SYL verdict: Too Patiala Peg to intoxicate aam aadmi?

Feudalism may have long given way to democracy, but someone forgot to tell Captain Amarinder Singh, head of the Congress Party’s Punjab unit that he can stop living like a maharaja now. While he emerged a giant killer after defeating BJP’s top strategist Arun Jaitley in the last Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar, he has hardly attended or participated in parliamentary debates. 

The head of the royal family of the erstwhile State of Patiala, his extravagance plays out in his love of cricket and polo. After taking over as Chief Minister of Punjab in 2002, aides recall, he never stayed at his official residence. 

Known to chart his own work schedule, he would arrive at the Secretariat around noon in a helicopter from his palace in Patiala, attend a few meetings and sign a few files, before boarding it again to attend an evening escapade at his palace. But in a party that is accustomed to promoting sycophants, Singh is regarded as the sole leader who dares to speak his mind before Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi. All efforts to discipline him have been of no avail. 

This is the second time Singh has quit the Lok Sabha. He was inducted into the Congress by Rajiv Gandhi, who was his friend from Doon school’s 1960 batch. Rajiv was two years his junior, and Amarinder was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980. He, however, resigned in 1984 to protest the Army action during Operation Blue Star and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He returned to the Congress in 1998, after Sonia Gandhi took over. 

Singh is believed to have the inherited traits of his grandfather Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, who had sired 88 children from his five wives and numerous consorts, of whom at least 53 survived. His fairly tale romance with Pakistani journalist Aroosa Alam, mother of popular Pakistani actor and singer Fakhar-e-Alam, was the buzz in Delhi’s power corridors. Singh has never denied the speculation.

Punjab goes to polls early next year, and it’s a do-or-die battle for both Singh and his party, even more so Rahul Gandhi. Realising that he is the only hope for the party in Punjab, the Congress High Command has given him a free hand. But strategist Prashant Kishor insists on projecting him as ‘Captain’ rather than a ‘Maharaja’, to consciously play on the Army rank. This is to pitch him against not only traditional rival Shiromani Akali Dal, but also the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has positioned itself as a flag-bearer of ordinary citizens. Continuing with the royal image allows the AAP to position the aam aadmi against a maharaja.

Insiders say that AAP has jolted Singh into acquiring a survival instinct. He stretches interactions beyond 7 pm. He is accessible. He begins the day as early as 7.30 am, and interacts with party workers. The kingdom of Patiala may have vanished, leaving the traits behind only in the Patiala Peg, but Singh’s kingly manner remains. 

Whether he will be able to give up the mantle of maharaja is a million dollar question. So far, he is the Congress’ only hope. As party leader Jairam Ramesh says: “Amarinder is a great leader working hard to get the Congress back to power in Punjab in 2017.” Yes, but in the palace or Assembly?