Fulcrum of influence

When I was in a Delhi a few weeks, I remember two particular stories which intrigued me, they reeked of sick flamboyance of two different kinds.

First story - Late one evening a few forthnights ago, it seems Rahul Gandhi (the handsome loose cannon!) dropped in on a village in his constituency. He claims to be a development economist was discussing his ideas, which carried onto the night and he accepted a simple meal offerd by some dalit women and then rested on a charpai (string cot) until daybreak.

A gesture like this under normal circumstances by an ordinary soul like me perhaps would have gone unnoticed. But the sicon of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty trying to build his political career caught the media attention.

Guess, India is getting ready for elections, perhaps this year, and any gesture by a leading politican is watched for fresh meaning.

Bill Clinton or Barack Obama eating a hamburger anywhere would go unnoticed I am sure.

Story two - Anyways, Rahul Gandhi found lodgings in a dalit's house without fear of his personal security was driving yet another stiletto into India's 'current' hottest political prospect - Mayawati Naina Kumari (BTW - until now I dint know she had such a loooooong name :).

Bhen Maya, a former teacher, is the first and ONLY Dalit Chief Minister (I keep telling my Dad, that I have been into a wrong family - should have been either in a richie rich or OBC - and bhoy oh bhoy- where would I be then !).

Mayawati was born poor and has seen a meteoric rise in Indian politics. Her majority now ensures that she is a force to reckon with. Mayawati astutely gave large number of seats to muslims and upper caste brahamins and has assembled a rainbow coalition that had served as Congress vote bank until now.

With power, comes flamboyance. This one time poor dalit now mass leader now seems fears her personal security, celebrates her birthday in style wearing diamonds with slimy bureaucrats finger-feeding cake to their boss! (sic)

Today she has insatiable thurst for diamonds and her wealth seems to multiply each year and her power by the moment.

In recent state elections her candidates ate into the Congress votes and gave the victories to BJP instead (though she hates them equally). And with this she can now demand at will dollops of funds from the Congress govt for her state .

What an irony - it was Rahul Gandhi attracted large crowds during the UP elections, BUT it was Mayawati who got the power.

She has a dream to head to Delhi and she is journeying her way there by overturning the power patterns making her the fulcrum of influence.