The man who would be king

NEW DELHI: Pramod Mahajan enjoyed the spotlight. And he wore his ambition on his sleeve. Like while emceeing a sober Parliament function a few years ago, he declared, tongue-in-cheek, that there were three PMs on stage. There was then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, there was senior Congress leader the late PM Sayeed and then there was him -- Pramod Mahajan. Nobody missed the point.
When Mahajan breathed his last at 4.10 p.m. on Wednesday, the BJP lost one of its brightest second-generation leaders, a man many even in opposing parties admitted could rise to hold the most important political post in the country.
Ever flamboyant, Mahajan was the BJP's maverick, brought in to pull rabbits out of the hat when the party faced daunting electoral challenges. Brought in when bitter doses had to be administered publicly with a smile. Brought in when an army of silent IT-enabled workers were needed to organise colossal events.
The one-time RSS pracharak did not conform to type. Not for him loaded ideological phrases or an age-old charm. Mahajan worked in new-age fashion. His office was run by managers clothed in the corporate culture. He had facts and figures at his fingertips and he dispensed these with a nonchalance that showed ease of practice. No wonder then that he was feted as much by India Inc as by politicos.
Mahajan was valued in the party as a canny strategist and a meticulous political organiser. He had recently been assigned the task to help revamp the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and one of his last public appearances was alongside BJP candidate for the Rae Bareilly by-elections against Sonia Gandhi, a nervous Vinay Katiyar, when the latter filed his nomination papers.
He was a charmer and his charm worked across party lines. Beyond official pow-wows, Mahajan had political friends from other parties who spoke of him with warmth. He enjoyed the game of politics and was openly appreciative of those who played the game well.
Equally, in the cut-throat competition among the second-generation leaders in the BJP, Pramod had his share of detractors, read almost every one. But he enjoyed the confidence of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to whom he played an advisory role for long. And that of L.K. Advani, though there were moments of strife.
When the BJP lost the general elections in 2004, Mahajan, the general-secretary in-charge, was quick to own responsibility. He had his political ups and downs but never really remained out for too long.
And Mahajan had his share of detractors. Those who questioned his methods, his loyalties, his priorities, his integrity. He shrugged off most criticism with a characteristic grin and a typical witticism.
The articulate Mahajan brought natural energy to his role in various ministries during the BJP regime. He served as telecom minister, as information and broadcasting minister and as civil aviation minister. He was also minister for parliamentary affairs and a spokesman for the government and the party.
Born on October 30 1949, Mahajan came from a simple background, bringing up his siblings. He joined the RSS in his 20s and worked in rural Maharashtra. In 1979 he was assigned by the RSS to work in the political arm of the Sangh Parivar, later the BJP. In 1986 Mahajan became president of the All India Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, worked in Maharashtra politics for a while and then came centre stage at the national level.
A Rajya Sabha member, Pramod remained a key member of the BJP's highest decision-making body.
On a sultry April weekend, the nation was as taken aback as Pramod must have been when his younger brother walked into his Mumbai apartment and shot him at point-blank range. That he lived even 12 days grittily battling for life in the Hinduja Hospital ICU was a tribute to his famous tenacity.
Mahajan is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.