ThePrint SharpEdge: Ajit Pawar’s death is another ‘what if’ moment in Indian politics
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Jan 31, 2026 A reflection on how sudden tragedy can reshape political futures. Multiple historical what-ifs are explored, from assassinations to unexpected deaths that altered leadership paths. The host examines how fate, not plotting, often decides who rises or falls in politics. The piece ends with a sober reminder of life’s fragility and its ripple effects on power.
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Fate Trumps Political Scheming
- Vir Sanghvi argues that fate ultimately decides political outcomes beyond plotting and analysis.
- He reminds listeners that unforeseen events can overturn even the best-laid political plans.
1984 Sympathy Wave Changed History
- Vir Sanghvi recounts how Indira Gandhi's assassination generated a sympathy wave that secured Congress a massive majority in 1984.
- He uses this as an example of how sudden tragedies reshape political outcomes.
Rao Became PM Because Of A Vacuum
- Vir Sanghvi tells how P.V. Narasimha Rao nearly retired before Rajiv Gandhi's assassination created a vacuum that made him prime minister.
- He credits that twist of fate with enabling Rao's economic reforms and transformation of India.