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	April 10, 2000

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Change Begins At Home
Delhi: No one in the RSS expected their new chief to tread the beaten path. Especially where ties with the BJP were concerned. After "sparing" Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee for not being able to follow the RSS agenda due to "compulsions", K.S. Sudarshan is springing surprises within the RSS order itself. In a departure from tradition, he touched the feet of predecessor Rajju Bhaiyya at a reception last week, acknowledging that he was his guru. This after the two had exchanged garlands, again an unheard of custom in the RSS which has always desisted from perpetuating "personality cults". Pracharaks were left speechless but they should know that, like charity, change too begins at home.

Democracy Without People
Delhi: Despite staying in India for five days, US President Bill Clinton never felt he was visiting a country of a billion people. Consider this: he landed in Delhi late on March 19 and roads were deserted as he drove to his hotel. Ditto when he flew next morning to Dhaka and returned at night. Roads were also cleared when he went to Rashtrapati Bhavan, Raj Ghat and the Taj. At Agra an exasperated Clinton told an aide he would call up Vajpayee to ask where the real Indians were. Promptly after that, he got glimpses of the masses.

Power Cut
Delhi: That Congressmen never switch off the lights at the party headquarters on Akbar Road is well known. But the bright days are now history. Last week, even Chief Minister Sheila Dixit could not stop the NDMC and the Delhi Vidyut Board from cutting off electricity to the building for non-payment of bills of Rs 16 lakh. That was not all. The NDMC threatened to sever the water connection as well if the dues were not paid. The Congress managed a part payment to salvage the situation but couldn't help reflecting on the power cut.

Away From It All
Shimla: Hard-pressed to visit terrorism-hit areas, any occasion to let his hair down is welcome for L.K. Advani. In Shimla for a day last week, the home minister couldn't resist a walk on the Ridge, after which he headed for a coffee home and, to the surprise of those around him, ordered vada-sambar. Security, for once, didn't figure in his thoughts.

CONFESSIONAL
Ram Niwas Mirdha, chief of the Congress election authority, discusses his plans for the party's organisational polls.

Q. Isn't it odd that the cut-off date for enrolment is extended so many times?

A. Not at all. There is nothing sacrosanct about a date. I want a good membership drive. Enrolment of women has been a problem for state units.

Q. Why is everyone dreading organisational polls this time?

A. Because there will be secret-ballot voting for every office, block-level onwards. I won't accept a unanimous list.

Q. Is this not a departure from tradition?

A. The party has suffered because of unanimity. There is nothing like bogus membership, only bogus elections. The A.K. Antony panel mooted voting. The CWC endorsed it. In a consensus, the real party worker suffers.

Q. Are you acting tough because you were not sent to the Rajya Sabha?

A. I was not a candidate. I missed two Lok Sabha elections. Genuine party polls are Sonia Gandhi's agenda, not mine.

-Lakshmi Iyer

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