Nitin Gadkari misses a big opportunity for BJP

The elections in Jharkhand offered an excellent opportunity to the BJP president to “walk his talk” as well as bring back BJP back into the game. How? Let me explain.

BJP has supported Shibu Soren to become the chief minister of Jharkhand. We all know that Shibu Soren was tried for murder and his case is still pending in the Supreme Court. Apart from this, it is also alleged that he took money from the Congress for saving the Rao government. Even if Shibu Soren is acquitted, I am not sure that he is fit to be a leader as we all know that in our country the rich and the powerful including the politicians get away with murder, literally. Examples are galore. To name just a few – Rathore and Manu Sharma. Taking the above into consideration, I don’t think any party should have supported Shibu Soren. If the people give him a majority, so be it.

I believe the situation in Jharkhand offered Nitin Gadkari the opportunity to walk his talk, that is, he has preached that “you do not need power to serve the people.” Actually, when I read what he was saying in interviews and considering that he was selected by the RSS, I felt that he may be the man to bring a change for the better but then we all know that power almost always corrupts. If I was a BJP strategist or Nitin Gadkari, I would have refused to support Shibu Soren not only as the CM but also as a minister. BJP should have said that it will either form the government with parties which do not promote a chief minister candidate or even a minister with a criminal background or it will assist the formation of a clean government by giving issue based support or indirect support from outside. I will go as far as to state that BJP would be willing to support the formation of a even a Congress led government or even the Congress so long as no ministers or the chief minister has a criminal background.

Now imagine what this would have done to BJP’s image. Such an act would have immediately established that BJP has taken a serious decision to serve the people by bringing about honesty, transparency and good governance in government. I think this would have been the first time that any political party would have renounced power based forming a clean government. We all remember how much political mileage Sonia Gandhi gained when she did the same thing.

Also, think where Nitin Gadkari would have been if he would have done this? Nitin Gadkari would have become a national leader overnight. He would have instantly gained a political franchise and could have fought an election on his own and won it. He would have also gained the confidence of the BJP’s supporters. It would have been a 180 degree turnaround in the fortunes of BJP and its president. But as I mentioned earlier, power corrupts almost everyone.

I believe that not only Nitin Gadkari lost the opportunity to place BJP on a moral high ground and to position BJP as the honest party but this decision has further reduced the political standing and integrity of not only the BJP but also of Nitin Gadkari. BJP is going to be clubbed with the rest of the political system as corrupt and power hungry. Nitin Gadkari will be considered as no different from the Shibu Sorens and Madhu Kodas of the Indian political system. Why? The reasons are given below:

(a) BJP was critical of Shibu Soren being included as a minister in the Congress government. They are now partners in crime.

(b) Nitin Gadkari had said, “You don’t need power to serve the people.” And he has done exactly the opposite himself. Actually, he could have served the people literally by renouncing the power in Jharkand as the people of Jharkhand would have had a government headed by a non-criminal.

(c) It is obvious from the actions of BJP that they are ashamed of their action because no leader attended the swearing-in ceremony of Shibu Soren.

(d) Nitin Gadkari says, “There was no option for us. People in Kharkhand have elected Shibu Soren. In politics you have to do such things.” Who says so Mr. Gadkari. Where is it written Mr. Gadkari that you have to support a criminal? Who says there are no options? I have given you an option. We don’t need people with a criminal background running the goverrnment. On one side we have police officers like Rathore and on the other side we have people like Shibu Soren and Madhu Koda. Mr. Gadkari, I ask you where do the people go with such people in the government? Is this what you mean when you say that power is not necessary to serve the people. I think you should practice what you preach.

(e) Nitin Gadkari further states, “Soren was given money by the Congress. It is the Congress that strated the corruption.” I thought BJP claimed that it is better than Congress. The logic is simply ridiculous. I just hope that they don’t want to be better than Shibu Soren or Madhu koda.

(f) Another one of our so called senior political leader of NDA Sharad Yadav stated that Soren had been cleared by High Court and the matter is with the Supreme Court to justify an alliance with Soren. I think Sharad Yadav forgets that Shibu Soren was avoiding arrest and was on the run as a minister in the government. If he was law abiding, he should have given himself up and let the legal system take its course as these politicians are so found of saying.

(g) When Soren was on the run, BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi had said, “The minister (Soren) is a fugitive from the law and the PM from the house.” Well, now what does MM Joshi has to say about BJP’s action.

(h) BJP had used the tainted ministers plank as Manmohan Singh’s government included Lalu and Shibu Soren. Now where the agreement with Shibu Soren leave the BJP? If you ask me, down in the toilet or dump yard, whichever option you prefer.

So, BJP has lost an opportunity and the people of this country a light at the end of the tunnel.

Avinash Narula