‘Pionner-Dilli Billi’-28th.March.2010

As one awaits the AICC reshuffle and the Union cabinet reshuffle one is surprised by the BJP’s new team. It is supposed to be the battle team of the new President of the BJP. What is new about the team and how it will fight against it’s opposition political parties is going to be so interesting to watch. There are new faces but how relevant are these faces in the public eye?
The Hema Malini’s, Smriti Irani’s and the women who have been adjusted keeping in mind the 33 percent women quota are just glamorous faces. Hema Malini has been in the Rajya Sabha for a long time now but one has to still hear her voice in the upper house. She is not a grassroot worker or has ever worked in the Sangh or is familiar with the party’s working. Smriti Irani has more to offer on the small screen than on the political front. Uma Bharti was supposing to have been adjusted but obviously something went wrong. It is surprising that Vasundhra Raje is the only lady with a substance in this reshuffle. Najma Heptullah is the lady who has been so long in politics but how relevant is she again is a question. Muslim face but grassroot zero.
Gadkari has adjusted all the right hand people of the powerful lot in the RSS and the BJP. There was a time when the BJP cried hoarse over the dynastic rule of the Congress but now all the sons, daughters, nieces and nephews are in the new list of the BJP. One must say that Gadkari is a shrewd politician with all his adjustments. He has managed to keep away his detractors. He has some how not been able to give due representation to Bihar, thus upsetting the top leaders of Bihar. He has also not managed to get Jaswant Singh back. He has not made any in roads into the different camps of Vajpayee and Advani. Actually everyone in the BJP is in a wait and watch mood. They want to give him time and see what he is really all about. After all, he has the full backing of the RSS.
He is bit insecure for the moment from his detractor’s side. But this new team of the BJP really has nothing to offer for the other political parties to feel insecure. It lacks substance even though it makes everyone in the BJP who matter happy as all the different groups in the BJP have their all men get plum posts.
The fangs are still not out. Neither is the praise. Gadkari is young according to the RSS and a new face. May be he will manage to change the system and the thinking of the stalwarts. A tough task. But a must for the country which needs an opposition which is relevant. At the moment the ruling parties are making hay as there is no one to question them. So, the sooner they get their act together the better for the nation. Otherwise the ruling is carefree and are happily getting their way in everything. Which suits them perfect. At one time the Sangh was always tearing into the wrongs of the ruling. Now-a-days its too much of an effort for them to move. Its also that some of the high ups are hand in glove with the ruling. Its like you scratch my back and me yours. So, we both form blind and deaf to each others fault. How good that is for the nation is anyone’s guess?