Stepping down and the Pawar of love

Politics has a lot in common with relationships. You threaten to leave the partnership or marriage, and at least for some time, your partner or spouse will be extra caring. Sharad Pawar is a politician who understands this quality of politics. So, by saying he will step down as president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday, the Mara-thanda customer got what he wanted: validation and attention from NCP workers that he is the boss who the party can't do without. Sure enough, 'by popular demand', on Wednesday, with cadres showcasing their acute withdrawal symptoms, Pawar said something about how he should take senior party leaders and workers into confidence before taking such a step. So, a committee meeting has been called that will decide whether the NCP leader's decision to step down as party chief will be 'allowed' or not.

Multiple resignation announcements have been part of brand-strengthening strategy - from Ramakrishna Hegde (as Karnataka chief minister) to Imran Khan (as Pakistan's national cricket team captain). Sonia Gandhi, of course, took it to another level when she 'sacrificed' the option of being prime minister, thereby cementing the loyalty of Congress workers and leaders till eternity. The principle of 'cry wolf' should apply. But, in politics, as in relationships, it doesn't. In fact, it makes the heart grow fonder.