"I got it through a senior government official close to me" said Navaneetham, a senior leader of the party.
"This evidence is clinching. If we get this information officially through the Right to Information Act and fie a case against the Chief Minister, he is sure to be convicted."
"I thought that much. Shall I proceed?" asked Navaneetham, enthusiastically.
"Wait! We can collect the details. But to file a case against the Chief Minister, we need sanction from the Governor of the state. Do you think that he will give the sanction?" asked Satyamurthy.
Navaneetham's enthusiasm quickly evaporated like air leaving a deflated balloon.
"The NDP, the ruling party at the centre, doesn't have a majority in the Rajya Sabha*. It has to depend on the support of the ten members of the TSP, the Chief Minister's party, for getting the bills passed in the Rajya Sabha. So, the central government won't act against the Chief Minister. The state Governor, being a representative of the entre, won't act against the Chief Minister, either!" said Sathyamurthy.
"In that case, we can do another thing. We will hand over the evidence to a leading national newspaper and using our contacts, make them publish it."
"That can be done. Since we will be collecting the evidence officially, it will be authentic. A reputed newspaper may have no problem in publishing it, if we can prove to them that the evidence is authentic. The government will deny it, of course, but it won't act against the newspaper, since the information is authentic. So, the newspaper will feel safe to publish the information."
"So, we can take this route" said Navaneetham, his enthusiasm having been revived.
"The question is: What next?" said Satyamurthy, smiling.
"What are you trying to say, sir?"
"What will happen after the evidence is published in the newspaper? It will create a sensation. Every one will talk about it. We can launch an agitation, demanding a full-fledged enquiry into the issue. The people and the media may also support us. But the sensation will begin to fade and after five or six months, people will lose interest in this topic. Thereafter, it won't even find a mention. The election is two years away. If we try to revive this issue at the time of the election, people won't show much interest in it."
"Are you saying that we cannot do anything at all?"
"Let us wait for the right time" said Satyamurthy.
"What is this, sir? You, being a rationalist, are talking about the right time, the way astrologers talk about good time and bad time!"
"When I said 'right time,' I didn't mean it in the sense 'good time,' At present, the situation is favourable to our enemies. We should wait till the situation turns in our favour."
"When will it happen?" said Navaneetham, showing his frustration.
"Don't feel discouraged. The right time will come in about three months" said Satyamurthy, smiling.
"How are you so sure?"
Satyamurthy looked at his watch and said, "The time is four now. Can we not say that in three hours, it will be dark? What I said was similar to this! Collect the information officially and keep it ready."
Navaneetham looked at Satyamurthy, perplexed.
After three months, Satyamurthy told Navaneetham, "Based on the details you have collected officially, we will be giving a petition to the Governor, requesting his sanction, for prosecuting the Chief Minister for his corrupt deals. I have asked for an appointment to meet the Governor next week. You may also come with me!"
"Will the Governor give his sanction now?" asked Navaneetham.
"He will, definitely."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Right now, elections to the Rajya Sabha are being held in several states. As I have already worked out, the NDP is going to get fifteen additional seats in the Rajya Sabha. After that, they won't need the support of the members belonging to TSP, the Chief Minister's party. All along, using his leverage with NDP, gained from that party's dependence on the support of ten members of his party, the Chief Minister had exerted undue pressure on the central government and got certain things done for himself and his party. So the leaders of NDP have been angry with the Chief Minister and waiting for the right time to take revenge on him. Therefore, when they get a chance to create trouble to the Chief Minister, they won't miss it. So, the time is now favourable to us. It is for this time I said we should wait" said Satyamurthy, feeling excited.
*Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Indian parliament.
Section 2
Knowing the Right Time
vEndharkku vENdum pozhudhu.
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