The BJP8217;s Nehru

No one can fit the bill better than the energised and vigorous Nehru clan member who was chosen by Indira Gandhi herself to become Rajiv8217;s confidential adviser and wholater rose to become a master strategist for the party.

The former minister for Internal Security had created a terrifying caricature of himself in the 8217;80s, with his ruthlessness, cold ambition and his street-fighting approach to politics. While comparisons are more likely to be drawn to Sanjay Gandhi rather than the suave Rajiv, Nehru, unlike his late younger cousin who threw himself into the heat and dust of politics, was a drawing-room strategist, who pulled out tricks in the comfort of his air-conditioned room.

It took just a day for Arun Nehru to discard his corporate suit he was chairman of Jenson amp; Nicholson Paints for the khadi kurta-pyjama. His formal introduction to the political world came one afternoon when, after days of trying to persuade Indira Gandhi to get him into politics, she called him to her office, asked him to put on a tie and accompany her to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet the visiting French President. He was introduced as a Congress leader and a loyal partyworker and later, whenthey returned, she asked him to take over Rae Bareilly, a Gandhi family political estate.

Within months, Indira8217;s nephew was the unquestioned leader of Uttar Pradesh, as cloying Congress leaders threw themselves at his feet. But it was only after Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister in 1985, that real power was his.

Though he held an unspectacular portfolio he was made minister of Power, it was not long before he became one of the most powerful members of Rajiv8217;s kitchen cabinet. His bullish manner and no-nonsense approach to prickly problems actually went in his favour. For instance, as more and more people fell to terrorist bullets in Punjab, Rajiv created a special portfolio for Nehru to deal with security problems. The BJP would have certainly approved of Nehru8217;s zeal in monitoring foreign funds for charity, which he had alleged were being diverted to insurgent groups in the North-East and other sensitive border areas. 8220;I was the first to throw these meddlesome priests out of the country,8221; herecently boasted to friends, 8220;and I was congratulated by every party then.8221;

According to people close to the government then, Nehru8217;s unchecked power with partymen and bureaucrats began to unnerve an increasingly insecure Prime Minister, and it was not long before the seeds of suspicion were sown in Rajiv8217;s mind about his more energetic cousin. While some attribute Nehru8217;s subsequent downfall to Sonia8217;s suspicions about him, the turning point is believed to have come when Nehru asked the IB to arrest Priyanka8217;s private tutor for anti-Tibet activities. An outraged Sonia took this as an unnecessary intrusion into her household matters.

Nehru is popularly believed to have advised Rajiv to unlock the doors of the hitherto sealed Babri Masjid, while he distanced himself from Rajiv8217;s attempt to woo Muslims by introducing the Muslim Women8217;s Bill. Within a year-and-a-half, the Nehru-Gandhi bonding was over. Nehru suffered a heart attack in 1986 and, after his recovery, sent in his resignation letter.

Bymid-1986, true to style, Nehru became a key player of the core group that was rallying around to overthrow Rajiv Gandhi. Together with V.P. Singh, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, Arif Mohammed Khan, Satpal Malik and others, the Jan Morcha was born. It formed the core of the alliance that was to come to power three years later.

Having entered politics from the top, ideology had never been a strong point for Nehru, and he soon tired of the Mandal brigade. After V.P. Singh resigned as Prime Minister, Nehru simply pulled out of politics and went on a long holiday to the US. He returned only to attend his assassinated cousin8217;s funeral in May 1991 and went back to be with his daughters who were studying in the US.

The early 8217;90s saw him back in his farmhouse in Delhi, writing newspapers columns, some of which showcased his new-found talent for psephology. A few of his forecasts even proved accurate and Nehru sees this as evidence of his political savvy. 8220;Obviously I have been in touch with politicians and politics allthose years of so-called isolation that8217;s how I get my predictions right,8221; he boasts today.

So how does he predict his own electoral fortunes? 8220;People in Rae Bareilly know me. I don8217;t even have to campaign too actively there,8221; he says with characteristic arrogance.