Phir Subah Hogi for Shobha
"In politics, many try to pull you down. I did not come into this field for a post, car or a bungalow. I was interested in social work and politics is another face or platform to execute that."
— Shobha Karandlaje in a May 2009 interview.

The second part of her name is a real tongue - twister. The name is Shobha Karandlaje, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister of Cabinet rank in Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa's government, who has just resigned at the instance of the Chief Minister, who in turn was driven to demand the resignation by the BJP high command as part of the compromising formula.

Since 1978, I have met and seen a number of women Ministers in Karnataka and Shobha is one among the very few women Ministers who carried themselves with grace and conducted themselves correctly in public and before the press. She has a very good dress sense — what to wear when — and speaks very gently in private conversation. In short, there is culture in the person.

At 42 she is still young for an Indian politician, especially for a woman. At a time like this where we hardly find dignified, decent politicians, she is a shining example of an ideal politician, yes ideal politician, who should be a role model to our younger generation of both male and female politicians. And unlike the majority of our politicians, she is well educated too — Masters in Social Work (MSW) and a law graduate, LLB from Mangalore.

A medico - social lecturer for nearly seven years in Manipal, she has been into social service right from her school days, what with her RSS background. She has blossomed into a BJP's Shobha because of her upbringing in RSS, no doubt. Indeed, she is a very effective, competent social activist. She was with the Bharat Kisan Sangha that spearheaded the agitation against Cogentrix and Kumaradhara Power Projects in coastal Karnataka. Hence, it will not be surprising if she takes up cudgels against the mining menace (rather Mine Lords' menace) in Karnataka, now that she has been dropped like a hot potato at the instance of the Mine Lords, Reddy brothers. After all, she is only out of the Ministry, not out of the RSS or the BJP.

While in the Ministry, her performance was without blemish. She was one of the very, very few intelligent, honest, hardworking and competent Ministers in Yeddyurappa's Cabinet. And the only woman Minister. She is also fair looking and pleasing in her manners. Her photographs in media is evidence of her being a person with a highly photogenic face. Not surprisingly, there has been gossip about her relationship with Yeddyurappa but she is nonchalant about the wagging tongues.

In an interview to a newspaper, she was asked this ticklish question and her answer should dispel all suspicions about this gossip. She said: "He is a fatherly figure and like a friend. He identified hardworking persons and encouraged them. Among women, he has groomed Vimala Gowda, Shakunthala T. Shetty and Susheela Shivappa. And now he has done the same to me." Period.

I have met Shobha a couple of times and also interacted with her. She is indeed a knowledgeable person with whom even intellectuals can interact intelligently on any subject, which is difficult for me with many politicians. She sounds kind, compassionate and concerned for the Aam Admi.

Yet, why was she targeted by the dissident group of MLAs led by Reddy brothers? May be because she was seen as an “arrogant” person as reported in the print media. What's the definition of being arrogant? Not smiling all the time? Not throwing a coquettish look at beaux among the MLAs? Difficult for a lay man to know. May be she has not granted favours to some MLAs connected with their constituencies. We do not know.

But one thing is sure. She should not have been made the District in - charge Minister for Mysore when there are already two BJP MLAs — one a four-time winner H. S. Shankaralinge Gowda and another three - time winner S. A. Ramdas, who is also the Chief Minister's Parliamentary Secretary with a Cabinet rank. Both are capable persons in attending to the needs of Mysore District, being local leaders and with a lot of experience. Probably, this decision of Yeddyurappa too might have contributed for her fall.

Be that as it may, I am personally sorry for her removal. In BJP she was not a junior, though she may be a junior, first - time Minister. She was the General Secretary of BJP's Mahila Morcha with responsibility to Udupi Wing.

Naturally, with these experiences she could have contributed much as a member of the Ministry. This was not to be. After all, as we know, many older, senior Ministers did not like seeing her always with the Chief Minister at public functions! Naturally, these venerable senior Ministers have felt ignored or sidelined. Well, all good things in life must come to pass! So it was for Shobha.

Now let me quote Shobha from an interview she gave to a newspaper in May 2009 and conclude this Abracadabra on Shobha Karan... Karand...

Karandlaje:
"There comes a time in everybody's life when we are shorn of power and grow old. I plan to set up an Ashram for my retreat. There are many persons like me, who have achieved a lot in their respective profession, but are single."

Probably social service took precedence over marriage for Shobha and then it was too late as she began to rise politically. But it is too early for her to set up an Ashram though shorn of power. Well, Shobha Madam, remember, politics, after all, is an art of possibilities. And there is always a tomorrow. Phir Subah Hogi for Shobha.