‘If wishes were horses, even beggars would ride’

In 1996, shortly after the downfall of the Narasimha Rao government at the Centre, former finance minister Manmohan Singh was in Mumbai for an awards function.

I was a correspondent in The Pioneer (Mumbai edition) and my editor asked me to cover the event. I wondered what report I could get from an awards function. Moreover, even if I made an attempt to steal a few seconds with Singh, he would not entertain any issue other than finance.

“What political copy will I get?” I retorted. And my editor quipped: “Ask him would he like to become the prime minister?” I laughed, saying I know my copy is a non-starter as Singh would dismiss me with “No comments, please”, or “I am not in race. It is for the party to decide.” Sensing it was pointless to argue any more I set off to the function.

At the end of the function I walked on the dais and sheepishly asked: “The country reckons you as one of the pathbreaking FM. Would you like to become the PM?” Singh smiled and replied:  “If wishes were horses, even the beggars would ride.”

The casual comment came as a surprise to me. His simplicity made me believe it was pointless to read too much in the phrase. I filed the single column copy which was carried on Page 1, but refused to take my byline.

The incident comes to the mind as one realised that Singh who was nowhere in the power tussle in the faction ridden Congress continues to hold the post for last seven years.

Notwithstanding the huge image beating he has taken signalling the decline in his political career, it has triggered the debate on who would lead the nation in 2014. The cacophony over prime ministerial candidates with parties dropping names even before identifying the election planks conforms the political turmoil ahead. And mainstream Congress and BJP reposition themselves for centrestage their allies are racing to project their prime ministerial candidates. Thus indicating they cannot be taken for granted in an era of coalition politics.

Thanks to the United States Congressional Research Survey for identifying the PM candidates Rahul Gandhi versus Narendra Modi even as Congress and BJP are making concerted attempts to tackle the intra-organisational chaos to set their own houses in order. In private, Congress leaders show signs of anxiety about Rahul leading the nation to general elections. Their dilemma is understandable as he has not been able to display his street smartness (unlike sister Priyanka) in any of the election campaigns. His close associates boast about him being methodical. One who believes in team work.

In BJP nobody disputes Moditva magic in Gujarat. Even MNS chief Raj Thackeray is batting for Modi. However, BJP leaders in private are quick to point out how they have half a dozen able candidates who qualify for the PM’s role. Does one need any guessing? Even if LK Advani, 83, is kept out of race, the party believes they can always spring surprises at the last minute. But what has set them worried is that even a cadre based party cannot overlook the significance of personality factor so essential in Indian elections too.

Not to forget how party president Nitin Gadkari has undertaken the image building exercise albeit shedding his extra kilos to get into shape. Well, it could be for aggressive campaigning to make BJP number one even if he is dismissed from the PM race. Who ever thought Gadkari would ever lead organisation in Maharashtra and then graduate to Delhi. But then as far as grassroots workers are concerned they are not losing their sleep over ‘kaun banega pradhan mantri’. “In politics seven days is a long period. Imagine, we are talking of 2014.”