Re: [Assam] With due apologies..............

[Rajen Barua]

 Dear Baruah: Very nice evaluation of Mahanta and politics in Assam. I think one of the main problems of the so called leaders in Assam, they donot have the honesty and the strategy. FIRST AND FOREMOST: Anybody who aspire to be a leader in politics or public welfare, and be successful in that they will have to create the right personal image of honesty, courage, capability and much more.   Mahanta has I think spent up all his political capital in Assam and he cannot go without building up new capital.. I agree in your assessment that "In such a situation Mahanta ought to have first tried to re-build up his image. Unfortunately such advice is not professionally available in the backwaters of Assam. Secondly he should not rush in and should await his chance. Lastly, he should not try to form a new party"   Fortunately Assam is still a virgin field so far as political leaders are concerned. I think people in general may excuse a leader for his personal failure if he can prove to be honest. At this stage what Mahanta should do, in my view, to take off from politics completely for some time and sincerely work on building up his fallen image by starting working sincerely for welfare of Assam outside the politics and may be forming some type of NGO. The bottom line is people will have to see his sincerely and honesty (i.e. if he is sincere and honest for Assam). That way he may be surprised how quickly he can build up his capital and may be within two three years he may compe to politics again. And if he is not honest and sincere, he should go down the drain.   The above advice is a general advice to all political leaders in Assam not that I have any feeling for leaders like Mahanta. But unfortunately in Assam we donot have any leaders or would be leaders at all worth the name. And that has been the misfortune for the Assam and the Assamese.   In case of ULFA-GOI dialogue also, the issue is not when and if such dialogue will happen, but the issue is what happens the day after such dialogue. Where is the leadership? Rajen Barua ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 7:24 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] With due apologies.............. As I do not owe loyalty to any political party of Assam, I feel I can safely exhibit my profundity on contemporary politics with a few home truths.   Prafulla Mahanta, a former Chief Minister of Assam and a sitting MLA, lost his leadership of the BJP in Assam and now wants to form a new political party. The next election is round the corner.   Mahanta had the misfortune of having been involvement in a personal scandal and his image has been tarnished a great deal within and outside the party. The press has never been kind to his person. India is not very much known for its libel laws; not a bad thing perhaps from various other considerations.   Political Science does not recommend any candidate to stand independently. Usually leaders of his stature get elected but that cannot be said of the newly formed party. In the ultimate analysis, a political party’s objective is to occupy the seat of power at any cost. There was an exception in the case of P.A Sangma, the leader of the National Congress Party. But he flourished within the context of both State and national politics by virtue of his outstanding ability, the right image, personal charisma and a tribal background. Even his success could be regarded as fractional.   In such a situation Mahanta ought to have first tried to re-build up his image. Unfortunately such advice is not professionally available in the backwaters of Assam. Secondly he should not rush in and should await his chance. Lastly, he should not try to form a new party.   I give an example from the recent Briish political scene. Robert Kilroy-Silk is now a Member of the European Parliament. He very successfully hosted a chat show in BBC television in the morning for a number of years. Tall, distinguished-looking and obviously owning the gift of the gab, in no time he became a household name. Then rather unexpectedly, following a little unpleasantness with his employers caused by the ceaseless flow of his utteranaces, he decided to quit television and join politics. He plunged into the UK Independence Party, an Eurosceptic group. He wanted to lead the UKIP. Not being very hopeful to do so, after a brief period with UKIP, he started a new party: Veritas. He lost, and lost badly. His parting words were: It was clear from the general election voters were  content with the older parties. It was impossible to run the party without significant cash and a proper structure.   Bhuban     _______________________________________________ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

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