The Name is Tharoor.. Shashi Tharoor

Nothing gets social media more excited than a good scandal. And when the scandal unfolds on social media itself, well that's just icing on an already delicious cake.New age media has been a curse and blessing for politicians involved in sex scandals. It is now harder than ever to hide an intimate relationship with a colleague or a journalist and yet even easier than ever to make a quick come back.

The news feeds from India is filled with Shashi Tharoor again, and obviously for the wrong reasons.However if political analysts have to be believed, Shashi Tharoor has greater acceptance among the youth, more than any other congress leader.Does this mean that overly conservative Indian society are more willing to overlook at politician’s sexual interest and behavior?

Not necessorily, I believe politicians still need to go through a process to regain the trust of the voters after a sex scandal, but today that process has sped up.A sex scandal would have required politicians to go for state wide convention, a political yathra(National explanation tour), media discussions, editorial interventions and would take years to build back the lost image, but it is a matter of couple of months now.That’s because the pressence of social networking site, blogs and 24 hour news channels.But Politicians still have to follow a strict script if they really want to make a come back.

While the private behavior of Shashi and other politicians makes for compelling voyeuristic reading and may help sell newspapers and television news shows, it really has no direct connection to their stances on critical public issues. Still, one can certainly argue that private immoral behavior raises serious questions about one’s moral fitness to serve in a political capacity as a public representative.

But if you play your card correct and stick to a full proof script post the scandal, the secrets between the sheets will not hamper your political career.And if you are looking for  statstics, a recent survey in America reads Bill Clinton has 61% approval rating higher than Obama(52%) and Bush(45%).

Shadow of shame is the right ecosystem for the seeds of forgivness.So be cool Tharoor, the scandal would change the discussion but not the game.

Jai Hind