Sunday Snippets: Manish and political branding!
By Venkatesh Raghavan
My friend Amir sounded a bit distraught about the arrest of Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Our conversation went somewhat along these lines as we ordered toast butter at our familiar Irani cafe.
Amir: It’s really a severe threat to all democratic institutions in our country. Manish Sisodia who was such a brilliant performer on both the health and education front has been put behind the bars. This happened too for something which has already been repealed, meaning the state’s liquor policy.
Me: As a precedent, this would help all state governments to act transparently in their liquor license policies. This has always been a grey area with the respective state governments.
Amir: I am unable to understand how this will usher transparency of any measure in a state’s liquor license policy. In fact, the arrest has sent the message that if you have any trouble with the law enforcing authority just declare publicly that you have formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. The rest will get sorted out automatically.
Me: When I say transparency Amir, I don’t mean lack or absence of corruption or bribes. I only mean that the state government and liquor lobbies together will arrive at a consensus that will help protect each others’ interests. We agree everything is up for sale in this country. However, we will lend a helping hand to those in trouble, when the need arises owing to political compulsions.
Amir: Don’t you feel it’s ominous for any politician from the opposition ranks to be in a seat of power in the respective state government?
Me: Look Amir, there is something called organic growth when it comes to the corporate world. When a start-up comes out with an innovation and gets noticed for it, a corporate firm from the organized sector invests money and purchases the start-up venture to expand its sphere of operations. Similarly, when the BJP sees someone doing very well in a smaller unit or political party, they also desire organic growth by acquiring that particular minister or politician.
Amir: Well, in the corporate world, this would contribute to oligarchy or still worse monopoly. In politics, however, it would imply unrestrained dictatorial regimes being put in place.
Me: Nothing of that sort Amir. Just try to understand the concept of job work. Let’s say a shoe company by name of Bata wants 1000 pairs of shoes to be ready for the market. They outsource their requirement to some small-time manufacturer, who is more than willing to supply them after being allotted the raw material. The product will, however, not bear the name of the small-time operators. It will carry the brand name, Bata.
Amir: Do you mean to say that there will be only one political party and all the rest can go take a walk?
Me: From a long-term point of view Amir, we can save thousands of crores of rupees that get spent every five years just prior to the elections.
Amir: Oh! So then there won’t be that cuss word ‘vendetta’ existing in our dictionary anymore. In any case, let the law take its own course in the case of Manish Sisodia…and all others of his ilk!
Me: You hit the nail, my wise friend.
Amir: (Chuckles).
