Is Anna Going to be Guru Dronacharya?

A special report published by DNA analyzed that Anna Hazare's move to support Mamata Bannerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is of an identity crisis.

The 74-year-old Gandhian became a household name in 2012 after his sustained campaign for the jan Lokpal Bill. He was supported by the likes of Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal who were part of the Indian Against Corruption movement. In August 2012, Anna brought the Congress-led UPA government to its knees over a period of 12 days before he ended his hunger strike after 288 hours.

The movement for the Jan Lokpal Bill soon frizzled out and Anna parted ways with Kejriwal over the need to enter active politics to push the bill. Difference of opinion has created a widening chasm between the two leaders since. In recent weeks however, Anna had been sending signals that he had changed his mind.

Anna sighting the reason of his letter about 17-point agenda to run the country stated that Arvind Kejariwal did not reply to his letter so there is no question of supporting him. But according to the sources AAP never received such letter from Anna.

On Mamata taking strategic advice from Anna, political commentator Urmilesh commented, "On a personal level, this is indeed an identity crisis for Anna Hazare. But more than that, it is a crisis for the country's politics that our leaders have to go to Hazare to act as an electoral prop."

"For Hazare, it is an effort to create an alternate image of simplicity against Arvind Kejriwal by allying with Mamata Banerjee. For Mamata, roping in Hazare is essentially aimed at creating a credible national political face as she is eyeing national intervention," Urmilesh added.

TMC MPs categorically said that it was Anna who approached the party, indicating that it is Anna who needs people more than anyone else. A TMC MP told DNA on condition of anonymity, "I think what has been said is very clear. Anna Hazare will campaign for us. In any case we never approached Anna. It was he who got in touch."

All this while the analyst missed a point to mention that Kiran Bedi who was all the time with Anna against Arvind Kejariwal is almost lost in the NaMo’s campaign and there is none who is in support of Anna now. Ironically, he was the one who had started the movement ‘India against corruption’.

May be he was averse with the active politics then, but now realizes that it is the requirement of the time. In any case his lieutenant Arvind Kejariwal would be more than happy to keep him on the golden throne and in limelight then why is he choosing to side with Mamata.

Anyways, if the decision of Anna to go with Mamata brigade is final then it would seem Anna is going to play the role of ‘Guru Dronacharya’ in this battle of Mahabharat fighting against his own pupil Arvind Kejariwal.