Shashi Tharoor (http://tharoor.in/)
Here is a simple rule of Indian politics. Every crisis is an opportunity in a masquerade. Handled deftly every challenge has potential benefits. Shashi Tharoor, the country’s recently resigned junior foreign minister over a cricket franchise bid controversy, has just begun to discover this paradox of Indian politics.
On a visit to Thiruvananthapuram, his home and parliamentary constituency in the state of Kerala, Tharoor found out how many layers of public perceptions make up Indian politics. From all accounts he received a hero’s welcome from his constituents who believe Tharoor was motivated by the idea of advancing Kerala’s interests when he mentored the cricket franchise bid which is now shaking the country’s political order. In contrast, in New Delhi knives are out against him.
I am sure in the days before and after his resignation Tharoor would have seriously questioned the wisdom of having chosen a political career in India when he could have embarked on potentially lucrative global consulting options after spending three decades as a United Nations official. However, the visit back home must have settled that ferment in his mind. If he positions himself well, Tharoor can emerge much stronger as a politician than what he was barely two weeks ago. Indian politics respects nothing more than a politician riding the crest of popularity.
One of the consequences of the fractious nature of Indian politics is that those politicians who can rally their state or region behind them acquire a great deal of bargaining power. Tharoor is possibly presented with such an opportunity. Of course, there is still a question mark over whether his conduct in helping mentor a consortium of investors bid for a cricket team was unethical at best or illegal at worst.
If it turns out that his conduct was unethical, Tharoor might have to keep a low profile in the short-term. However, in the long-term it would be seem like a rite of passage. If it is illegal, then he might face a more serious challenge. But then Indian politics is full of examples over the last 60 years of leaders with far more damaging scandals attached to their names having gone on to scale much greater heights.
I say this merely as a factual observation and not in way to endorse the rotten state of affairs. Being corrupt can be a distraction but it is not necessarily career ending in Indian politics. In Tharoor’s case, it is entirely possible that he did nothing egregious, unethical or illegal. My point is more often than not a political career in India can be far more rewarding after such a rite of passage.