(Image via indiatoday.com)
After the parliamentary elections, the BJP did not really know what to do with eminence grise like L.K.Advani and MM Joshi. They had to give them a position that balances out their seniority while at the same time not giving any power whatsoever. The Margadarshak mandal was created. No one knows whether it has met even once, even to debate the Delhi disaster. Joshi and Advani are on the bench.
Two weeks back, the CPI M decisively sidelined its only mass leader, the 90 year old Achutanandan. He is not part of any decision making body. One could argue that the CPI politburo itself is an advisory body without a single mass based politician. However, VS is now on the bench.
Last week the AAP got down to business and removed two of its founding members, who can actually talk well on TV without coughing or making a meal of their sentences from their administrative body. Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan are on the bench.
No one knows whether Rahul Gandhi has gone to the World Cup in Australia. As and when he returns, he is likely to take over as the party President. He is also supposedly cut up with seniors in the party. While one does not know the specifics, it could be that people like Sibal, Chidambaram etc. could move onto the bench.
“This means a lot of people who have seen different degrees of success in their career are going to be playing advisory roles to parties that do not want their advice in the first place. All of them still want to do something,” said political analyst Dushyant Yeshmukh.
It is rumored that Advani, Joshi, Achutanandan, Yadav, Bhushan and whoever is not in Rahul’s good books are going to come together and form a party. Obviously, this is not going to be called as Margadarshak Congress Or Berozgar Janata Party. Each of them want to bring a portion from their party. Accordingly, the party will be called Margadarshak United Knowledgable Aadmi Party (MAUKA) of India.
“Our theme song will be the Mauka Mauka jingle,” said an excited Murli Manohar Joshi, who has watched every moment in the ongoing World Cup, including matches that involve UAE and Scotland.
MAUKA’s founders have stuck a deal with all political parties in India seeking to dump seniors. For every leader so dumped, the party will make a contribution of Rs 10 lakhs to MAUKA. According to sources, Rahul Gandhi has paid up Rs 5 crores and blocked 50 slots. M.K.Stalin is also in talks with the party for sending one senior for Rs 5 crores. BJP has deposited 10 lakhs as an advance to keep Sushma Swaraj on tenterhooks.
“People cannot join the party just like that. They need to be first nominated and then MAUKA will do a SMS poll of its members before admitting the person,” said Yogendra Yadav.
“The party has a two point agenda. First is to provide a security net for all people unfairly laid off from their job. Second is to organize some work for such people so that they are actively engaged in something,” veteran leader Achutanandan signed off.