Two defeats and a victory

Despite being an industrialist and media baron of stature, the late KK Birla’s route to the Rajya Sabha required some tough manoeuvring

Sanjay Gandhi requested that I contest the Lok Sabha elections from Jhunjhunu in 1980. When I met him I thanked him for offering me the Lok Sabha seat but told him to keep me in view for the Rajya Sabha election.

The elections to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan were to take place on 4 July 1980. Though Indira-ji took the loss of Sanjay very courageously, I thought it would be the height of selfishness on my part to go and request her for a Rajya Sabha seat in view of the great tragedy that had taken place.

The next elections to the Rajya Sabha were due in 1982.1 spoke to Indira-ji sufficiently in advance and asked her if she would be prepared to give me a seat from Rajasthan. Indira-ji said that she would sound out her colleagues in the Congress Parliamentary Board and thereafter send word to the chief minister of Rajasthan.

The last date for filing the nomination papers was 19 March 1982. Till 15 March, I was given no directions as to whether or not I was to file my nomination, either as a Congress (I) nominee or as an independent supported by the Congress (I). I waited but no word came from the Congress High Command.

With only a day left for filing the nomination, I became restless and called on Dhawan. I explained my predicament to him and requested him to arrange a short meeting for me with Indira-ji. Dhawan told me categorically that my name had been cleared by Indira-ji and that I should proceed to Jaipur without any delay and file my nomination.

I had a premonition that all was not well. I telephoned a few friends in Jaipur and asked them to find out how matters stood. They made enquiries from the chief minister who said that he had not received any directive concerning me.

With that information I again met Dhawan. Dhawan again consulted the prime minister and advised me to proceed to Jaipur forthwith and file my nomination. I was, however, very reluctant to go until I knew for certain what the actual position was. Dhawan then advised me to meet Pranab Mukherjee and discuss the matter with him.

I called on Pranab Babu, and he confirmed what Dhawan had said. Pranab Babu also advised me not to lose any time but to proceed immediately to Jaipur. That was around 9 pm on 18 March 1982.

At the meeting with Pranab Babu, I told him very categorically that unless I was promised definite support by the Congress (I) and the chief minister was given clear instructions to that effect I was not prepared to go to Jaipur to file my nomination. The time was now well past 10 pm. It was too late to meet the prime minister but I took a chance and went to the residence. Fortunately, Dhawan was there. It was my third meeting with Dhawan that day.

I called again on Pranab Babu. It was now well past 11 pm. I told him that I was not prepared to file my nomination unless a clear picture about the support from the Congress (I) to my candidature emerged. He then advised me to proceed to Jaipur.

I snatched a few hours’ sleep and left for Jaipur early the next day. I also sent word to fix an appointment for me with the chief minister.

When I apprised him of what Pranab Babu had told me, the chief minister clearly conveyed to me that it was not what he had understood from the High Command. I then requested him to talk to Pranab Babu immediately on the phone. The chief minister was reluctant to do so. It was clear that he was backing a candidate of his own choice for the third seat.

So I returned to Delhi, a disappointed person.

I related to Indira-ji all that had transpired between the chief minister and myself. Indira-ji was genuinely sorry that I could not file my nomination. I told her not to worry on my account as what had happened had become a thing of the past.

Soon after that I met Rajiv and gave him details of what had happened. He was kind enough to assure me on my request that at the next election for the Rajya Sabha to be held in 1984 he would help me.

The next Rajya Sabha election was due to be held in March 1984. I sought an appointment with Rajiv sufficiently in advance. In spite of his busy programme, Rajiv readily agreed to meet me. Rajiv remembered his earlier promise to support me.

I was taking a walk in my garden when my bearer came running to inform me about a phone call from the prime minister’s house. It was Arun Nehru, who told me that he had been asked by Rajiv to inform me that the Parliamentary Board had decided that the party would contest only two seats for the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, and they would cast all their surplus votes in my favour for the third seat. I felt very happy and thanked Arun Nehru. After a few minutes, the bearer came running again to report that there was another phone call from the prime minister’s house. This time it was Rajiv himself confirming that the Parliamentary Board had decided to support me for the third seat. I thanked Rajiv profusely.

On reaching Jaipur, I immediately called on Shiv Charan-ji. True to his word, he was very helpful and cooperative. For him the contest had become a prestige issue. If the Congress (I) could win all the three seats that would be a matter of pride for him and would add to his stature. My daughters and sons-in-law also came to Jaipur to help me win.

All of us worked very hard, working eighteen hours a day throughout our stay in Jaipur. Apart from my daughters, sons-in-law, numerous friends and well-wishers and some executives who volunteered to work for me stationed themselves in Jaipur.

Then came the day of polling. After the votes had been cast, the counting began. There were ups and downs. At one time, Kamal Morarka who was trailing behind took a lead over me. But soon I again took the lead over Morarka and reached the top of the list. When the counting was over, I was declared winner with the highest votes — 53 in my favour.

The chief minister sent for me as soon as the counting was over. He congratulated me, offered me a garland, sweets and tea, and expressed his happiness at my victory. He was very kind. There was great rejoicing in the Congress (I) camp.

I came back to Delhi. I was able to meet Indira-ji for a short while to thank her for her support. She congratulated me. I met Arun Nehru and Fotedar also. They were both happy at my victory and congratulated me.

Rajiv was not in Delhi at that time; so I could not meet him. I, however wrote to him thanking him for the support that I had received from him for winning the election. He replied to me conveying his warm greetings on my success.

Excerpted from the late KK Birla’s “Brushes with History”