The Power Shift and the Rejected Deals

October 25, 2009 – The Oath-Taking Ceremony

The sun rose over Maharashtra, Haryana, and Arunachal Pradesh, casting golden hues over a nation still reeling from the unexpected political earthquake. Just three days ago, no one in the media or political circles had given BVM even the slightest chance. And yet, today, the newly elected Chief Ministers of all three states were about to take their oaths of office.

Across India, news anchors, political analysts, and opposition leaders were still struggling to make sense of what had happened. Some called it a "fluke." Others blamed "EVM manipulation." But no one could deny the reality anymore—the old order had been shattered overnight.

Mumbai, Maharashtra – 9:00 AM

The Raj Bhavan in Mumbai had never seen an event quite like this. The air buzzed with anticipation as thousands of BVM supporters gathered outside the governor's residence. They had fought for this moment. They had defied expectations.

Inside, the grand oath-taking hall was filled with journalists, bureaucrats, and politicians—many of whom still couldn't believe they were about to witness history.

The new Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Aditya Pratap, stepped forward. Just a few months ago, he had been a complete unknown—a clean candidate with no political dynasty behind him, no major corporate backers, and no controversial baggage. The media had dismissed him as a non-factor.

Yet, here he was.

The Governor began the official oath:"I, Aditya Pratap, do solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India..."

The moment he finished, the crowd outside erupted in cheers. The chants of "BVM Zindabad!" echoed across the city.

As he turned to the gathered dignitaries, the expressions on the faces of opposition leaders were priceless—shock, anger, disbelief. The corporate elites, sitting in the front row, remained eerily silent. They had come here today expecting a business-friendly leader who would do things the way they always had been done.

They were about to be disappointed.

Chandigarh, Haryana – 11:00 AM

Meanwhile, in Haryana, the newly sworn-in Chief Minister, Raghav Verma, faced a different kind of challenge. Haryana had been dominated by two powerful political families for decades. His victory had completely dismantled that structure overnight.

As he took the oath, the former CM sat in the audience, his jaw clenched tightly, his hands gripping the armrests of his chair. This wasn't just a loss—this was humiliation.

The media was still struggling to frame the narrative. How had this happened? How had the people rejected the traditional powerhouses in favor of BVM, a party that didn't promise caste-based quotas, religious appeasement, or free handouts?

The answer was simple—people had voted for change. But change terrified the old system.

Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh – 1:30 PM

At the other end of the country, the scene was different but the emotions were the same. In the rain-drenched hills of Arunachal Pradesh, the third and final BVM CM, Tenzing Norbu, took his oath.

For decades, the northeastern states had been treated as an afterthought by national parties. Development promises had been made, but they had never materialized. Now, BVM had secured a shocking landslide victory in Arunachal Pradesh, breaking the long-standing monopoly of the ruling elite.

As Norbu raised his hand and took the oath, the tribal leaders in the audience exchanged silent glances.

This… was not supposed to happen.

But it had.

And nothing would ever be the same again.

The Meeting – Mumbai, 4:00 PM

The oath-taking ceremonies were over, but the real battles were about to begin.

Inside a private, five-star hotel in South Mumbai, some of India's most powerful businessmen gathered in a closed-door meeting. These were the kingmakers, the billionaires who had, until now, dictated policies from the shadows.

At the head of the table sat Mr. Ramesh Jindal, one of India's largest industrialists, his expression dark and unreadable. Across from him sat Mukesh Taneja, the chairman of a major media conglomerate, and a dozen other corporate elites, all of whom had spent millions funding the opposition's campaign.

The mood in the room was tense.

"The situation is unacceptable," Jindal finally spoke, his voice sharp. "We poured hundreds of crores into ensuring UPF retained power in Maharashtra. And yet, this… this amateur government has taken over."

Taneja shook his head, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. "I don't understand. The exit polls were clear. How the hell did we get it so wrong?"

A murmur spread through the table.

One of the older businessmen, Anil Chopra, exhaled sharply. "It doesn't matter how. What matters is that we deal with this… problem."

Silence.

The word "deal with" hung in the air, heavy with meaning.

CM's Residence – Mumbai, 6:00 PM

Meanwhile, at the Chief Minister's residence, the newly appointed Aditya Pratap was preparing for his first major meeting—and it was about to be a war.

His secretary stepped in. "Sir, the business leaders have arrived."

Pratap took a deep breath. He knew what was coming.

A few minutes later, India's wealthiest and most powerful men entered his office, their faces carefully neutral, but their eyes filled with expectation.

They expected him to bow.

To reassure them that nothing would change.

They were wrong.

Jindal spoke first. "Congratulations, Chief Minister. A historic victory."

"Thank you," Pratap replied calmly.

Jindal didn't waste time. "We have proposals that will greatly benefit your administration. If you cooperate, we can ensure your government remains stable. Development requires investment, after all."

Pratap leaned back in his chair, unimpressed. "Go on."

Taneja slid a stack of documents across the table. "We need tax exemptions for our industries. Land acquisition needs to be fast-tracked—environmental clearances should not be an obstacle."

Another businessman added, "Your government will need media support. We can ensure positive coverage in exchange for certain policy adjustments."

Pratap remained silent for a moment. Then, he pushed the documents back across the table.

"Not interested."

A long, stunned silence.

Jindal's face darkened. "Excuse me?"

Pratap's expression didn't change. "The era of backroom deals is over. You will follow the law. No special treatment. No tax exemptions. No rigged land acquisitions."

The businessmen exchanged disbelieving glances.

Taneja let out a small chuckle. "I don't think you understand how things work, Mr. Pratap."

Pratap leaned forward. His voice was calm. Deadly.

"No, Mr. Taneja. You don't understand how things work now."

A charged silence filled the room.

Jindal's fists clenched. "You do realize, Chief Minister, that governments fall when business stops supporting them?"

Pratap smiled slightly. "Try it."

Another silence. But this time, it was different.

The businessmen realized something chilling—this new government would not be controlled.

For the first time, they had met a leader they could not buy.

The old world was crumbling.

And the new one had just begun.

To Be Continued…