The poling for the elections is just over for our constituency(23 rd. April), and all (more so the contestants) are waiting with bated breaths for the results which will be on the 16th. May. I missed being the hyper-tensed guy by just a whisker, and I am not exactly sad for it.
Some times life gets quite dramatic, and this time I was the main protagonist. Around 3 PM on April 3rd. I got a call from the BJP chief of Maharashtra, Nitin Gadkari, informing me that I had been nominated by the party and should file my nominations the next day, which was the last day for filing of nominations. All my resistance melted in a jiffy and I immediately began the process, which by no means is easy, specially the affidavit giving property status has to be accurate and needs the help of a C.A. I also contacted all the key party functionaries and arranged for a good show of unity.
4th April. I filed my nomination along with all the paraphernalia that is common during such occasions. As soon as I got out from the office, I was surrounded by the media. To my surprise, I was asked whether I was a serious contender, as a Congress rebel, Ajit Ghorpade, who had filed as an independent just before me had declared that I would be asked to withdraw by the BJP, which would then support him. The idea was so far fetched that I ridiculed the reporter for asking such a question. That same evening we had a meeting of all the main party workers to chalk out the campaign logistics.
5th. April. The whole day I spent visiting "Key" Voters. These are important people working in various fields, from a cross section of society. They are the main opinion makers and it is indeed surprising, to see the impact of their opinions on the voting pattern in their respective areas of influence.
6th. April. The process of scrutinising went off without problem and my nomination was declared valid along with 23 other nominations. In the afternoon I first realised that certain key party functionaries were not seriously participating in the Campaign planning, and soon it became apparent that what the Congress rebel Ajit Ghorpade had declared on the day of filing of nominations was indeed true. I was flabbergasted at the treachery, but decided that I wouldn't go without a fight. I got the news that Two important party functionaries, Madhu Chavan and Sunil Karjatkar, were to come the next day from Mumbai and ask me to withdraw. I immediately contacted the party leaders in Mumbai and Delhi, who confirmed the news, but advised me not to submit my withdrawal form in a hurry, as they were trying their best to change the decision. I was in a quandary as all my ground level supporters were vociferously insisting that I should not withdraw. As 7th. was a public holiday (Mahaveer Jayanti), if at all the withdrawal would have to be done it would have to be on the 8th. April, by 3.00 PM which was also the deadline to do so.
7th. April. After discussing the matter with family and colleagues, I decided to go underground! Around 10 AM, I shut off all my mobiles and went incommunicado. To remain untraceable (The Congress rebel had contacts with the top honchos in the police and it would be quite easy for them to find me). I changed my car three times and went to the neighbouring state of Karnataka. I headed for my friends place in Belgaum, where I spent the next 24 Hrs. keeping in touch, only with my most confidential colleagues and my cousin Abasaheb who was doing all the talking on my behalf. Around 4 PM I got the news that the two emissaries had arrived by a chartered flight, and were desperately trying to locate me. I also got the news that they were not carrying any written instructions for me from the party president to withdraw. I was disturbed as withdrawing without a written letter from the party chief, would cast aspersions about my integrity in the minds of ordinary voters. I sent the emissaries a message that I needed the instructions to withdraw in writing from none else than the party chief. This was met with resistance as they wanted me to withdraw without bringing in the party chief. I flatly refused to do so. They were getting more and more desperate, they even went to Mhaisal, and met Varsha, my wife, she bravely told them that she simply did not know my where abouts. Till late at night I was in constant touch with my Delhi contacts.
8th April. Around 11 AM I got the message from Delhi that nothing was possible and that the decision to support the Congress rebel was final. The saving grace was that the Maharashtra Party chief, Nitin Gadkari would send me a personal letter requesting me to withdraw. I got the letter by FAX by noon. By this time tension had mounted to a crescendo, and even bets were being placed on my withdrawal. A huge crowd had collected at the Revenue Office to see what happens. Those who would benefit by my withdrawal and those who would benefit by my not withdrawing were in a frenzy, and tempers were running high. I got the news that my supporters had collected near the office to physically prevent me from withdrawing. There was a tiff between my supporters and my opponents and security personnel were deployed to prevent any untoward incident. I finally decided to withdraw, but I felt it prudent not to go there in person. I deputed my cousin Abasaheb with my authority letter and he finally submitted my withdrawal just five minutes before 3.00 pm the deadline.
The next days papers all carried the news in headlines, as it is not everyday that a National Party like the BJP, withdraws it's candidate in favour of an independent and that too a rebel from a rival party. (Pioneer, Hindustan Times, Times of India)
Ordinary citizens wonder, why good candidates do not come forward ? Which sensible person would want to expose himself/herself to such an ordeal, when even the so called good political parties indulge in the worst form of political intrigue, which is sans all principles.
