So IPL has moved out of India, at least for this season and who knows, maybe permanently. It is just possible that the Congress Government had bit off more than it can chew. Congress has always mouthed platitude about private enterpreneurship, but has taken pains to put stumbling blocks into any such succesful venture. They cannot get over the feeling of power that they used to excercise over all aspects of business during the License Raj.
I had written before in this blog how Congress took on IPL with a vendetta, after IPL put a spoke on Congress's plan to have a Rs 500 million advertisement campaign during the IPL that coincides with the election campaign period. The idea was that Congress will be able to influence the youth through TV and In Stadia Advertisements during IPL. When IPL wisely refused political advertisements, the Party leadership swung into action and gave orders to not clear IPL come what may. It is sad that two people who claim to be liberals, Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram, allowed this to happen without even a token protest. The security issue was a fig leaf to pull the wool over the publics eye.
Lalith Modi (I have no love lost for the brash Lalith Modi but he has proved himself to be a top businessman who made a big success with a new product), and IPL were so flexible that they were even prepared to play in Dharmashala. The schedule was reworked almost every day, but the Government ingeniously came out with one objection after another. With no other option, IPL and BCCI decided to take it out of the country. The losers is the poor public, who enjoyed IPL last year and thronged to the Stadium. Now this edition will be basically a TV affair played in front of empty stands. And it will be a pity. IPL and 20/20 had started to bring back ordinary people, especially the younger generation, back to the Stadium.
In a Country where logic is at a premium, IPL may have the last laugh. Its TV revenues wont be hit and Congress may have to face the wrath of a huge chunk of youth voters, its specific target market. Already in the doldrums because its allies like Mulayam, Laloo, Ramdas quitting the front and going it alone, IPL backlash may be the last straw that may tilt the elections slightly away from Congress. No politician has taken on the Cricket crowd during the past 6 decades. We will know what happens this time around. I wouldnt bet on Congress, if I were you.
