August 24, 1998
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Play the
Team Game Vajpayee has to concentrate on managing his coalition
True, the sheer blackmail by, say, the AIADMK, cannot be condoned. Even so, it is clear the BJP is instinctively uncomfortable with the idea of being a team player. It has proved hopelessly inadequate in terms of political management. Despite a nominal coordination committee, the coalition is essentially managed by a bunch of fire-fighters. The prime minister himself is not taint-free. For a man who built a career on oratory, Atal Bihari Vajpayee has proved a poor communicator. Ultimately, that intangible but imperative commodity called team spirit boils down to one factor: leadership. With his persona and charisma, Vajpayee has the capacity to look beyond the nitty gritty, give his coalition a decisive direction, lend his allies a patient ear but not hesitate to admonish them should the need arise. Alternatively, he can continue to act the non-playing captain -- and forget about winning the next election. The choice is Vajpayee's; and it is about time he decided. Seeing Double
The BCCI's primary blunder was, of course, to make a mess of its time table. Now, it has compounded its error by playing the ostrich. The selection of the teams has been postponed to September 4, the proverbial last minute. This past week, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) finalised the contingent for the Commonwealth Games. The names of all Indian participants were sent to the hosts -- but not those of the cricketers. Obviously, while the BCCI makes up its mind it expects such minor inconveniences as deadlines to take care of themselves. IOA officials thunder that they want the best team. The Pakistanis declare their preference for Toronto. On his part, the BCCI president makes a profound deduction and points out he cannot produce two top teams. As the BCCI gropes for a solution, there is one thing it must not do: split the national XI. Pick an A team and a B team. If you mix and match, you are likely to end up with two losing sides. |
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From splendid isolation to squalid coalition. Having
built a gigantic 18-party conglomeration to come to power, the BJP is now realising it is
one thing to win friends quite another to influence people. Jayalalitha daily; Mamata
Banerjee weekly; the Akalis and the Samata Party occasionally: the BJP-led alliance
resembles a government less and a confederation of sulks more. What is particularly
disquieting is that this situation is worrying the country far greater than it is the BJP.
There seems to be a perception within the party that should the regime fall, it is the
cussed junior partners who will be blamed -- and the BJP will be conferred the cloak of
martyrdom. Such logic is inherently flawed. Indians want an able administration, not a
maudlin drama troupe. In 1997, when the Congress demolished I.K. Gujral's ministry, the
United Front received popular sympathy. Three months later, however, voters punished it
for misgovernance. If the present government fails, it will be the BJP which will bear the
brunt of the blame. 
In mid-September, India and Pakistan will add a new
connotation to the word "partition". The cricketing commitment of the two
countries will be divided across continents. The neighbours will simultaneously
participate in the Sahara Cup at Toronto and the Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur. The
Sahara Cup is part of world cricket's attempt to conquer North America. It is promoted by
the International Management Group, sport's most powerful MNC, involves lucrative
sponsorships, television contracts and all that makes modern cricket a mammoth commercial
enterprise. The stakes at Kuala Lumpur are comparatively humble: national honour and a
possible medal. International sport has room for both pride and pelf. It is ridiculous to
convert the "Kuala Lumpur vs Toronto" debate into a touchstone for patriotism.
The predicament reflects nothing more than rank bad planning by the Board of Control for
Cricket in India (BCCI). 
