“
What can I do,
if I
don’t send him
money he himself
comes over here
to collect money,”.
This
is the confession
of a member
of Bihar Assembly
late Rajkishore Keshri.
He was allegedly
killed by a lady who earlier
charged him of rape. And
incidentally the rape
story was first
published by me.
Rajkishore was a nice
man, but he had two
drawbacks, first he was a
fool and easily
gullible and second
he was extremely
greedy. Greedy for money
and also position.
Once elected he
was so addicted
to power that
he would never
think of abdicating.
And
he was elected
to the position
four times. Ironically
during every election
there was vehement
demand to cut
his party ticket
but he managed to secure
that. The reason, he
had a Godfather at
Patna. And to please
his Godfather he had to
send money and
girls at regular
intervals. And his confession
came when I asked
him one day
why he was
so busy always
roaming among officials
and traders and collecting money.
But
Rajkishore is not the
lone example. To succeed
and
climb ladders in Indian politics
one has to have
a Godfather. If
the Godfather is
father or father
in law then success
comes
easy and fast
but others have
to tread
a monetary and promiscuous path
to please his
or her Godfather,
as whatever claims
of nationalism or
popularity, Indian politicians
have two aims,
money and women. For
a male novice
he has to
manage all and
for females she
should be prepared
to sacrifice herself,
not only to
her God father
but to anybody
else too if
need such arises. As
politicians are known
for switching their loyalties
thus Godfather keeps
changing and newcomers
have to fulfil
new demands.
Besides one
also has to
prostrate ( or touch
feet) before his or her
Godfather publicly, has to
address even the servants of
Godfathers as “Sir” and has to
manage all events
concerning his or her
Godfather may it be
a rally or
birthday bash.
Earlier I
had rubbished all these but
I experienced the
facts first as a
journalist (witnessed all these
personally) and later
when I myself
tried to secure
party tickets during
the elections.
During the
2014 Parliamentary elections
I received message
from a political
party and rushed
to Delhi to
meet the party
president. At his
residence there was
huge congregation, each
one trying for
a party ticket. Then
came a man
to me introducing
himself as PA of that
party president.
“ What can
you manage,? was his
direct question.
I was
a bit confused
but being a
shrewd journalist I immediately understood
what he meant.
“ Whose recommendation, ? “ was
his next question.
The
picture was clear
to me. But
I kept patience
as he told
me to come
in the evening.
In
the evening I
saw the waiting
room filled with
half men and half
women, some of
very early age. My
number came after half
an hour. That fellow
I often saw
on television looked
like a rustic. He
listened to me
for a while
then “ retorted we have
decided party ticket
for the place.”
He called the
next person.
When
I came out
the same PA
confronted me.
“ So
you think party
ticket is that easy.
These fellows have
been Saheb’s followers for
several years. They never
come here empty
handed. And you have come
suddenly”, he seemed
to be logical.
I
contested as an Independent
candidate and came
fifth among 17 candidates
some of them
purchasing tickets for
over Rs 2
crore (20 million) and
over 100 call
girls of Rs
1 lakh per
night.
Later
during the Assembly
elections in Bihar
in 2015 the
story was repeated.
This time a
gentleman tried to
console me,” I know you
are the best
in the lot
but you would
not get the
ticket as you
have no Godfather
here,”.
According to
him Godfather was
not meant only
during the elections
but even if
elected one has to fulfil
all
demands. And knowing my
character and past
record as a
journalist no senior
politician would like
to be my
Godfather, was his assessment.
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