Arranged marriages for the magic of 272

There is something about arranged marriages in India Itrsquos like the entire universe conspires to actualise them There is near panic when families cannot organise one No amount of personal success at work or happiness in life is acceptable unless a lsquosuitablersquo match is found It doesnrsquot matter if the couple has nothing much in common and are not even remotely attracted to each other No just some random people or a computer thinks that a fit is found and heaven showers blessingsAlliance of convenience BJP leader Rajnath Singh and LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan exchange sweets after sealing a seatsharing pact in Bihar signalling Paswanrsquos return to the NDA fold 12 years after he quit the alliance after the 2002 Gujarat riots PicPTISomewhat like political alliances just before elections The hunt is on to find alliances to reach that tantalising figure of 272 Behind the scenes political maneuvering bargaining some deals struck some manipulation and the great hunt for allies because the quest for power demands it not ideology That specimen of Indian politics Ram Vilas Paswan jumps on to the BJP bandwagon a shooin Jayalalitha steps out of the BJP circle of love and her betenoire Karunanidhi makes plaintive noises hoping that Narendra Modi will look his way like he did towards YeddyurappaNothing is impossible in this wedding season The most unlikely of partnerships can be forged treachery rewarded and loyalty punished And we understand Just like we nod approval at those impossible marriages in our extended families These things happen in Indian democracy We just wonder if one grouping has come up with a khichdi or a kheerhelliprice blended with milk or lentilsDo you like it sweet or salty It is hunting season in India All political parties have sent out their sniffer dogs to seek the vulnerable with weak spots but ability to win seats Those who can be compromised those who have base survival instincts needed to stay in power Please donrsquot mistake it for public service Sharad Pawar Nitish Kumar Chandrababu Naidu Naveen Patnaik Jaganmohan Reddy Kirankumar Reddy Arvind Kejriwal Mayawati Mamata Banerjee Mulayam Singh Yadav Laloo Prasad Yadav and several more are all in a state of readiness semireadiness and open to be wooed and cooed Are we shocked Mildly surprised Cynically accepting All of the above I guess Stories of love and betrayal are scripted daily in the months prior to elections ldquoHamare paas sab hai vote hai log hai hum ummeed karte hain baat kar rahey hainrdquo says Laloo And he could be talking with the Congress or just about anybody Whoever thought that Anna Hazare would dump Arvind Kejriwal and promote Mamata Banerjee Itrsquos probably Mamatarsquos sweet and pleasing demeanour Just sayingFor the BJP it is extremely crucial to have allies in place even if they may not need them in 2014 It is to dispel the wellpublicised notion that the BJP is a political untouchable because of its nonsecular image No regional party wants to join hands with it and the BJPrsquos Prime Minister candidate is not acceptable to minorities To counter such views BJP would need to set aside some political goals which are unrealisable or impractical Article 370 Ayodhya temple and FDI in retail being some of them In the imperfect system of coalition politics ethics and ideology are often compromised A television political drama called the House of Cards has gripped American audiences The second season of 13 episodes recently concluded on Netflix with the principal character Frank Underwood becoming President of America through a series of dark deeds He manipulates people and situations stops short of nothing not even murder in his quest for power The show reinforces our belief that almost every country capital has shadowy corridors where dark deals are struck and people like Underwood thrive like Ninjas Like a modern day Machiavelli Kautilya Sun Tzu the principal character spouts some universally astounding quotes He says ldquoFor those of us climbing to the top of the food chain there can be no mercy There is but one rule hunt or be huntedrdquo And another chilling one ldquoThe road to power is paved with hypocrisy and casualtiesrdquoLike American TV audiences we too watch political dramas TV debates with vicarious interest because wicked thoughts and deeds make for compelling viewing Every five years we are witness to the carnival of elections the tamasha of alliances in the garb of moralistic bunkum corrupt politicians going through the pantomime of releasing party manifestoes which they have no intention to adhere to common minimum programme which will be trashed just as soon as they take oath of office And yet it is compelling to see who aligns with whom If nothing just for the fun of it