Sushil Kutty
The Mahayuti got a historic mandate, but there’s no government yet! Is it Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s obfuscation or Eknath Shinde’s “reluctance strategy” that is holding up Devendra Fadnavis’, who Modi said is his “param mitr”, appointment with the Chief Minister’s chair? Is it Eknath Shinde’s dilemma, or the Bharatiya Janata Party’s utter helplessness?
Google ‘Eknath Shinde’ and it becomes clear Shinde is born to ‘dilemma’. Shinde’s switch from auto-rickshaw driver to career politician must have had its dilemma quotient. Choosing to betray Uddhav Thackeray and breaking into the big league holding on to the BJP’s apron-strings must also have been a dilemma.
Fact is, dilemma and betrayal are two sides of the same coin and Shinde betrayed to become Maharashtra Chief Minister. Now, after the Mahayuti sweep, Shinde faces yet another dilemma – the Chief Minister’s chair or the Chief Minister’s deputy?
The BJP also faces a dilemma. Go with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategy or go with whatever comes? Modi’s weakness is his delaying tactics. Modi’s obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) to take everyone along, including the reluctant, like Eknath Shinde, is his Achilles Heel!
Eknath Shinde’s OCD is that he cannot play second fiddle. Shinde deserted Uddhav because he felt overpowered. One fine morning, Shinde went his way, hightailing it to Guwahati via Surat, after collecting a “sena” of fellow travellers with the same betrayer-genes.
It is the likes of Eknath Shinde that the BJP thrives on. And Eknath Shinde has a history of pulling back from the hand that feeds him. Now, Eknath Shinde is back to betraying the same signs that fetched him the Maharashtra chief ministership.
Again, who wants to be Ajit Pawar’s equal? Shinde’s OCD is his enduring desire to remain top-gun, always. Shinde escaped Uddhav Thackeray’s hegemony and he doesn’t want Devendra Fadnavis’ hegemony.
Is Shinde a believer in Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Caste Census’ and ‘jiski jitni abaadi, uski utni bhaagidaari’? Besides, it is not for Shinde to help Devendra Fadnavis achieve his dream. Why should Eknath Shinde go out of his way to help Fadnavis replace Eknath Shinde?
It is Modi’s job to ease Devendra Fadnavis into the Chief Minister’s chair. It is not Shinde’s job to fight Prime Minister Modi’s obfuscation. It is not Eknath Shinde’s fault that Modi revels in delaying tactics. Ask the Hindus who voted for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, believing Modi would cut to size the tyranny of the Waqf Board!
This, after Modi himself declared that a Waqf Board had no place in the Constitution of India! The reality is Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a difficult man to believe, which must not have escaped Shinde’s attention. So, if Shinde is playing hardball, it’s because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s inability to take charge of the circumstances.
Modi and Shah’s obfuscation has met its match in Eknath Shinde’s obfuscation. Most importantly, it is not in Eknath Shinde to play ‘underling’. He doesn’t want the dilemma of playing second fiddle to Devendra Fadnavis to dog him for five years.
The constant dilly-dallying is a trait Shinde shares with Modi. There were reports that someone “top in the BJP” had called Eknath Shinde. Then, came the report that Shinde was game and wouldn’t sulk if Fadnavis took the CM’s chair home!
Now, Shinde is back to dilly-dallying – no tears for the BJP, though. The BJP is a party which would go to any extent to corner opposition-ruled states. This much even Eknath Shinde knows. Modi is the sort who wants to be the master of all that he surveys.
Also, why is the BJP, which is against caste and “Caste Census”, insisting on having a “Brahmin CM”? Can’t the BJP find a non-Brahmin for the Chief Minister’s post? Shinde might relent and accept a non-Brahmin BJP CM for a few plum portfolios.
If Eknath Shinde does not want to be one of two Deputy Chief Ministers, why the OCD? Accept Shinde’s choice for Deputy Chief Minister and get it done with! If Eknath Shinde wants the ‘Home’ portfolio, and Urban Development and PWD to buy his loyalty, let him. It is not a big price to pay to form a government. The Mahayuti’s unity is at stake.
Shinde also wants control of the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations which handles publicity and ads in newspapers on government schemes. Shinde wants the post of the Chairman of the Legislative Council even if the BJP has more MLAs!
The long and short of it is, Eknath Shinde likes to play the ‘Boss’. It is the BJP’s helplessness and hopelessness that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are unable to form a government.
The problem for the BJP is Shinde has the upper-hand. Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were to meet and talk things out in Mumbai the other day, but the meeting didn’t take place because Shinde, the Lone Ranger, took off to his farm at Daregaon in Satara for two days. Does that look like a man facing and fighting a dilemma? Eknath Shinde’s dilemma is that he, a Maratha, does not want to play second fiddle to a Brahmin! (IPA )
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