CUT ABOVE THE REST SPOKESPERSON : Jaipal Reddy - no glib talker, just a master spokesperson

IN JAIPAL REDDY'S DEATH, INDIAN POLITICAL SPACE HAS LOST A GOOD SPOKESPERSON -

Though he became a Congressman at a later stage and took part many debates cornering stalwarts such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Prime Minister of the time, Late Reddy would be perhaps best remembered for his criticism of Arun Shourie, then Editor of a powerful newspaper.

In response Shourie’s article that claimed that V P Singh had 'approved' of removing of bricks from Ayodhya, displaying the irreplaceable gift-of-the-gab, Jaipal Reddy had said, “After excelling in journalism; Mr Shourie is now trying to excel in fiction writing”. 

Unlike today’s generation of suave and ambitious individuals, the role of spokespersons for political parties has come a full circle. But unlike the era of V N Gadgil (Congress) and K L Sharma (BJP), both deceased, there is a perceptible change in the functioning of politicians to work as party’s face before the media.

“One should have political acumen with good grasp on various issues?,” thus spoke the late Gadgil on his role and did not hesitate to describe himself as “a learned fool” – to keep the humour line open.

K L Sharma, who pioneered BJP’s media cell, along with J P Mathur, made it a point to interact informally with reporters even during late hours.
S Jaipal Reddy, who died on July 28, had excelled as spokesman for Janata Dal, used read at least 20
newspapers every morning preparing for the “afternoon onslaught” and the results
were always forthcoming.

Compared to this, a Congress spokesman in 2005 surprised scribes with feigning ignorance on which Minister was served with non-bailable warrant. “Congress or Prime Minister is second to none in upholding public accountability,” the leader had said.

Such rhetoric if part of the strategy serves no purpose for the party interest. Similar was the case when weeks after weeks stories were being taken merely on speculation – and often planted by Congress spokespersons themselves – that cabinet expansion was on cards.

Actually all key Congress media managers from Anand Sharma to Ambika Soni were seen among hopefuls.

In BJP, all blue-eyed-boys and girls (especially Sushma Swaraj) of Advan-Vajpayee era were only ambitious lot.

In later stage, some people were lucky - Nirmala Sitharaman, a former spokesperson is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'a key trusted aide'. She became first woman Defence Minister and also first woman Finance Minister.

Sushma, Nirmala - Talented but Lucky Two

The death of S Jaipal Reddy leaves a big vacuum in the political space and only highlights the great transition one sees among the political spokespersons who unlike the present generation players perfectly knew the art of giving out the knockout punch without being impolite and vulgar.
Certainly, the likes of Jaipal Reddy, who breathed last on Sunday, and veteran spokespersons of that era K L Sharma and V N Gadgil were not necessarily the camera-savvy glib talkers.

Late S Jaipal Reddy would be best remembered for his role as a spokesman for Janata Dal when India had plunged into a political whirlpool of coalition games in the corridors of power.
During those days and late evening briefings, Late Reddy would sport that infectious smile and would brief journalists sincerely and frankly.
"As spokesman of Janata Dal, I used to ready 20 newspapers in the morning preparing to field questions," Reddy had later said in 2010.

"One ought to have the political acumen....," he also had said on virtues required to be a good spokesman.
ON N T Rama Rao's death, Jaipal Reddy was again at his best with minimum words: "National Front is orphan today". N T R was the chairman of National Front that had parties such as Janata Dal, AGP, DMK and TDP as the key constituents.

Prominent editor of his time, Mr Shourie was also sacked by the newspaper for that controversial article.
The quote from Jaipal on Arun Shourie had said it all !

There was no spewing personal vitriol - no heart burning either.
Thus, senior journalists who covered Jaipal Reddy or the likes of V N Gadgil, another veteran spokesman of the Congress party in early 1990s, have good reasons to ponder at Reddy's death - when was the last time, media had such memorable quotes from the new generation political spokespersons.


There were few other occasions when Jaipal Reddy displayed his talent making use of powerful phrases and showing the faultline in the rivals camp.

In December 2000, the Lok Sabha had taken up a detailed debate on the Babri Masjid demolition.
The motion, moved under Rule 184 that entails voting had said - "This House calls upon Prime Minister (Vajpayee) to drop three ministers (L K Advani, M M Joshi and Uma Bharati)....for their involvement in demolition of Babri Masjid".

Late Reddy, then a Congress lawmaker initiated the debate attacking PM Vajpayee and said - Vajpayeeji had mounted the 'chauvanist Hindutva tiger' and completed his pilgrimage from "hypocrisy to theocracy".

Terming the demolition of the Masjid at Ayodhya a 'colossal crime', Jaipal Reddy had said - "Prime Minister is appearing neutral in a moral crisis of epic magnitude".

Late Jaipal's remarks during the debate at a later stage left the likes of Vinay Katiyar and two Ministers of State for Home I D Swami and Vidya Sagar Rao (present Governor of Maharashtra) anguished when he has said: "Govindacharya may be banished temporarily, but Prime Minister Vajpayee's mask has been removed permanently".

One time BJP general secretary K N Govindacharya had triggered a major row when he was quoted as saying that the Late Vajpayee was a 'mask' when it came to BJP's otherwise hardline Hindutva politics.

ends