It became weaker when he was dependent on Baba Ramdev. Lastly, Anna had not anything specific to say against the corruption of Congress leaders. Fasting has lost its edge nowadays and Anna’s fasting might not have a face saving end if Gen (retired) V.K. Singh did not offer coconut water and formally associate himself with politics publicly owning responsibility for advising Team Anna to form a party. The frenzy of the people for Anna has evaporated overnight.

One who goes to Lanka will be a Ravana - now this becomes a slogan even in the lips of a die-hard supporter of Anna. There is knee-jerk reaction against it all over the country. The argument is that Gandhiji with all his charisma failed to change anything after being the number one political figure of the country. Annaji had no other option than to join politics if he wants the Jan Lokpal Bill to be approved. But with 20 to 30 seats, if he at all gets now by contesting elections, the Gandhi image of Annaji will fade gradually in the mind of the people.

His party will eventually end by entering into the dirty politics. In politics of this coalition age, some five to six national parties compromise on ideologies for grabbing the power. Anna cannot go beyond it. It is very certain that Anna will lose connection with the masses and facebook is nothing in the real ground of political contest. We have earlier seen the condition of  a charismatic Mamata Banerjee whose proposition for A.P.J. Abdul Kalam got enormous support from Facebook users. But in reality this support had nothing to do with the win of a Presidential candidate.

Another very important thing should be kept in mind that the only issue of fighting corruption cannot win a massive public support. The Facebook users who supported Anna, mostly do not have voter cards because they are youngsters. Youth support is good but it does not mean that they have the support of entire nation. General people are not that much vocal against corruption in a country like India where things are not possible without malpractices and corruption. Votes are now purchased and some parties have their own vote banks. Anna’s joining politics will not make much difference here. Anna is seen by people as a social activist.

Nobody is sure of the result if Anna the social activist becomes Anna the politician. As a politician Anna will have to follow many rules and inhibitions. He cannot roam that freely as he is doing now as an activist. For example, Arundhati Ray, a social activist can speak loosely in favour of the  jehadi Kashmiri muslims,but the Home Minister cannot speak that freely in spite of his sympathy for the suffering people, because he has constitutional bindings. Team Anna should stay away from politics and set an example for the social activists. It will be far better for Anna’s own image.

Today he is a myth, but if he joins politics, the myth will be shattered. We remember how the young Nehru before being sworn in as the Prime Minister announced that the blackmarketeers will be hanged from the nearest lightpost, but during his long rule, not a single blackmarketeer was hanged or even nabbed. Some are still hopeful of Anna joining politics, because people will have a new political party which is free from corruption to vote for. It may be a landmark in Indian politics.

But the question is how long the euphoria endures. All of a sudden things cannot change. Anna does not have the magic wand like Shakespeare’s Prospero to do away with all evils and tame all the Calibans of corruption. That is a romance and not reality. Even Shakespeare at the end of the play shows Prospero breaking his magic wand and saying: “We are such staff as dreams are made on”. To do away with corruption by joining politics is simply a dream like that of Prospero.