The question “Who after him/her?” is usually asked in the cases of ageing leaders, whether in or out of power, who enjoy an unchallenged sway over the legislative and organizational wings of their party. Such leaders are always keen to groom their offspring who could inherit their political legacy. This happened in the case of the Nehru family. In this era of regional parties, the trend has further gained ground. Not long ago, the top leaders of regional parties including the Akali Dal's used to vociferously criticize the Congress and the Nehru family for promoting dynastic rule. But now they themselves are promoting dynastic politics with a vengeance. Examples are aplenty.

Maharashtra's Shiv Sena, and Tamilnadu's DMK are the latest examples. But the aspirations and rivalries between their offspring for inheriting political legacy often create ugly situations for their top leaders, sometimes even splitting their parties. This has already happened in the case of Shiv Sena. The rivalry between Karunanidhi's two sons has created an unsavoury situation for the DMK supremo. Post-Karunanidhi one can anticipate a split in the party.

Haryana and Bihar are the other examples. The Chautala family's patriarch late Devi Lal chose his eldest son Om Parkash Chautala, whom he had once even “disowned”, as his political heir. His other aspirant sons who were deprived of the honour revolted and changed their political loyalties. Now Chautala is grooming his two sons Ajay Chautala and Abhey Chautala to inherit his legacy. In all probability, Ajay who is viewed politically more awakened and agile may inherit Devi Lal clan's political legacy. Bihar's Lalu Prasad Yadav's case is no different. He made his wife Rabri as Chief Minister after he had to quit in the wake of fodder scam.

In Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, when in his seventies (now he is over 82), had started grooming his only son Sukhbir Singh to take over Akali Dal's reins after him.. During the past three years, Parkash Singh Badal who had an unchallenged sway over Akali Dal and the Government first managed to get Sukhbir elected as party President and then as Deputy Chief Minister. During the three year old Akali-BJP rule, Sukhbir has been virtually functioning as Chief Minister. His taking oath is now a mere formality. Not that there was no other Akali aspirant for the coveted Chief Ministership. The most prominent among them was Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, a popular minister. Sukhbir tried to isolate him politically. Capt. died in a car accident last year.

No doubt, the foreign-educated and youthful Sukhbir Badal's organizational prowess largely contributed to Akali Dal's electoral successes in the last three years. But it was his father's political management which catapulted him to his present status of Akali Dal President and Deputy Chief Minister. His organizational dynamism, however, acquired autocratic and dictatorial dimensions. Obviously with his father's nod he spearheaded the political vendetta against Congress leaders in retaliation to what former Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh had done to the Badal family. The worst part of Sukhbir's “dynamism”, was seen in the massive rigging of local bodies elections which earned Punjab the stigma of being another Bihar. Despite Parkash Singh Badal's image of being a democrat, Sukhbir's actions made him look like a destroyer of democracy. As this unsavoury image coupled with his administrative deficiencies could create problems after Sukhbir's ascendancy to Chief Minister's gaddi, efforts seem to be on to change his image.

Chief Minister Parkash Badal and his son had been stridently criticizing the Congress-led UPA for its allegedly discriminating against Punjab after its assumption of power in 2004. Akalis anti-Centre tirade has mainly been based on two issues: Centre's inadequate financial help and “unremunerative wheat and rice support prices”. Punjab which definitely deserves more financial aid, however, is not the only state making such a demand. But what weakens Punjab's case is its failure to mobilize additional resources, not utilizing funds the Centre is already giving and squandering huge amounts on subsidies. The treasury is virtually bankrupt with the debt rising to Rs.70,000 crore by 2010-11 end. The Akali leadership's criticism of the Centre for not giving remunerative MSPs loses its brunt as Vajpayee-led NDA government in which Akali Dal was a partner had increased less than Rs.100 a quintal in wheat and rice MSPs during its six year rule while the rise during the UPA rule has been five times of the NDA's.

Lately, there are, however, signs of Punjab's ruling leadership toning down its anti-Centre stance. During the budget session the Assembly passed a resolution appreciating Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for helping Punjab. This trend was also apparent in BJP's Deputy Speaker letter to Speaker proposing that Government should withdraw all “political vendetta cases” against political leaders. The move which could perhaps not be without the top Akali-BJP's leaders nod was unanimously approved by the House. After initially remaining non-committal Sukhbir later opposed the proposal. Timing of Sukhbir's “conciliatory” stance in the House is significant. In the absence of his ailing father, he was virtually functioning as Chief Minister.

If the perception that the Akali leadership is changing its confrontationist attitude towards the Centre and its adversaries in Punjab is correct, there are reasons behind the change. The three-year old Akali-BJP rule has failed to solve the state's burning problems. Punjab is facing unprecedented financial crisis. Non-performance and poor governance have tarnished the coalition government's image. Law and order situation has deteriorated. Various sections of the people are daily holding protests for non-fulfillment of their demands. If this hostile atmosphere continues, it will pose insurmountable problems for Sukhbir after his coronation as Chief Minister. Hence, a change is called for in such a political environment. This can be possible only in a cordial political atmosphere. Recent developments may be a pointer to such a change. (IPA Service)