The award winning writer Jigs Ashar is back with another thriller The Cabinet Conspiracy, an international political espionage set in the corridors of power in India. The master storyteller, Jeffrey Archer had judged him a winner for the best short story a few years ago. Ashar’s latest book promises to provide all the Jeffrey Archer and Frederick Forsyth pace and twists.
Inspired by real events, The Cabinet Conspiracy is an edge-of-the-seat thriller about a plot to assassinate the premier of India. The story is set in today, just a few months before the elections and has a rattled co-conspirator in China, whose Belt & Road project has been thwarted. The real events and characters woven expertly into the story blur the lines between facts and fiction.
Excerpt – Pg 19-21
Adhikari’s appointment as chief minister of the highest revenue generating state in India had raised quite a few eyebrows in the Indian political circle, including several objections by IPP’s senior party members, even Mahajan. Jha was also one of the naysayers, as he was in favour of someone more senior, and was quite vocal about his opinion to Doshi. The prime minister, however, went ahead with his decision regardless. And Adhikari had not let him down.
Adhikari cut through all the noise of religion and caste-based politics of his predecessors, and made ‘development’ his main agenda. He had accurately read the change in the mindset of Indian voters – all they wanted was employment, education and a better quality of life. Adhikari went full-steam ahead with his developmental agenda. Within a year, his critics across political parties fell short of finding weak links in Adhikari’s governance that they could leverage against him politically. And over the last five years, Adhikari’s stature within the IPP, and Maharashtra’s rise as the number one state in India, on the economic front, had grown at a meteoric rate.
Dinner was served. Goswami, observant as ever, had taken care of the likes and dislikes of the group, and had particularly arranged for at least one favourite dish of everyone in the room. Political gossip occupied most of the conversation time, and Doshi mainly listened. He was very careful with his choice of words, not letting anything slip out that may be unworthy of his office.
`After dinner, the group was settled in the living area again, when Doshi said, ‘Friends, I have an announcement to make.’
***
There was stunned silence in the room, which, just a few moments ago, was boisterous and lively. Everyone looked expectantly at Doshi. Even Goswami, who would normally be in the know of the prime minister’s plans, was caught unawares. Doshi scanned the faces of the people he had worked with for a long time, and began.
‘Friends, thanks to all of you, and everyone in the IPP, our party has done very well in the last decade. From a party that could barely manage to form the government without support from our allies, we have consolidated our position to being almost…invincible. I have served our country as the prime minister for two terms now. And, I am happy to be surrounded by such strong leadership, who can take the country –and the party – forward.’
At this, everyone straightened up, half-expecting what was coming. Doshi smiled and continued, ‘I have decided not to contest the upcoming elections.’
‘What?’ Jha and Mahajan cried out together. Goswami sat expressionless, staring at Doshi. Adhikari and Devika exchanged a questioning glance. ‘The elections are just seven months away… why do you need to? We will lose if you drop out now!’ Jha stuttered.
‘No, we won’t. I will continue to campaign for the party. But I will not be the prime ministerial candidate.’ He paused, then added calmly, ‘I have decided to retire from active politics.’
‘Retire? You are too young to do that!’ Mahajan retorted. The rest of the team stared speechlessly at Doshi.
‘I am seventy-three.’
‘Exactly what I am saying –that’s young in politics.’
Doshi laughed good-humouredly.
‘Mahendra, I am not joking,’ Mahajan said. He had never addressed the prime minister by his fi rst name, except when they were alone. Doshi was not off ended though. He knew his friend was trying to prevail on him to change his decision.
‘But we need your leadership and guidance,’ protested Devika. Adhikari nodded vigorously in agreement.
‘I will always be around for you all and the party. I just don’t want to stand for offi ce,’ Doshi asserted.
Mahajan sighed and shook his head. ‘And the public? They want you as their prime minister – what about that?’
‘The public wants a good, honest leader – someone who will work for their betterment. And I have chosen someone to succeed me as the prime ministerial candidate.’
If Doshi’s decision to retire had shaken the team, this statement of his stunned them further. Jha looked at Mahajan, trying to figure out if he knew something, but he saw that he was just as surprised.
After a long pause, Doshi smiled and announced, ‘Sanjay Adhikari will be the new face of the party to be the next prime minister.’
(Extracted with due permission from Author, Publisher)
