It would be more accurate to describe Mr Arjun Singh’s renewed pledge of “loyalty to the entire Nehru-Gandhi family till I die,” after first sounding the clarion of defiance, as “abject surrender” rather than as “a tactical retreat.” There was certainly an element of deliberateness in the HRD minister’s bold challenge to the Congress central leadership, in this case personified as the high command by Mrs Sonia Gandhi, through unconcealed criticism of her style of functioning, decision-taking and evaluating loyalty.
Mr R.K. Dhawan was quite right in suspecting a “hidden agenda” behind his senior colleague’s outburst since it ran counter to the party dictum that the “leader” judges loyalty on the basis of the claimant’s deeds and not his words. Admittedly, Mr Arjun Singh’s deeds after the advent of the Sonia Gandhi era spoke quite loudly of his loyalty and elevated him to a coveted position as the top sycophant and loyalist whose commitment was acknowledged and appreciated.
By mounting a powerful offensive against P.V. Narasimha Rao that split the party and almost destabilised the then government, Mr Arjun Singh made life quite miserable for the former Prime Minister and Congress president. He did nothing to dispel the notion that the offensive enjoyed the blessings of Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Indeed, he did everything possible to promote the notion that it did. He never concealed his political ambitions nor the fact that he expected his loyalty to be rewarded.
He must have been most disappointed when Mrs Gandhi chose Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister after she had herself turned her face against the high office, and again when his claim to occupy Rashtrapati Bhavan was ignored and an unfancied political lightweight was rewarded for loyalty. Mr Arjun Singh reminded Mrs Gandhi of his loyalty when he unilaterally made an out-of-turn proposal in favour of Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister.
He was duly admonished for his indiscretion and asked to shed sycophancy, but he remained in grace and retained all his posts. So, which waters was he testing when he questioned Mrs Gandhi’s style as flawed, unfair and one-sided? A shrewd politician like him would be fully aware that comments against the high command would invite trouble.
If he still allowed their publication, he was knowingly risking a confrontation and spoiling for a fight. However, taken aback by the intensity of the reaction, with Mrs Gandhi herself making it known that he had touched the limit and deserved to be put in his place, an isolated and humbled Arjun Singh has chickened out. After all the drama, the question still remains: will he be forgiven for the second time?
