Chapter 25 – Part 1:
Winter 1998, New Delhi
"You don't need to call and book an appointment with my secretary to meet me, you know? You are my son," Vimal Raizada said amused at his son's penchant for professionalism.
"I know. But I want to," he said.
"What is it Arnav?" Vimal Raizada asked.
"If I want to manufacture steel, what should I do?" Arnav asked not beating around the bush. Senior Raizada looked momentarily stunned but recovered very quickly. He knew that Arnav's casual exuberance was a facade to something much intense and primordial.
"What you need is a political lobbyist." Raizada said peering at his son. Noting Arnav's smile, he couldn't help but question it. "You are smiling," he said.
"Had I asked anyone else they would have asked me for a business plan," he said tapping his index finger on the table.
"Had you been anyone else, I would have said the same. But you are my son," Raizada said.
"So I have the privilege of truth?" Raizada didn't know if Arnav was teasing him or testing him or taunting him. He played along anyway.
"No, you get the solution proposition which will work," he replied. "My secretary will give you a name; make sure you contact her for any further details. She will be expecting your call."
"Thank you father," Arnav said getting up. The men shook hands and Vimal Raizada watched his son walk out if his office. He couldn't read Arnav's expression and didn't understand the intent behind such a request. He hadn't asked for help – financially but asked for contact from an entirely different point of view; as if he was investigating into it. Arnav probably wanted to test his own father about the process in which the system worked. Immersed in thoughts, he picked up phone to call Meera Nanda, telling her that his son would be calling soon.
Minutes later he placed another call, now to his friend Gupta, Khushi's father.
****
"What can I do for you?" Meera Nanda asked pleasantly handing Arnav a large mug of Green tea. "Are you sure you don't want anything?" She asked Khushi. Khushi nodded. "Your father told me that you would be calling me," she added for good measure. Whispers would have started in plush offices and noisy restaurants that Arnav Raizada paid a visit to Meera Nanda, the political lobbyist to big names in politics and corporate houses.
"What can you tell me about Vikramaditya Rathore?" Arnav asked keeping a close eye on the older woman's expression.
"He is a mass leader and is respected amongst prominent right wing leaders. His constituency isn't doing that great, like most backward villages, yet he continues to thrive," she said.
"What's the real reason for the party not to expand at national level? It's surprising that parties which were formed much later have put in a prime minister already," Khushi said. "Fourteen seats this year Meera; that's not a small number," Khushi said.
"I am sorry…" Meera trailed looking between Arnav and Khushi. "I don't understand what is that you want from me," she said. Only during moments of confusion, the British accent she was born with came out in open.
"We are just asking questions Meera," Arnav said and took a generous sip of tea. "I hope by the end of this meeting I should be in a position to decide whether to hire you or not," he said. The older woman looked at two very young people in front of her and wondered what the kids could possibly want. She was a veteran in the game and could smell the wanton needs of a client a mile away but when it came to Arnav and Khushi, she smelled nothing.
Seeing that the two were waiting for her response, she cleared her throat. "Okay then," she said.
"So, do you know the reason?" Khushi asked taking them back to their discussion.
"Rathore is a control freak and wants his sons to inherit the party one day – nothing new in this country if you ask me. But politically speaking it's a good solution," Meera said pouring herself a cup of hot water.
"How is that?" Khushi asked.
"A big party, like Congress, for example has been well established for years. It has gotten time to evolve and expand with time while the elections of '77 forever changed the outlook of country. Had the concept of coalition not worked out, Rathore would be the first one to expand his party." Meera said.
"How is that a problem?" Arnav asked. He knew in theory all of this but a political mind which could connect the dots by looking at the problem from a much broader perspective was what he was looking for.
"Till then, a major party was ruling the country and traditionally a longer and stable government always ensured economic stability. The results have been obvious and the rate in which a policy is implemented is much quicker in a majority run government."
"Because of the absence of conflicts of interests," Khushi asked.
"That's right. Now with coalition government, you had an unsteady system which is continually boiling and someone or the other isn't satisfied with the outcome. Larger the number of parties in formation of government, larger is instability." Meera replied. "Whatever happened during Emergency became the foundation of the alliance's political agenda for elections but when the time came to implement, it became messy. Few of the alliance leaders were against the stance the alliance took against Congress and it became increasingly difficult to maintain peace internally in the cabinet which in the end became the biggest issue."
"This was in fact the very reason why the government couldn't sustain and elections were held three years later. Congress won with a majority this time because of gross incompetence in running country and multidirectional view the alliance posted against Congress. What they lacked was a single source of truth," Arnav explained.
