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January 21st, 2009 Sukhbir gets Home, no major shuffle SO FAR, it's been picture perfect — the elevation of Sukhbir Singh Badal as the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab. But whether that can be said a few months from now remains to be seen. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal couldn't have expected the succession plan for his son to be smoother and politically better timed. By appointing the SAD president and Lok Sabha MP as his deputy, Badal has sent a clear message: this is the man who matters. From an "extra constitutional" to a "constitutional" authority , Sukhbir's come a long way . He's all powerful today; Sukhbir always had the power, but will now be "responsible" for what he does. Says a senior Akali leader, "Sukhbir hasn't got anything on a platter, he had to work very hard to carve out his political space and make himself somewhat indispensable for Punjab's electoral politics. The party's in power largely because of his efforts." 2007, in fact, was Sukhbir's victory , leading the party as he did from the front, re-energising the Akali cadre for a "do-or-die" battle against a formidable opponent in Capt Amarinder Singh. The win allowed Badal Sr to meticulously implement his succession plan. Lok Sabha MP Sukhbir first became the Acting SAD president, then a full-time party president and is now the Deputy Chief Minister. The heir apparent is on the move. "His growing stature marks the transition of Punjab polity from one dominated by the old world and laidback style of politics to one essentially proactive and forward looking. Sukhbir also symbolises the rise of the youth to the centre-stage of power play ," says Chief Minister's media adviser Harcha ran Bains. But the question on everyone's mind: Will he deliver? That depends on whether he's able to provide leadership to an already indifferent officialdom and show "restraint and political maturity" in dealing with contentious issues. Nonetheless, says a senior officer close to Sukhbir, with his coming to the chief minister's office, the dilly-dallying by bureaucrats could end. Whatever the Deputy CM will say would now be in the official capacity and duly put on the file. Thus, each word would entail accountability. The model of governance may also change — from slow-moving and public sector style to corporate, resultoriented and more accountable. While Badal had been known to be tolerant, soft and forgiving, Sukhbir is not known to have these qualities. The bureaucracy , used to the laidback style of Badal Senior, will now have to be on its toes all the time. For them, he adds, the message would be very clear: perform or perish! Leader of Opposition Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, however, feels: " Although it's an internal matter of the Akali Dal, the move will ruffle many feathers within the SAD-BJP combine. His induction won't make any positive improvement in governance as he had already been running it by proxy ." For the past some months, the Badal family was seriously debating Sukhbir's elevation. If not now, then when? And ultimately came the decision to induct him in the Cabinet as his father's deputy . "The Badals feel if the Akali Dal does well and NDA forms the government, Badal Senior can be accommodated in the Centre. And the credit could easily be given to party chief and Deputy CM Sukhbir for making the difference. But if it doesn't, Badal can claim moral responsibility for having not done well and decide to finally pass the baton to Sukhbir by appointing him the chief minister," argues a political analyst. But whether the voters take that bait in the period after that is the moot point. For the moment, Sukhbir's induction has, no doubt, raised expectations within the government and Akali circles (besides giving the Congress a handle to flog the Badal "parivar"). Will he live up to it, that's the big question.