A Feast of Vultures: The Hidden Business of Democracy in India

by Josy Joseph

There is the peculiar case of Anurag Thakur, a member of parliament and son of a senior BJP leader, who was elected secretary of the all-powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in March 2015. When asked if his victory and other developments signalled a takeover of cricket administration by the BJP, he told The Mint newspaper: ‘Not really, you can’t say that. It’s very interesting … I don’t belong to any group. Both the factions wanted me to become president. That clearly shows it’s not about the group. And similarly, if the BJP has lopsided with one [sic], then how are they contesting from different groups? There’s nothing like the BJP and Congress within the BCCI.’ Now, in May 2016, the same Anurag Thakur becomes the president of BCCI upon Shashank Manohar, the incumbent president, vacating the post. Thakur’s statement simplifies the political realities that shape power and influence in modern India. When it comes to sharing the pie or claiming a piece of it, there are no political divisions.