"So this influenced Rathore to stay away from mainstream, Delhi to be specific, yet could act as puppeteer whenever he wished to. Is that right?" Khushi asked.
"To an extent only Khushi. It's also the same reason why DMK or AIADMK are localized parties. The leaders recognized by these parties are known to mass for their association with them over the years. It is more to do with culture than with the work that's done by the party. There is a history associated with the formation of the party and the leaders associated to it and the people recognize it. That's the power that these parties look for. Rathore has that advantage in his state but outside – it's too late now. Expansion in one way happens when the party consciously nominates a local candidate under their symbol or gets a local party to merge with them. Rathore didn't do either." Meera said. Turning to Arnav she said, "You are a political science student, why do you think he didn't expand the party outside his home state?"
"A smaller party is easier to maintain, easier to control and it's where the money is. These parties don't represent the nation's will and that's the first step in failure of delivering democracy. Rathore's party represents a very small section of a very large country and is the incorrect clout of the nation's interest yet when the time comes, his people would be cabinet ministers and would take over policy making in various sectors," Arnav said. "The extent of corruption these parties partake is beyond point of redemption or comprehension simply because they become the bridge between large parties and the state. The state cannot refute Rathore's presence and the influence he has over other political bigwigs irrespective of the party they represent or belong to. What he has is an advantage of having complete control on scarce resources," Arnav explained.
"Coal mines?" Khushi caught on quickly. Both Meera and Arnav nodded.
"One of the most important and scarce commodity in this country. He represents the section of people who work and own the lands. It's immaterial what our evaluation of his contribution to the people is, but they see him as the next avatar of Vishnu. Manufacturing sector adores him and since media and a large portion of government are treated as personal alley shop of these corporates, neither government nor media or corporate can shake him from his invisible throne," Meera said.
"What will happen if he is dethroned?" Khushi asked. Meera looked confused for a moment.
"It will be chaos when it happens and then instability will perforate the system. The party may be completely dissolved as I don't see a good leader to take over. From elections perspective, it's a fairly large party or at least large enough to swing a government." Meera replied recovering quickly.
"What about his sons?" Khushi asked again. "Aren't they capable enough to take over?"
"His younger son Dhananjay is still in school and is said to be a typical spoilt brat. His older son, Bhanu Pratap, however has issues with…women. He doesn't have the charm of a leader but has enough cruelty and cunningness to demand respect." Meera said. "He is already the de-facto next leader of the party."
"With demystification of political agenda these larger parties will start splitting. Any party single handedly winning an election wouldn't be all that easy. It is then party like Rathore's will play a crucial role." Arnav explained to Khushi.
Everyone seemed to be immersed in their thoughts when none spoke for moments.
"You still haven't told me what you want from me," Meera asked Arnav who bore a thoughtful expression.
"I want to control half of the majority seats during the formation of government irrespective of which coalition we are talking about. They have to be smaller regional parties and preferably non main stream. If you accept, Khushi will draw an agreement and a master contract for a decade." Arnav said.
Meera looked at the young man who was probably less than twenty five offering her a job which could either make or completely break her life.
"It's impossible," she exclaimed once the request fully hit her. "The sheer number of connections and intra networking that goes into a plan like this…its folly to even remotely attempt such a thing," she said.
"It is possible. You can start with planting me as political consultant for Rathore. We can take it from there," he said casually.
This, she hadn't expected. No one hired her to get them a job for God's sake!
She sighed noisily. This was going to be a magnanimous thing she would ever do in her life. "Alright. I can do that."
"Khushi and I will provide the formula for taking people into your confidence and from there you can start building on it." Arnav said getting up. "It was a pleasure doing business with you Meera. Like father said, you really are the best in the field."
Meera shook hands with two young people and looked at her signed copy of t the non-disclosure agreement Khushi had put in front of her earlier. There was a promise in Khushi's eyes when she calmly mentioned that if Meera were to ever break the agreement, consequences would be abysmal. She chose to believe it without a doubt. It was safe that way.
****
"Shall I talk to my father now?" Khushi asked sliding into the car. The compact Maruti800 didn't do justice for Arnav's build but neither complained.
"Scared you can't get a job with Saini on your own?" Arnav taunted.
"I am not allowing my pride come in between what I want and what needs to be done Arnav. I won't ask him directly of course but will ensure that he knows about my wish to join that firm. If he knows, he can't resist not talking to Sampat or Saini." Khushi said rubbing her hands to warm them. Delhi cold was biting their bones but the excitement of starting on new things had made them forget about it momentarily.
"You are one wile woman Khushi," Arnav said half in mock amusement and half in tease.
Khushi only laughed at that.
To be continued.
Arjun
Cricket
Indian Mythology
44