Constituency in 2014, which the current Finance Minister lost. Hurt and humiliated, Sidhu preferred to focus on his TV career instead of trying to strengthen his position in BJP. As luck would have it, the 'injustice' done to him was made up by the party when he made it to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket. But all hell broke loose, when he resigned, apparently because BJP was reluctant to entrust him with bigger responsibilities (read leading the party's campaign in the Punjab elections).

It's well-known that Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal of Shiromoni Akalai Dal (SAD), with which BJP is in alliance in the north-Indian state doesn't hold Sidhu in high esteem. Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, also a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly doesn't share an excellent rapport with the Badal family.

If he were deprived by BJP, AAP too doesn't want to take the risk of going into the Punjab elections with Sidhu in the forefront. Despite being an international celebrity, it's political immaturity and on top of it lack of charisma which go against the cricketer-turned-politician. BJP wouldn't commit a blunder by over hyping Sidhu that would earn the party the wrath of Badal. Similarly, AAP isn't unaware of the fact that Sidhu is a political novice vis-a-vis Amarinder Singh of Congress and Badal of SAD-BJP.

Under the current circumstances, Sidhu needs to introspect and meticulously plan his next course of action. The blunders as a cricketer have cost his career dear, but on a political field, he has to understand that he can't trust even his own shadow. More importantly, it's imperative that he has a clear-cut assessment of his political acumen.  Both his wife and he are keeping options open it seems. Mrs. Sidhu despite standing by her husband, took part in BJP's Tiranga Yatra. However, BJP's doors are almost closed on the former Indian cricketer, if media reports are to be taken seriously. So, what does Sidhu do now?  

Walking down the track and hitting it over the top was never a tough ask for Sidhu. But political juggernauts pose a different challenge to him. There's no doubt, he has over estimated his political prowess. And in the process, he has rubbed too many political heavyweights the wrong way. The earlier he understands it, the better it is for him.

Corruption? What's that?

As the counting process is set to come to an end, two leaders heaving a huge sigh of relief would be Mamata Banerjee and J Jayalaithaa. Not only have they retained power in their states (West Bengal and Tamil Nadu), they have also rebutted the anti-incumbency wave threatening to upset their prospects before the polls.

Corruption was the main poll plank of Banerjee’s opponents. Saradha and Narada gave Left Front, Congress and BJP two powerful weapons to clip her wings. Looking down south, Tamil Nadu is one of the most corrupt Indian states as per a survey by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER). Jayalalithaa herself has been in jail in the disproportionate of assets case. But both the firebrand leaders are set for a second consecutive term as CMs. And this brings us to the question:  Is corruption a non-issue in Indian elections? The reply is: Both Yes and No.

Looking at West Bengal, Banerjee may have a clean image, but some of her party heavyweights are embroiled in graft charges. Yet, voters have reposed their faith in her party (Trinamool Congress). To the people, it’s development that matters and not an unblemished image. Didi's pro-poor schemes have earned her votes despite some of her senior party members being allegedly on the wrong side of the law.

Isn’t it a dangerous trend? Don’t be surprised if on the pretext of serving people, more and more corrupt elements continue to be elected to Parliament and Assemblies. Yes, investigations are still on to unveil the truth, but Banerjee herself in one way or the other has accepted the authenticity of the Narada tapes. Incidentally, barring Madan Mitra, all her candidates whose names have come up in the Narada sting have won the people’s verdict.

In Tamil Nadu, the situation is worse. Unlike in Bengal, corruption was not the main issue over which AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa’s political foes campaigned against her. The reason being even the main opposition party DMK has been in the thick of corruption (2G and Aircel Maxim cases). Talk of Jayalalithaa, she had to even relinquish the CM’s post before getting it back after the Supreme Court granted her bail in 2014.

Corruption is a common practice for both the main parties in Tamil Nadu. Yet, Amma has triumphed over all impediments riding on among others, the promise for more freebies and complete prohibition. Corruption is not totally a forgotten chapter though. The UDF government in Kerala led by Oommen Chandy has been ousted from power. In Chandy’s case, poor governance along with graft allegations have been key factors behind his loss. But Keralites have a history of voting against incumbency every five years.

Looking at the larger picture, there’s a tendency in the electorate to look beyond corruption. One factor that brought the downfall of UPA 2 in the 2014 Parliamentary Elections was its failure to tackle corruption. Coal, 2G, Commonwealth Games, Railways—scams after scams and Manmohan Singh had to concede defeat to Narendra Modi. However, the tides seem to have taken a different turn if the results of the recent state elections are any indication.

If Banerjee with 211 seats (as of now), is back in the saddle, Jayalalithaa is the first Tamil Nadu chief minister to hold on to the coveted post in 32 years. She follows in the footsteps of her mentor MG Ramachandran who achieved it in 1984. The victory gives Banerjee a chance to take pot-shots at her detractors. “There is no corruption in Bengal. It is a corrupt free state,” she said at a press meet after the verdict was out. Well, the resounding mandate from the people has her on top of the world.

At a chat session over cups of tea in Kolkata, a senior corporate guy wonders, “How can people be so blind? Despite West Bengal going back to the Stone Age, they bring TMC back to Nabanna (the government headquarters).”

If Brazil can suspend its President Dilma Rousseff and push her towards facing impeachment, we Indians on the contrary continue to pamper candidates who are purportedly caught taking ‘donations’ on camera.