Political Oneupmanship
By Insaf
There are no friends in politics is what both Tamil Nadu and New Delhi can reiterate to those who have any doubts. Plus, it doesn’t take long for friends to turn foes. Early this week trusted partner of the UPA-II, the DMK withdrew support demanding India vote for a US-sponsored resolution condemning Sri Lanka for its human rights violations against its Tamil minority. While, the UPA-II was dithering it finally did vote, but it was too late by then. The DMK would not relent. Thus, New Delhi hit back in its own novel way. Notwithstanding its surprise and denials, the CBI raided DMK chief Karunanidhi’s son’s, MK Stalin’s residence on Thursday morning and questioned his grandson Udayanidhi about the purchase of an imported car! “Political vendetta” was the shrill cry in Chennai. And, perhaps so because Stalin, who shall succeed his father is learnt to be behind the support withdrawal. He is obviously not happy with the partnership as it cost the party its rule in the State. However, political circles are agog that though the Centre may find willing parties (read SP and BSP) to bail it out, the DMK pull-out may actually have the country facing General Elections 2014 sooner than later. Perhaps, may not. Anyone willing to take a bet?
Uttar Pradesh Cautious?
Uttar Pradesh and the Centre may well continue to play cat and mouse with each other, thanks to the DMK. Bothe can flex their muscles or go soft, depending on what the situation demands. The SP has kept the Centre on tenterhooks, after it disrupted the proceeding of Parliament witnessed early this week, demanding that Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma be sacked for insinuating at a public function in Gonda district that supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav takes “commission” from the UPA for supporting the coalition. Congress President Sonia Gandhi defused the tension by personally aplogised to ‘netaji’ with folded hands in the Lok Sabha after it was adjourned. The next day the SP decided to go slow on it. One doesn’t need to guess what led to change of heart. One, the SP sees itself in a commanding position after the DMK withdrew support to the UPA –II. Its 22 MPs in Lok Sabha can help extract its pound of flesh. However, the Congress too can hope to rein it in as it has sent the message that the CBI is proactive, as is being seen in Chennai. Who will blink first is the big question.
Karnataka In Poll Mode
Karnataka has gone into election mode. On Wednesday last, the Election Commission sounded the bugle for the battle of the ballot, with a single phase Assembly election for 224 seats on May 5. The polls will help the Congress test the waters of how soon it could go in for the bigger battle—General elections 2014, following the DMK withdrawing support. As it the Congress is high spirits by trashing the ruling BJP in the urban local bodies election. The latter needs to put its house in order, as former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa did play spoilsport by forming his own party and cutting into the BJP’s vote bank. However, he didn’t make much of a dent and therefore one cannot rule out his home coming, like UP and Madhya Pradesh BJP leaders (Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharti) have done so in the past. Notwithstanding, the EC advancing the poll by one month taking the weather into consideration, (Assembly’s term ends in June), heat is definitely going to be generated with corruption being a major poll issue.
Bihar CM Eyes Centre
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is looking for greener pastures. Call it vote bank politics or Prime Ministerial ambition, the JD (U) leader is giving ample signs of his party contemplating breaking its long-term alliance with the NDA. The Bihar leader’s aversion to his Gujarat counterpart, Narendra Modi is more than apparent and may well be a front for his eyeing national centre stage. Calculated moves are afoot. With the Centre playing cool on his long-pending demand for giving special status to Bihar, Nitish decided to make his presence felt in Delhi. Not only did he have an impressive “Adhikar” (Right) rally at the Ramlila grounds but ensured that his development model of governance cannot be ignored and would match Modi’s if not beat it! More importantly, his speech at the rally sent broad hints to the UPA that his doors are open for an alliance: “Either the Centre gives the status now or will to have to accept the demand following circumstances prevailing after 2014… the backward States will occupy seat of power in Delhi… we don’t have to look left or right but straight…” Will the Congress look in his direction?
Maharashtra’s Bad Behaviour
It’s now the turn of Maharashtra Assembly to hang its head in shame. Its MLAs are not far behind their counterparts in Punjab when it comes to intolerance. On Tuesday last, five legislators beat up an assistant police inspector (API), in the Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai for misbehaving with an MLA on the Bandra-Worli sea link for ‘over speeding’! Last week saw Punjab MLAs beating policemen in the Assembly premises. While the API had to be hospitalised, a group of MLAs sought to move a breach of privilege motion against him and seek his suspension. However, the Congress-NCP Government, upset over ‘disrepute brought to the House’ by the MLAs, announced on Wednesday last that those MLAs from the Shiv Sena, MNS and the BJP stood “suspended till December 31”. They no longer can attend the ongoing Budget session, nor the Monsoon and Winter session and even can’t enter the Bhavan.
Delhi Woos Electorate
Delhi Government has got into top gear for the ensuing Assembly elections. Like her counterpart in Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has sought to woo her electorate through the Budget, presented Wednesday last. Other than the Rs 37,450-crore Budget being “tax free”, Dikshit has retained the social sector as top priority as in the past. A whopping Rs16,000 crore (65%) of the total plan has been kept aside for welfare schemes. These include: a new Dilli Swabhiman (self Respect) Yojana for the unorganised sector, wherein the Centre and State would chip in Rs 1,000 each annually and the subscriber Rs 12,000 per annum; Rs 1,500 per month to be given to the differently-abled and women in distress under the Senior citizens’ pension scheme; Rs 1,000 for transgenders living in the city for three years and additional Rs 600 per month subsidy under Cash for Food programme, et al. —INFA