The stage is all set for Mr. Shashi Tharoor to enter state politics. He would be contesting on Congress ticket from the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram. Having read many of his books and articles over the period of time, I have mixed feelings about this move from him.
The first question which comes to my mind is, why politics?
Has he run out of a job, a sense of purpose after losing to Ban-Ki-Moon in the UN Secretary General elections?
Is it the bid to complete his own ideology of filling in the gap of good educated politicians in the country compared to the US?
Or is it just another power monger in the fray?
I have seen Tharoor as a skilful writer with the right selection of words mixed with vibrant sarcasm and charishma. After working in the UN from the age of 22, I am also sure of the fact that he is a good diplomat too. After all he is the Global Leader of the world.(World Econimic Forum at Davos)
But, do one have to be the global leader to be a good leader in state politics. I feel it’s a totally different ball game. Let’s weigh them.
At this juncture where I am gonna vote for the first time, there are some qualities which I feel that the person whom I vote should have.
They are the sense of purpose, not to change the world all together, but to accept the things the way they are, yet trying their bit to make it a better place. He/she should know the people they represent. In fact truly REPRESENT them. Should be patient to listen to their pleas. Should be there for them. Should not disappear once they get elected to the Parliament and then never appear in their constituency! Should be knowledgeable of their constituencial problems atleast, forget solving them. Should proudly voice our concerns in the House.
I feel as a voter, I have the right to expect these from them. For that’s their job and they should be doing that without getting malignant.
I understand the dilemma of the voters in TVM. On one side they would be happy that they are getting a choice to vote for one of the greatest diplomats from the contemprory stage. Yet they would be concerned for his inability with the mother tongue, his less experience in the state matters as such, although he has been a frequent visitor to the place.
What surprises me is his allegiance to Congress which he has so much criticised in his works. Was he just opting for the better among the lots? What was his preference criterion then? I am puzzled. I am sure the people of TVM would also be.
I remember during my college days, he had come to MASCOT (a 5 star hotel) to deliver a speech. But, TVM is not just MASCOT. As a politician he has bigger responsibilities to fulfill.
Is he ready to come out of the MASCOTS and the TAJ and plunge into the difficult world of state politics where fair deals are many a time rare. I am sure he would have got a pinch of it, with the youth wing of congress opposing his candidature. That’s just a beginning.
I am assuming that he is living his ideal of getting to serve his country which he is so very boastful in his works. No one who has read him can doubt his passion for India.
I just hope that the passion for his India and my India gets converted to the compassion for the needy. I hope that he becomes a fair politician.
I wish him all the very best!
