Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Chinnamma’s State” (February 7). Whether in Government or private service, before attaining the top position, one has to cross lower hierarchical levels and work at each level for a specified period. But this doesn’t apply for the top political positions of governance.
A professional pilot in Indian Airlines, Rajiv Gandhi was made Prime Minister straightaway after the assassination of his mother Indira Gandhi in 1984. Home-maker Rabri Devi was made the Chief Minister of Bihar in 1997 after lalu Prasad resigned following an arrest warrant issued against him in corruption charges. A novice in governance, Akhilesh Yadav, was made the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh by his father Mulayam Singh Yadav after the Samajwadi Party won the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.
In all these cases, the election of the person as leader of the legislative party was manufactured. A Congress coterie guided Rajiv Gandhi, and his term is remembered for controversial decision in the Shah Bano case, sending the Indian Peace Keeping Force to Sri lanka and the Bofors scandle. With his wife in the seat of Chief Minister, lalu Prasad ruled by proxy.
Akhilesh Yadav has much to answer on Uttar Pradesh’s law and order front. He is said to be only a half component of the perceived three-and-half Chief Ministers in the State. What VK Sasikala’s manufactured installation as the Chief Minister means for governance in Tamil Nadu and the AIADMK, only time will tell.