Wannabe PM?

The art of forming political coalitions in India seems to have acquired a new mantra. The 'Wannabe PM?' syndrome is gaining ground all over the country. Prominent aspiring political leaders are being lured into this syndrome and on the basis of their anticipated affirmations new coalitions or fronts are manufactured.

During the Nuclear Deal turmoil when the leftist parties of India vehemently opposed signing of the N-Deal with the US a lot of unlikely groups made unlikely coalitions with the promise of making someone the Prime Minister (PM) after winning the next general elections. Now with parliamentary general elections in five phases starting from April 16, 2009 the process of politicians making 'strange bedfellows' is naturally getting accelerated. Some regional or national political leaders cannot help but keep a lifelong ambition of becoming the PM. Some of them succeed, no matter even if it means for a few days only, and others remain eternally hopeful. If we call it a baser instinct then it is 'pandering to baser instincts'. What is wrong if 'pandering' leads to an endless stream of fronts?

In Maharashtra state of the Indian Union too the 'sons of soil' sentiment is playing its part in the overall unfolding of the syndrome. If a son of soil of a particular region wants to be the PM political parties of that region tend to forget political affiliations and ideologies. Thus we get 'regional integration'. Now, if someone like that finally becomes the PM how s/he is going to reconcile to the eternal theme of 'national integration' is a question better left alone. India is a country of states having a multi diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, religion and language, thus the theme of 'national integration' is a must to bind the country into a cohesive whole.

For the moment we can enjoy the great entertainment show of 'wannabe PM' and wait for the suspense drama to end after the elections. Or, do we have a say on who should be or would be or could be the eventual PM?