His
Master’s Choice
N.K. SINGH
It is a measure of the intriguing nature of the
leadership struggle in the Congress(I) that nobody is talking about the plans
and priorities of the new Chief Minister Digvijay Singh for Madhya Pradesh.
Scant attention has been paid to his announcement to review all the
controversial decisions of the BJP government. Or that he plans action against
government employees who were involved with the activities of the VHP and
Bajrang Dal and the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Or that he has asked the chief secretary to
formulate a government policy to fulfil the party's poll promises.
Instead, questions keep recurring about the curious
set of events that led to his surprise election as the leader of the Congress
Legislature Party (CLP). Did Digvijay become the chief minister against the
wishes of his mentor, Arjun Singh? Or, as the rival camp suggests, has the
crafty Singh succeeded in his strategy of installing his protege in power? Why
is Singh's supporter, Central minister Kamal Nath, issuing public statements
against him?
The inside story of events leading to Digvijay
assuming power shows dirty politics at its dirtiest. It makes the Singh group
chuckle. And the camps led by Madhavrao Scindia and the Shukla brothers go red
in the face.
The Singh group had earlier demanded that the next
chief minister should be an SC or ST candidate. But that was simply to scuttle
the chances of S.C. Shukla, a Brahmin and Singh's worst foe in Madhya Pradesh.
But even after Singh's group returned a majority of the 174 party MLAs, it was
not confident of defeating Shukla.
Arjun Singh joins hands with Scindia
So, Singh joined hands with Scindia, promising that
he would sponsor a candidate from the SCs/STs or an OBC, preferably Subhash
Yadav. Scindia assured his support for Yadav but clarified that he would never
back Digvijay, whom he dislikes.
Initially, Shukla was banking on support from Delhi.
But when the high command shirked from guiding the CLP meeting, he contacted
Scindia for his support. Scindia was noncommittal, mainly because he does not
like Shukla and because he had already promised to support Yadav.
But the night before the CLP meeting, Digvijay
threw his hat in the ring with Kamal Nath's help. Next morning as the 90-odd
MLAs of the Singh camp met, most of them were in Digvijay's favour. Yadav had
few supporters apart from Ajit Jogi, MP and Singh's courtier.
Singh just made a
vague speech about the need to elect an SC, ST or OBC candidate, adding that
the final decision was the MLAs'. (Interestingly, Digvijay, an MP, did not
stand in the elections. Now, his brother, Laxman Singh, will vacate the
Raghogarh seat he won for Digvijay.)
Scindia ready to fly
Meanwhile, the Scindia group received news
(possibly planted) that the Singh camp was on the verge of a split. Scindia,
who was in readiness to fly to Bhopal, thought it was the right time to jump
into the fray. So at one stage he even told Shukla: "Why don't you propose
my name?" Shukla promptly refused.
By the time the Singh group resolved its 'dispute'
in Digvijay's favour, Shukla as well as Scindia's MLAs were thoroughly
demoralised for being kept on tenterhooks for so long. Only when the CLP meeting
was underway did Scindia tell his supporters to back Shukla. But the confusion
ensured 103 votes for Digvijay.
But what happened to Arjun Singh's resolve to have
a Harijan, tribal or OBC as chief minister? He apparently wrote a letter to
S.C. Shinde, the party's poll observer for the state, to this purpose. He also
staged a walkout from the CLP meeting after he was not allowed to speak on the
subject. But as Shinde has reportedly remarked: "If he was so sincere, he
should have proposed a name." Singh's justification: "I also wanted
the democratic will to prevail."
In fact, one theory is that Singh wanted to teach
Yadav a lesson because at the time of ticket distribution Yadav had gone and
joined hands with Shukla. It appears that Singh retaliated by getting some of
the party tickets distributed in Yadav's home district, Khargone, against his
wishes. An enraged Yadav used an intermediary to strike a deal with Shukla.
Singh's masterstroke
In the final analysis, Singh has emerged as the
master of Madhya Pradesh politics. Kamal Nath's public outburst against Singh
seems to be part of a strategy to create confusion to let the Singh group also
capture the next prize post, vacated by the resignation of Digvijay as the
MPCC(I) president.
