With mounting voices to project Narendra Modi as
the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Sanjay Pinto lists ten points why he
thinks the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa would make a better choice.
As
calibrated attempts to project Narendra Modi as the BJP’s Prime
Ministerial mascot are in full swing, the ‘national’ media is yet to wake up to
the possibility of a powerful leader down South being a contender for the
crown. In the last few months, talk of a ‘dhoti clad’ PM from the South had
been mooted at a literary function attended by politicians and film stars in
Chennai; and later picked up and flogged in newspaper columns and on the social
media. How about a ‘sari clad’ PM, South of the Vindhyas? Jayalalithaa has
already made it clear that she would not have any trucks with either the
Congress or the BJP. In the context of a third front, as an alternative to the
Congress and BJP led alliances, the possibility of Modi’s good friend and the
most powerful lady in Tamil Nadu – Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, emerging not
just as a king maker but the queen herself in 2014 cannot be ruled out in
India’s ever fluid political scenario. After HD Deve Gowda, who had a short
stint as PM in the late nineties, and the late veteran Tamil Nadu Congress
leader GK Moopanar who missed the bus with the United Front government, if
Amma’s stars shine as they did in 2011, who knows, she may no longer have to
send the State’s periodic ‘To Do’ lists to 7 Race Course Road but be able to
address them herself!
A fractured mandate next year, or earlier, will
make every small party and every seat count. If Jayalalithaa can solve her
inherited power shortage to make her free mixies and grinders and laptops run
in the next few months, a predicted score card of 30 seats may not be out of
reach for the AIADMK. That will give her a huge bargaining chip and the
gravitas to cobble together a coalition of like minded parties for a serious
shot at Delhi’s
corridors of power. Having supported political alliances in the past and even
pulling down one of them, the lady from Poes Garden
has ‘been there, done that’. Now it’s just a question of taking her clout at
the Centre to the next level. I was among the first few journalists in the
country to directly broach the subject of a Prime Ministerial inclination with
Amma, a few years ago. Her repartee: “No comments. But thank you for the
compliment” was interesting. Here’s why I think she will make a good PM.
1. Jayalalithaa’s leadership
qualities and acceptance among possible constituents of a third front is her
biggest plus point. We’ve seen many leaders – from Chandrababu Naidu to Left
bigwigs descend at her residence to announce Dr Abdul Kalam as their nominee
for a second innings at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the previous election. Last year,
she was first off the block in mooting the name of former Lok Sabha Speaker and
tribal leader PA Sangma as the NDA backed Presidential nominee, with even BJP
patriarch LK Advani holding discussions
with her at Fort St.George.
2. With friends across the political
divide, forming a durable coalition and keeping the flock together may not be a
tall order. With her excellent rapport with Samajwadi Party leader and UP CM
Akhilesh Yadav and Left leaders like Prakash Karat, coupled with the TINA
factor for other parties, perhaps even the Trinamool supremo – Mamata Didi may
well accept Amma at the helm. A proven capacity to unite non Congress Chief
Ministers over common grievances with the Centre is indicative of her hold over
ruling parties in other States.
3. Much as she is called an ‘Iron Lady’,
Jayalalithaa is known to have an amazing ability to convert her staunch critics
and foes into lasting friends. I can never forget MDMK Chief Vaiko who was
jailed by her under POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) for 18 months thundering
outside the Vellore Prison on his release that he would fight the “fascist
regime”. A few months later, he joined hands with Amma and remarked, “This is
the finest moment in Tamil Nadu’s political history!” Even after boycotting the
2011 assembly poll because he felt short changed in seat allocation, Vaiko
still regards Jayalalithaa as his sister.
4. By Indian political standards,
65 year old Jayalalithaa is relatively young. As a powerful regional leader
with a brute majority in the Tamil Nadu assembly and her unassailable sway over
her own party, she does not have to worry about internal squabbles that have
haunted many Prime Ministers.
5. A tough and no nonsense approach
to governance is what anyone who knows the State well will vouch for. Not
afraid of cracking the whip – be it the elimination of the long pending
Veerappan menace or the sacking of over a lakh government employees in her
previous tenure or the recent handling of the anti Koodankulam protestors, soft
pedalling is not an expression in Amma’s lexicon.
6. The ‘iron hand’ can also come
with a velvet glove. Jayalalithaa seems to have mastered the art of populism (a
term she doesn’t quite like, preferring to call it ‘welfare’ instead). Despite
a debt of one lakh crore, she adroitly managed to start fulfilling her 2011
freebie election manifesto. In her third innings, she has demonstrated a
willingness to reach out to various sections – minorities, caste groups and
most importantly the poor. The ‘Amma Canteens’ that serve wholesome food at one
rupee and\or a few rupees are a super hit, bigger than a Rajini blockbuster!
With the same formula, placating States and allies when in the saddle, should
be child’s play.
7. An unbiased observer will not
fail to notice Jayalalithaa’s national outlook – whether it’s her firm stand
against terror and on maintaining law and order or her environmental policy or the pro nuclear
energy stance, after doing her due diligence. Championing the cause of Tamils
in Sri Lanka and her strong
views on tackling terror, even in a possible Pakistan context, may augur well
for a firm foreign policy.
8. ‘Tell me who your key officers
are and I will tell you if you are a good leader’ can be the new age dictum in
governance. Jayalalithaa’s choice of officers has always been spot on. Ask any
retired bureaucrat who has served under her (if you think the serving ones will
be biased in her favour) and they will fill you in with instances and concrete
examples of her administrative acumen and her grasp over complex issues.
Choosing a balanced Cabinet is crucial. Amma will pass that test.
9. The convent educated heroine
turned political leader is suave, articulate and charming enough to even floor
international dignitaries like Bill Gates and Hillary Clinton. Coming from the
film industry, her communication skills are among the best in India’s
political landscape. This was evident even during her Rajya Sabha years.
10. You can judge a leader’s intellectual prowess by her or his press
statements and conferences. Jayalalithaa’s knowledge of national and
international affairs, economics and even law (her lawyers tell me that she is
so clued in with even all the latest Supreme Court judgments) is impressive. A leader
in the hot seat needs to understand the nitty gritty of a wide range of
subjects. Not wanting in this department either.
I’ve been a neutral political commentator all my
life and will remain that way. But I don’t believe in denying anyone their due,
even if it comes across as slanted. Jayalalithaa has it in her to aspire for
the top job. She will, however, need to focus on the challenging task of
suffering fools gladly and taking criticism, even if it’s not the constructive
variety, in her stride. And yes, the outcome of the wealth case in a Bangalore Court
will be crucial for the Chennai Super Queen to strike gold in national
politics.
(Sanjay Pinto is a lawyer, columnist and former Resident Editor of NDTV)
