Everyone goes out to congratulate Rajiv Gandhi on his Lok Sabha elections win

Sonia and Arnitabh receive Kajiv at Palam Airport: The low-key reception didn't lastFor a man who detests sycophancy and all its accompanying obligations, Rajiv Gandhi, newly-elected MP from Amethi, was predictably engulfed in it last fortnight. Barely had he returned from his exhausting victory, when politicians of all hues made a beeline for 1, Akbar Road, weighed down with garlands, flowers and paeans of praise to their new messiah.For days after his return, the switchboard at the prime minister's house was jammed with congratulatory calls while telegrams grew into a minor mountain. The capital was plastered with posters while newspapers, specially the Congress(I) mouthpiece, National Herald, carried huge advertisements put in by everybody from industrialists and restaurants to fruit-sellers welcoming their favourite son into the political fold. According to one newspaper advertising manager, the Rajiv advertisement blitz cost well over Rs 2 lakh. Said a Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha member: "The sycophancy campaign orchestrated by the hangers-on and favour-seekers only goes to prove that Rajiv's baptism has made no change in the Congress(I)'s personality-oriented politics."Rajiv himself had little warning of the overwhelming reception awaiting him. Before his arrival at Palam Airport, strict instructions had gone out that his reception was to be a low-key affair. In fact, the only illustrious person in the reception committee was the towering matinee idol Amitabh Bachchan, a family friend who accompanied Sonia Gandhi and Rajiv's two children to the airport. But if Rajiv was expecting his reprieve to continue, he was in for a rude shock.Antulay and Solanki present a booklet on Rajiv to Mrs Gandhi: Ode to the new heir?Discordant Notes:No sooner was he back in his home to get some well-earned rest and catch up on his recently neglected family life, than the cacophony started. Maharashtra Chief Minister A.R. Antulay, Kedar Pande, the railway minister, and Gujarat Chief Minister M. Solanki grandly presented the prime minister a pictorial book on Rajiv entitled Rajiv Gandhi: the hope of millions. Not to be outdone, leading industrialists like K.K. Birla and K.N. Modi arrived at Rajiv's doorstep weighed down with expensive, elaborate bouquets.But what struck the most discordant note was the plethora of advertisements which appeared in the leading dailies (except Indian Express) of the capital. Some examples of the syrupy paeans of praise are:Jain Tube Company Ltd: "Amethi does it again: Now Gifts to the Nation the Gentle Spirit of Service of Rajiv." Delhi Automobiles Pvt. Ltd: "Heartiest congratulations to Rajiv Gandhi: The Rising Sun of India On His Tremendous Victory from Amethi."Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA): "His knowledge of aviation is going to improve aviation in the country and will promote air safety in particular. We need a person like him in the Lok Sabha for the improvement of the lot of the Indian masses."Moti Mahal Restaurant: "Indian masses have once again shown their absolute faith in Nehru legacy and sent Rajiv Gandhi to Parliament with a thumping majority."International Meditek Pvt Ltd.: "Nation Welcomes the Symbol of Dynamic Youth, Rajiv Gandhi and congratulates the wisest electorate of Amethi for their right choice."Avon Surgico Pvt Ltd: "Nation is Proud of Her Most Sensible Electorate for electing Rajiv Gandhi."Predictably, the greatest number of advertisements were carried by National Herald and equally predictably, a majority of the advertisers turned out to be well-known Congress(I) sympathisers and some close relatives of Yash Pal Kapoor, managing director of the newspaper. Said Vinod Malhotra, owner of Manoramesh & Co, dealers in belts and pulleys: "Yash Pal Kapoor is related to us and we have a permanent account with National Herald."The names of all the advertisers had a distinctly Punjabi ring: Malhotra, Suri, Arora, Sapru and Batra. Some of them professed ignorance at the advertisements that appeared on their behalf. Said one: "I have not seen the ad and I don't recall having sponsored it at all." Dr R.N. Jain, managing director of Jain Tube Company, who took out a full-page advertisement, refused to comment when contacted by India Today. But a Delhi-based office bearer of ICPA justified the campaign by saying: "Rajiv was one of our most active members and for the first time a commercial pilot has been elected to Parliament." For those who had witnessed much the same sort of thing during Sanjay's time, it was a familiar ritual to catch the eye of the Congress(I) leadership. Said a seasoned Congress(I) politician: "This disease of sycophantitis is now widespread and the virus is concentrated power."Unwanted Attention: Meanwhile, the object of their lavish attention had wisely dropped out of circulation. Rajiv locked himself away in his house till June 23, when he made his first public appearance with his mother at Shantivan in connection with the first death anniversary of his late brother, Sanjay. By doing so, he disappointed the chief ministers of Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, who had air-dashed to Delhi in the wake of Rajiv's victory to offer congratulations.All of them justified their presence at the prime minister's official residence. Said Arjun Singh, Madhya Pradesh chief minister: "He is not like any other Congress(I) candidate who has won. There is a lot of difference." That Rajiv was uncomfortable at the unwanted attention was obvious. Said one of his aides: "I fail to understand why these politicians cannot stop these cheap tactics when they know Mr Gandhi does not like it." In fact, Rajiv had made it clear during his campaign that he resented their intrusion and had sent packing leading industrialists who had come personally to Amethi or dispatched senior executives to offer their help.Even after his return, Rajiv refused to see the chief ministers and assorted VIPs who gathered like vultures at his door. All the approximately 100 people who sought appointments with Rajiv daily since his return were curtly told by his secretary that, "Mr Gandhi is not meeting anybody till June 23." In the bargain, the other Congress (I) victors like Begum Abida Ahmed, wife of the former President of India, were rudely ignored. Meanwhile, Rajiv's close friends were quietly spreading the message that Rajiv was interested in ushering in a qualitative change in the party with the emphasis on work and that no amount of sycophancy would pay in future. More important, however, Rajiv Gandhi was finding out the kind of price he will have to pay for having added the letters MP after his name.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 18, 2013 10:07 IST--- ENDS ---

Download App

Get 37% off on an annual Print +Digital subscription of India Today Magazine

Everyone goes out to congratulate Rajiv Gandhi on his Lok Sabha elections win

For a man who detests sycophancy and all its accompanying obligations, Rajiv Gandhi, newly-elected MP from Amethi, was predictably engulfed in it last fortnight.

PUBLICATIONS

TELEVISION

EVENTS

RADIO

GAMING

USEFUL LINKS

PRINTING

WELFARE

DISTRIBUTION

SYNDICATIONS

WEBSITES

EDUCATION