Brain Stormer: Pawar without Power?

Sharad Pawar, one of the most veteran politician of our time, who has been heading the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for the last fifteen years, is all set to resign within a period of six months. It is a good gesture that Pawar is leaving the prestigious cricket body after the much talked about Lodha Committee Report came into being. As the committee is putting an age cap at seventy years for cricket administrators, so the Maharashtra strongmanwho is now seventy five, is leaving the MCA.

Citing his deep respect for the Supreme Court, the country’s highest judiciary, he is now leaving the door open for his next incumbent and he is setting an example to many more who are occupying public offices like him. Recently, two NDA Government ministers-namely Najma Heptullah and GM Siddeshwara who left their offices on account of seniority will always be remembered for taking up this step that is absolutely rare in Indian politics.

Now, the last being Pawar, who has announced his decision to quit the MCA, must be emulated by hundreds of public leaders who are occupying high profile offices. The irony is that in a country like India, everyone, except a few leaders, want to rule even from their death beds if possible. Thus the old saying goes-politicians retire, only when they die. Hope, the old generation will make way for the new and of course will remain as theguiding post for sure to oversee the course correction if required at all.

Pawar who had served the BCCI and ICC in the past should have left long back. Being one of the richest sports bodies in the world, others too have a desire to play their roles in these august institutions. However due to sheer greed and holding on to just power, Pawar has never ever stepped down in the past. But this time the historic Lodha panel has made him to quit. We the common Indians strongly argue for many more ‘Lodhas’ for disciplining our public leaders and cleaning the high profile offices of the nation.