NemesisIJ
It was known to all who are close to the deposed Chief Minister Harish Rawat that he is a past master in the game of winning others over to his side by dangling carrots. However, things came to the fore at a time when he was in the thick of a grave crisis with as many as nine Congress MlAs breaking ranks and joining hands with BJP. The sting video that was circulated on March 26 purportedly showed Rawat seeking to lure the rebels back to his side by generously offering money and office. The NDA government hit on it with alacrity to beat the redoubtable Congress strategist down. They suggested to President Pranab Mukherjee that the Harish Rawat Government must be dismissed immediately to stop the CM from horse trading. A weather-beaten politician in his earlier stint, President was extra cautious. He sought authentication of the video before he condescended himself to promulgate the President’s Rule. As the CD proved genuine his inhibition was gone. There is however, a lesson for the politicians from the episode-the trustworthiness of their close aides when their chips are down. It is learnt that the video was shot at the lounge of Jollygrant Airport. Accompanied by a person who was assigned to deal with media, Rawat was to fly off on his official chopper. It was at this time that the person who was to broker the deal between two warring Rawats-Harish and Harak- came from Delhi along with the OSD to then CM. Rawat was ensnared by two persons who were known to be loyal to him. The message is clear. The cronies can shove the leader down the slippery slope with the least of compunctions. Is it NemesisIJ Time would tell.
MlAs’ heyday
With the frosty political stalemate refusing to thaw, the MlAs have been relishing their self-importance. It is clear that they are the cynosures of the eyes of the political strategists of both the rival camps-Congress and BJP-as the poaching bids are still on to make them switch sides with the possibility of a floor test remaining alive. Congress, left with 32 MlAs in the 71-member House in the 2012 election, managed to shore up its strength to 36, the magic figure connoting simple majority, thanks to the twists of politic fortunes and its leader’s maneuvering skill. However, when Congress was breathing easy having gathered the strength to run the ministry on its own, nine MlAs broke ranks with Congress in one go, landing the Harish Rawat government in a mess. Now, with floor test seemingly imminent, both camps are leaving no stone unturned to humour their MlAs. They are being given maximum of creature comforts wherever they are carted away, be it Corbett National Park or luxury resorts in Jaipur. The MlAs seem to be drinking their self-importance to the dregs while the State has been smarting under an unprecedented crisis that is fast turning into a veritable conundrum even for the learned judges.