Why can’t Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta own political teams through open bidding for Dr Manmohan Singh, L.K. Advani and others? I’m sure huge amounts would be paid to these leaders as they stand before cameras and let team owners make their auction bids. And such affluence would, surely, lead politicians away from the old ways of corruption to make money?
Just think how exciting all this would be for the public! There would be tremendous popular participation in politics as the Tricolour Tigers battle it out with the Saffron Sena. Instead of being confined to Delhi, these teams could, for each parliamentary session, travel to Chennai, Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi and other budding metropolises. They could stage their Twenty20 tests in large stadiums. Each political team member could air his views for twenty minutes in these tests. It would really be lively with pirouetting and performing pom-pom girls cheering on the teams. I’m sure the speakers would debate with a passion that they have rarely displayed. And the public would of course follow the debates as it has never done before.
How exciting each session of Parliament would be with so many teams showcasing their talents! There could be Mulayam Singh’s Bicycle Bullies, Mayawati’s Tough Tuskers, Bal Thackeray’s Mumbai Maulers, Karunanidhi’s Chennai Cheetahs, Laloo Yadav’s Bihari Bulls and Prakash Karat’s Pink Panthers. For the first time, these poor politicians would feel really loved by the public. And, thanks to sponsorships and TV ads, they would remain motivated.
TV viewers would see the twenty-twenty political tests interspersed with their favourite ads. Dr Manmohan Singh could promote the US embassy’s ‘Visa Power’. Advani could promote Guided Temple Tours. Prakash Karat could promote Chinese Sweet and Sour Home Deliveries. The possibilities are endless. Many sponsors would salivate over the prospect of these pop idols promoting their wares.
You might well ask if all this would improve governance. Of course it would! When politicians are left no time for administration, isn’t governance bound to improve?
(Puri can be reached at rajinderpuri2000@yahoo.com)
