Return of Raja: Journey from Tihar to DMK circles defies logic

The buzz around the return of A Raja, former Telecom minister and the main accused in the 2G scam, surprised many in the state who thought that the DMK would be in a fix on how to handle him when he gets back. With an image that is synonymous with the country’s biggest corruption case, which also lost the party an election, common logic would have expected the DMK to be worried about the consequences of an unrestrained association with a scam-tainted Raja. It was almost certain that the DMK would not dump him, for both political and non-political reasons, but would be measured in accepting him back. However, when Raja finally returned, it looked as if there was no scam and that he was a hero: Stalin meets him in Delhi ahead of his return, with stories appearing in some sections of the media that he flew to Delhi exclusively to demonstrate his support; he lands at the Chennai airport to a rousing reception; and drives straight to Karunanidhi, who garlands him. Raja couldn’t have asked for a better script. [caption id=“attachment_340912” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The ease with which Raja managed his re-entry after being muddled in such a sticky scam that heralded the fall of UPA’s credibility was certainly baffling. PTI”] [/caption] He was beaming. His supporters called him a “braveheart” who conquered Tihar. The DMK maintained that the party would support him and that he was innocent until proved otherwise. The 2G scam hardly mattered. And he said that he was innocent. The celebrations continued as a cavalier Raja moved on to his constituency. On the way, he received an equally arousing reception at the Coimbatore airport where hundreds of people celebrated his arrival and called him the same name — the braveheart of Tihar. They also wore T-shirts bearing Raja’s pictures. The DMK district secretary Pongalur Palanisamy, reportedly said: “we are overjoyed with Raja’s return and time will prove his innocence.” From the airport to his Nilgiris constituency, he was received with celebration and fanfare at many locations. Speaking at Ooty, he repeated that he was innocent and that the CBI had nothing against him. Instead of a scam, he spoke of how he brought down the call rates from Re 1 to 10 paisa and raised the number of telephone users from 30 crore to 80 crore. The ease with which Raja managed his re-entry after being muddled in such a sticky scam that heralded the fall of UPA’s credibility was certainly baffling. Under normal circumstances, an alleged scamster, that too in a scandal as monumental as the 2G scam, cannot be a hero. But Raja defied this logic. While he was in jail, there was nothing in the DMK circles to indicate that they were overtly concerned about him or they were missing his political capital. While he was in jail, he was as good as forgotten except for the routine visits of some Delhi-based MPs, his family and supporters. Nothing majorly changed even when he was released from Tihar. But the moment the court permitted him to visit Tamil Nadu, the situation appeared different. Stalin flew to Delhi to meet him (and honour him with the traditional shawl) and Karunanidhi appeared happy to have him back although he remained tightlipped about the kind of reception that the party would give him. What made things work for Raja? The circumstances that concern others in the party and the smart use of his political capital. First, Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi is a co-accused and the party channel Kalaignar TV is equally embroiled. Therefore it is the leadership’s responsibility to keep him in good humour. Proving his innocence is in the interest of the party leadership and the family as well. Second, he is the Dalit face of the party and letting him down will be letting down the Dalit vote bank. He is one of the few Dalit politicians in the state who made it this big, that too within the DMK. Being good to Raja in dire times has a symbolic value in reaching out to Dalit voters and Stalin, who is now consolidating in the DMK, wouldn’t want to lose such a political opportunity. Third, his own mastery of exploiting the circumstances, both political and non-political. Perhaps he knows that his 2G vulnerability is not his problem alone, but that of others too. If he goes down with it, it will hurt others as well. During the last 15 months of his stay at Tihar and regular court appearances, Raja has proved himself to be a sharp politician who is in total control. He was nonchalant and appeared least bothered about the living conditions of the jail while his co-accused constantly griped. If he appeared least vulnerable in Tihar, he was very confident in the midst of his supporters. He was his cocky self when he told CNN-IBN in Ooty that he would defend himself in the case and that he was competent enough to do that. However, this time around, it is going to be a short-stay because his permission to visit the state will end on 30 June. The real test of his political durability will be the 2014 elections.