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THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Peter's PrescriptionWhat the spin
doctor could recommend for Vajpayee.
By Swapan
Dasgupta
One man's misfortune can easily become another man's
opportunity. Last week, as Atal Bihari Vajpayee was agonising over a much-needed facelift
for himself and his Government, came the news of Peter Mandelson's resignation from Tony
Blair's Cabinet in Britain. If the Prime Minister's Office was sufficiently alert, it
should have rushed to the now under-employed Mandelson with the offer of a challenging
consultancy: to do for Vajpayee and the BJP what he did for Blair and the Labour Party.
The projects are not dissimilar. New Labour happened after
four successive election defeats, and the BJP needs an overhaul after being in government
for less than a year but looking increasingly like a defeated party. Mandelson had applied
his political engineering to a dispirited party that faced a government which had
successfully elevated Thatcherism to common sense. Now another spin doctor needs to apply
his skills to prevent the BJP from being devastated by a Congress that boasts it is the
natural party of government. No wonder Vajpayee could profit from Mandelson's
prescription.
- Be modern. "Old" Labour suffered from a wasting
disease. Like the BJP, it conveyed the impression of being stuck in a bygone era. New
Labour reinvented the party, discarded dogma, acknowledged the positive contributions of
Thatcherism and seized on its greatest point of vulnerability -- lack of compassion.
Likewise, the BJP has to discover a new soul by projecting market economics as India's
search for the good life. It has to become the party of aspirations and upward mobility.
- Cut out the lobbies. Labour was perceived as a meek hostage
to a cussed trade union movement bent on bringing back the bad old days of strikes and
disruption. New Labour relegated organised labour to the fringes. The trade unions became
just one input into the party. The BJP suffers a similar problem with the rss. It must
assert its autonomy and political independence. The Sangh must have a say but mustn't
dictate.
- Be ruthless with the fringe. Labour's credibility gap was
partially a contribution of its wild, Marxist fringe. New Labour effected a
well-publicised, ruthless purge. For the BJP facing the wild ones in the VHP, the message
is unambiguous.
- Keep the core happy. New Labour's success lay in making a
sharp turn to the centre acceptable to the Left. This was done by relating power to the
making of a "compassionate Britain". For the BJP, success lies in blending
newness with natural impulses. By combining economic reform with the vision of a strong
India blessed with a no-nonsense state.
- Look beyond politics. Blair enhanced his appeal by
appropriating Thatcher's concern for ordinary, decent values. He spoke about ethics and
religion. These things come naturally to Vajpayee, India's foremost communicator. He must
talk beyond politics more often.
- Build your elite. A party looks commanding in office if it
is seen to have its own experts, stars and style. Vajpayee is too wary of breaking the
mould and developing a saffron counter-establishment.
- Leader is supreme. A parliamentary system has a definite
presidential touch. A party may have divergent tendencies but New Labour established that
one voice ultimately counts. Vajpayee must listen but he must also be seen to have his
way.
The only problem is that it took four years for Mandelson's
efforts to bear fruit. Vajpayee has to ensure that time is not against him. |