Yet, as the dust settles on the bitter power
struggle, one thing is apparent: the CLP seems to have made a sensible choice
in the energetic and intelligent Digvijay Singh.
One of his admirers, Mahila Congress leader Sarla
Mishra says: "Given the opportunity, he can carry everyone with him in the
star-studded but faction-ridden party."
Digvijay lost no time in trying to win friends. The
day after defeating Shukla in the CLP, he went to his house to seek his
blessings. He reportedly told Shukla: "I was the sapling you had planted
in the Congress garden 20 years ago. I am sure you will be happy at my
rise." Then in a tactical move, he sought permission to groom Shukla's
son, Amitesh, for a political career.
Challenge from BJP
Besides party disunity, Digvijay also faces a
challenge from the BJP. But he is confident that if the Congress(I) addresses
itself to its traditional constituency - the Harijans, tribals and the poor -
he can fight the BJP on a plank about which the party is at sea. To discredit
the BJP, he will review the decisions of the previous government including the
tendu leaf policy, lottery contracts and land allotments to the Sangh family
workers at throwaway prices.
As MPCC(I) chief he had given a sharp ideological
profile to his party in contrast to the BJP's pro-rich image. This will also
come handy as he tackles the BSP, which has cut heavily into the Congress(I)'s
vote banks. His solution is to work for the betterment of the oppressed and
treat Government employees well, many of whom have helped the BSP along.
Given this context, he has set the right priorities
for himself: an unemployment allowance, land to the landless, free electricity
to small farmers, and electricity and drinking water to all villages. And even
if he only partially achieves this agenda, the 20th chief minister of Madhya
Pradesh will have a smooth ride.
Interview
DIGVIJAY SINGH
“I
don’t want casteism in reverse”
The widespread perception that Digvijay Singh, 46, is one politician who
never forgets to return a call is all part of a reputation as a pleasant
good-natured man built up over a career spanning 25 years. Revelling in his
double celebration - on December 7, he was sworn in as Madhya Pradesh chief
minister and two days later his daughter was getting married - Digvijay Singh
spoke to Special Correspondent N.K. Singh during the wedding celebrations at
his New Delhi home. Excerpts:
Q. Your election has raised a controversy because of Arjun Singh saying
that he wanted an SC/ST to be made chief minister.
A. I do
not agree. There are upper caste leaders who have served the cause of the
oppressed castes. Mahatma Gandhi did not belong to the Harijans. If I am born
in a particular caste, it does not mean that I would not do justice towards
other communities. If we impose such restrictions, it would be casteism in
reverse. My constituency has only 3 per cent upper caste votes. The backward
castes and the Harijans have faith in me.
Q. What will be the role of S.C. Shukla in
the new Government?
A. I had joined the Congress(I) at his behest.
I am confident of his full cooperation.
Q. Your party's election manifesto makes many
promises. Will they be fulfilled?
A. Yes. I have given our election manifesto to
the chief secretary and asked him to formulate policy accordingly.
Q. What about the separate Chhattisgarh state
issue?
A. It would be the endeavour of my government
to speed up the region's development. But if it fails, we will approach the
Centre for the formation of a separate
state.
Q. Will you undo any step taken by the
previous BJP government?
A. There
will be an overall review of all the BJP's controversial decisions. Required
changes will be made. We have already promised inquiries into the scandals
relating to tendu leaves and other minor forest produce, lottery contracts and
land allotments to BJP workers.
Q. There was just a 2 per cent difference in the total votes polled by you
and the BJP.
A. I recognise that challenge. If we implement
the election promises and look after the traditional constituencies of the
Congress(I), the BJP will be wiped out.
Q. The BSP has cut into the Congress(I)'s traditional votebanks. How will
you meet this challenge?
A. I do not see much problem there. As a first
step, I propose to grant recognition to the SC and ST Employees Federation. I
plan to give good postings to SC/ST and backward officers. There is a need to
increase job reservations to 25 per cent in the state. If these decisions are
implemented, the BSP will have little base left.
India Today, 31 December 1993
nksexpress@gmail.com
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