He has occupied the high stage ever since he became the voluble Governor of West Bengal, always on the back of the chief minister, never ever forgetting his political and lawyer instinct, rather than behaving the ceremonial role as more befitting a governor. And then, this fine day, suddenly, he resigned only to be chosen as the NDA nominee for the post of vice president. A reward for his work in Kolkatta but also a relief for Mamta Didi. Much on this front has been quiet, ever since, with the new governor in place, almost as if a truce has been called.
There is almost a jocular vein in him, noticed often during his stint as VP, snubbing, poking fun at just about everyone, but almost always seen to have been on the side of the government. It then appears, for reasons best known to him, observers note, some change came around; was it a change of heart, a still higher ambition, an attack of conscience, he softened up towards the opposition. Till this day, when he was seen hobnobbing with Congress president Kharge. And, worse still, an attempt to upstage his own government(?), the same that had appointed him, by accepting a petition from the opposition with 43 signatures, when it was open knowledge that the government was pushing a bigger representation bill, from across the political spectrum, in the Lok Sabha. Did he plan to get the Rajya Sabha bill introduced as it would give him the clout to chose the members of the investigating panel? Was that a short vision trap he laid out for himself? Whatever, he did attempt to carve out on his own, but soon decided to quit as well, slither away without even a farewell for him, a practice that is customary. All in an afternoon’s work, taking the nation by surprise. So hurried was his exit that he did not even seek an appointment with the President, arriving at Rashtrapati Bhawan without any notice.
Was pressure building within him, on account of having to keep his balance as a non-partisan vice-president, that he was meant to be? Being a one-sided VP was not a legacy he wanted to leave behind for himself? Being so outspoken, both as Governor and then as VP, it was not easy to roll back? Was this the health issue that he promptly mentioned as his reason to call it a day? Will there be a share-the-narrative interview in times ahead? Would he have enough to expose.
This episode is not so unsavoury for the BJP as many have opined. It is one small episode in the shifting winds in the high corridors of powers. It is not about disobeying the high command, or whoever, it is breaking ranks, and the resulting response was not too difficult. Is this the end of his career, yes, it would be as far as the BJP is concerned. Unless the opposition has a plan? But then you might ask, what did he achieve? Political suicide, at best. Unless again, he has some trick up his sleeve!