Behind the Consensus Romesh Thapar
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THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY June 6, 1964 Capital View Behind the Consensus Romesh Thapar HEY fought for the succession on the possibility of the status quo were compelled to withdraw their sup T with a cynicism few had believ continuing, let himself drift on a wave port to Desai. Together with the solid ed them to possess. They fought for of sentimentality. Interested in preserv support of the South, ensured by a place in the new order of things ing what he had, he failed to commit Kamaraj, this new combination looked without regard to the damage their himself to the battle and had soon lost very much as if it could score even tactics might cause to the party and his supporters. Only Desai and Shastri in a vote at the parliamentary party its leading echelons. They even fought really entered the fray. level. When Atulya Ghosh, Patil and over the procedures to be followed in a host of other organisation men final carrying out Jawaharlal's wish that his The thoroughly unprincipled charac ly ranged behind Shastri, there was ashes be scattered over the many re~ ter of the struggle was highlighted by little doubt that Desai had lost. gions of this sub-continent. The con the rapidly shifting alliances. Jagjivan At this stage, Kamaraj moved in with sensus, so carefully secured by Kama- Ram, despairing of Nanda's vacillation, the consensus proposal. An elaborate raj, barely covered the political bruta turned to Desai. So did Malaviya, be farce was staged as a cover for the lity of it all. Thus will history record cause of his personal grudges against political bargaining and to make i- the events of the past few days... Shastri. Krishna Menon sat on the fence, refusing categorically to deny easier for the Desai rump to stomach Perhaps, we are allowing ourselves that he had come to an arrangement defeat. Hordes of MPs were met. Min to become too sensitive about these with Desai. As news of this incredible isters were interviewed. A variety of matters. After all. jawaharlal Nehru alliance began to circulate, it was but opinion was taken. Then Desai was ruled for some seventeen years, ruled tressed by reliable reports that Kainn, told what he already knew. In the style with an aloofness and sophistication Patnaik and Bakshi Ghulam Moham of a defeated candidate, he conceded which made cringing satraps of lesser med were backing Desai. Indeed. victory to Shastri. men interested only in the crumbs of Desai had soon emerged as the leader But this was not the end of the power. Now, they feel free to indulge of a tough, decisive wing of the party. drama. Desai now insisted that he in what they believe to be politics. propose the name of Shastri as leader. How Desai Lost Other nations and their leaders also Nanda maintained that this was his perform in a manner both crude and The opportunism of the Desai con prerogative as Prime Minister of the sordid. We are. in an odd sort of solidation, though it was interpreted Caretaker Government. A short tussle. way, growing up, maturing, learning as widely as indicative of a dangerous Again, a defeat for Desai. He was con- others have that the business known as authoritarian trend, was not enough \n tent to second the motion. And that politics is not always the splendid damn it from the start. This wing call is precisely what happened at a 45 thing that Jawaharlal, and many stal- ed for an election of the leader through minute rubber stamping session of the warts before him, sought to make of a vote of the parliamentary party, chal Congress parliamentary party. it, lenged the right of the Working Com mittee and the Chief Ministers to de- The Organisation Men The Three Contenders cide the issue. The brazen confidence What is the net result of the strug It is, therefore, necessary to remove of Desai had to be seen to be believ- gle for the succession? Quite clearly, the screen that is the consensus and ed. And it was this confidence which the organisation men believe that they to unravel the forces which threw Lal disturbed not only the uncommitted, have at last established the truth that Bahadur Shastri to the top and which but, and this is important, also the they now intend to rule through Shas will now attempt to condition deve party bosses in the States who wanted tri. Already there is talk of purging lopments. What comes out is startling a more pliable leader. the government of men who do not in many respects, and if we are to The stormy, and often angry, episo submit to this new reality in our poli- flourish the humane, progressive, so des during the meetings of the special tical life. Gossip in the Shastri camp cialist society which unhappily Jawa ly enlarged session of the Working has it that a number of Nehruist min- harlal