Pramod Mahajan, R.I.P.

Pramod Mahajan is no more. I am deeply saddened by this news as I considered Mahajan as the obvious next rung of leadership post-Advani in the BJP. His techno-strategies may have failed in the last elections but he was definitely a master planner; BJP will definitely miss him in planning their election campaigns. Apart from being a strategist, he was considered prime minister-material by some.

I first saw Mahajan perched atop a jeep’s hood canvassing for votes in 1984. I was a kid and hardly understood what the man was trying to be so forceful about. Probably 10-15 people had gathered around; most of whom were present just because they had nothing better to do. My mom and I hurried along as I looked back at the guy on the jeep. Obviously his speech didn’t change many minds (our family was a avowed Congress voter too back then) as Rajiv Gandhi riding a huge sympathy wave triumphed at the polls. Mahajan’s party got mere two seats.

I am no political pundit to analyze the change in Mahajan’s political fortunes but I’ll admit that he was better than most of his peers; at least superficially. Probably he would have gone on to better and grander things. Alas, the jealousy of a sibling will not let that happen now.


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  • http://palscape.wordpress.com BongoPondit

    Patrix,

    I too used to like Mahajan – well, as much as you can like a politican.
    It is always sad to lose a relatively young politician.

    BP.

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  • http://www.sportolysis.com Pratyush

    I don’t like deaths, more so young deaths.

  • http://manasikakatkar.blogspot.com Manasi

    Yes he apparently was the next in rung and might have achieved grander things. But some things are not to be.
    Here is my little obit for him.

    http://manasikakatkar.blogspot.com/2006/05/may-his-soul-rest-in-peace.html

    God bless his soul!

  • http://pot-or-gold.blogspot.com Richa

    I’ve mentioned an article here from Indian Express which gave a good insight on both the brothers.

    http://pot-or-gold.blogspot.com/2006/04/these-two-i-rather-liked.html

  • http://vikasshankar.blogspot.com Viky

    I think there is something bigger here than just a brother-killed-brother.

    Nevertheless, one mouth is shut, and the truth will never be the same now.

  • http://------------------- Vinod Desai

    In case some one can provide audio /video casettes of Shri Pramod Mahajan I would like to have the same in my library.