First of all, one has to be absolutely clear about one thing: the Prime Minister’s security is not a political football and any breach needs to be seriously looked at. The Supreme Court is doing that, taking it out of the ambit of both the state and the central government so there can be no allegations of a biased probe, from either side.
However, despite all efforts to the contrary, the event has become a political football with the BJP government at the center taking on the Congress government in the state. As Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi told the media at a press conference, the PM left Bathinda with a message for him via the state finance minister: ‘Main Zinda Laut Paya’ (I returned alive). However, the PMO is yet to confirm or deny the same. But if true, then a gauntlet was thrown and it was immediately picked up by the Punjab Chief minister who has barely been six months in office. Channi’s ascent into office may be accidental, but when an opportunity presented itself he proved to be more political than most and siezed it with both hands, and a television camera. He did not depend on Manpreet Badal the finance minister who is fast emerging as Channi’s best man; or his bete noir and state PCC Chief Navjyot Sidhu to mount his defense but has instead made this a CM Vs PM battle by taking on the BJP directly. It was he who first posted the pictures of the empty chairs at the Ferozepur rally taking a dig at the PM that perhaps this was the real reason for avoiding the rally and not the weather or farmers’ protests. Again, it was Channi, who during a tv interview, stopped at a roadside protest against him, went and met the protestors and reasoned with them. Then of course, he took a dig at the PM saying this is what you do when people are protesting against you! In the age of televised drama, he seems to have taken a page out of the PM’s own book, whether he is stopping to meet protestors or help out road accident victims, all in full media glare. In fact to take this analogy further, he even made this issue from a Congress vs BJP one to one of state pride— of Punjabiyat. This is reminiscent of Narendra Modi bringing up Gujarati asmita each time someone had criticized him as Gujarat CM.
That is not all. In one smart move he has also finessed the opposition within. Until this incident Navjyot Singh Sidhu had harbored hopes that he would emerge as the Congress party’s CM face for the coming elections. (Though personally speaking, I dont think Sidhu stood a chance at all for why would the Congress remove a Dalit face and replace him with a controversial one?). Sidhu’s one USP is that he does not hesitate to attack the PM directly. This has won him some kudos with the Gandhi siblings. But unlike his predecessor, Captain Amarinder Singh, the 58 year old Channi has shown that he has no hesitation in taking on both the PM and the BJP’s well oiled response machinery.
Moreover, Channi is also a perfect foil to the Aam Admi campaign. While Capt Amaridner was seen as Maharajah who rarely met his own ministers, let alone the general janta, the new CM is a man of the people. He is forever out there, meeting and mingling with the public. So much so that Arvind Kejriwal remarked at a India News Manch (conclave) recently: Channi sahab says he even meets people when he goes to the bathroom! Who does that?
Who indeed? Someone who seems to have read the pulse of both the public and media pretty well. Earlier his detractors used to refer to him, somewhat derogatorily, as the Chavanni (25 paise). But now he has shown that in political currency, he is a full blown Rs 2000 note (and a genuine one at that). Some leaders are born, others reach their destination via a flyover. The final touch rests with the people of Punjab, on Valentine’s Day.