failed to consolidate, we will Committee only confirmed the fears isters, who do not enjoy party back have to take to heart for future action held about the Desai consolidation. ing, are to be eased out to make way the many lessons to be drawn from it But Shastri was inhibited about a for Atulya Ghosh, Patil, Sanjeeva Red dy and such like who demand 'subs As is well-known, there were three head-on collision within the party. Only when he was sharply reminded tantial' power. But the gossip is unin- contenders for the leadership of the formed. party: Gulzarilal Nanda, Morarji Desai that it was the height of arrogance to and Lai Bahadur Shastri. These three, insist on an unanimous decision, that Certainly, changes in the Union Gov so like typical small town politicians, only a lawaharlal Nehru could so in ernment are bound to take place if only made no effort to project a progra- sist, was the Desai attack blunted, and to accommodate the men who gave mme or policy, convinced that any blunted grievously- Shastri agreed to Shastri the decisive strength he needed. such projection would disturb the de- submit to a contest. In State Governments, too, the repercus licate interplay of groups and factions, First, the whole Nanda group rallied sions will be felt. But the organisation of personalities. Even Nanda, without behind Shastri. Then, the opportunist men, kept in their place by Jawaharlal organised party backing and relying leftists—or at least some of them— Nehru, know that they do not dominate 942 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY June 6, 1964 the field. There are silent figures in this himself should discourage this primi can be advantageous, too—that is, if drama who still possess considerable tive public relations effort, undertaken he has the ability to select the right power and influence, who have to be by the flatterers in the Capital, for men for the right jobs, the capacity to satisfied that the great achievements of the nation will judge him not on this seize upon and develop ideas, the pas- the Nehru Era will not be thrown aside. kind of myth and legend but on how sion to get things done and the coin And the most silent of all is Indire he manages the affairs of the State in age to take decisions which might be Gandhi. a crucial and troublesome period. opposed to the selfish interests of the organisation men on whose support he Throughout this phase of manipula Shastri will need all the support and depends. tive politics, there was little talk about: goodwill that can be mobilised. Un commitments to policies and perspec like his great predecessor, he has no Prime Minister Shastri's first test tives. The alliances of personalities also dynamic, driving ideas, no passionate will be the government he forms, its reflected this state of affairs. Loud convictions, no inspiring perspectives composition and balance. It will be a thinking about the implications of elect to guide him. This is certainly, in our measure of the man — and of the ing this or that leader was confined to conditions, a great drawback. But it consensus. whether the candidate was democratic minded or authoritarian, whether ho From the London End would attempt to settle the tension with Pakistan or not, and whether he would broadly continue the policies popularised by Jawaharlal Nehru. Mo- Toothless Planning rarji Desai, authoritarian in style and the protagonist; of a strong line against AN interesting side-light on the de- steady and maintainable rate of Pakistan and China, who is likely to ficiencies in the present system growth? develop his own domestic and foreign of economic planning in the U K was Under the present system, the res policy, was obviously not acceptable. thrown by Sir Robert Shone, Direc ponsibility of the Government, in the Lal Bahadur Shastri, subtler in his tor-General of the National Economic short term, is to forecast the develop handling of people, anxious for a nor Development Council, in his Ellis Hun ment of the economy and to take the malisation of relations with Pakistan ter memorial lecture at York Univer necessary measures to keep in line and China, and Nehruist of sorts, sity on "Planning in a Dynamic with the National Economic Develop seems to reflect the state of the rul Economy". ment Council's overall growth target. ing party. But it would be a grave The capitalist economies of the What methods does the Treasury error to imagine that all is well. world arc increasingly coming to re use? The highly scientific approach of cognise the need for some form of the National Economic Development Prime Minister Shastri economic planning if the recurrent Council and the Cambridge Depart Kamaraj, the enlightened organisation economic recessions are to be controll ment of Applied Economics, involving man who unites the southern bloc with ed.