There are no permanent friends or enemies in politics. The uncertainty in changing equations is the only certainty. This has been proven true in recent times with the new found friendship between the Bachchans and the Gandhis, more specifically, between Congress MP Sonia Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan.
This is significant as the bitterness between the once close families had its epicentre in Sonia Gandhi and Jaya Bachchan. It is said that when Sonia Gandhi decided to shift base to India to marry Rajiv Gandhi, it was Amitabh Bachchan’s mother Teji Bachchan, who taught her Hindi. Not just this, in a recent interview, Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Vadra spoke about how “Teji aunty” had taught her poetry.
Rajiv Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan and Arun Nehru were seen the way Rahul Gandhi and his group of young leaders were in the recent past. Amitabh had entered politics to help his friend Rajiv Gandhi. He also did the kanyadaan for Priyanka Vadra, a ritual where the father gives away his daughter on her wedding.
But things broke down between the two families. While no one knows the real cause, it is believed that the Gandhis felt that during the biggest Bofors crisis, Amitabh Bachchan never stood by them. In contrast, Amitabh Bachchan once said, “They are the raja and we are the ranks.” It was Jaya Bachchan who was most bitter about the Gandhis and she once said that they were big people who had hurt her husband.
As Amitabh seemed to get closer to PM Narendra Modi, the scorn and anger among the Gandhis got clearer. They accused the Bachchans of being traitors.
But then, things changed. Just recently, many were surprised to see Sonia Gandhi and Jaya Bachchan share a laugh. But what took everyone by surprise was when it was Sonia who goaded Jaya to take on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar. When Jaya Bachchan was haggling with the VP in Rajya Sabha, it was Sonia who indiacted to the INDIA bloc leaders to stand by her, which they did. She stood behind Jaya Bachchan as she spoke to the media and demanded an apology from the VP, much like when Sonia had stood behind TMC MP Mahua Moitra when she was disqualified.
Many may wonder how the friends-turned-foes have turned friends again. This goes back to an axis which many senior leaders of the INDIA bloc want to create. They say that it is important that all women and the bitterness of the past must be forgotten. Sources say that a pivotal role has also been played by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who feels that having performed well and bringing the BJP below simple majority, past bitterness must be forgotten.
The Bachchans had taught the Hindi language to Sonia Gandhi and she had gotten her voice, thanks to their efforts. Today, once again, the past seems to be catching up. And, political compulsion could lead to writing of a new script.
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