ROUND THE STATES

New Delhi, 25 January 2006

Turmoil In Bangalore

CONGRESS LEADERSHIP TO BLAME

By Insaf

The Congress High Command has none but itself to blame for the mess it currently faces in Karnataka and several other States, including the poll-bound West Bengal and Kerala.  In fact, the political developments at Bangalore somewhat dampened the spirit of the party’s three-day plenary at Hyderabad where the top leadership repeatedly emphasized the need for rejuvenating the organization in the States, especially where it is presently ruling, like in Karnataka and Kerala.  With Karnataka in mind, party Chief Sonia Gandhi stressed the need to strictly follow the coalition “dharma”.  Realization dawned at the session that recent attempts to sideline the coalition ally, that is the JD(S) of Deve Gowda, was at odds with the canons of coalition politics.

Expectedly, the JD(S) chief and former Prime Minister Deve Gowda has himself now blessed his son, H.D. Kumaraswamy’s rebellion, walking away with the majority of the MLAs to destabilize the Congress-led coalition Government.  He publicly stated that by doing so Kumaraswamy had saved the JD(S). Gowda, who had initially denounced his son’s rebellion as the “saddest day of my life”, took a “U-turn” after days of uncertainty following a meeting with his son.  Gowda said Kumaraswamy had told him about a “plot” by former Chief Minister and now Maharashtra Governor S.M. Krishna and expelled JD(S) leader Siddaramaiah to split the JD(S). Gowda himself was feeling cheated by the Congress and Chief Minister Dharam Singh. 

All these 18 months since the Congress has been leading the coalition Government in Karnataka, the senior partner was seldom inclined to appease the ally.  As a matter of fact most of the boards and corporations are still under the control of the Congress.  After much pressure by Gowda, few Congressmen resigned last year, but no new appointments were made by the Chief Minister.  Another great irritant has been the intervention by former Chief Minister and now Governor of Maharashtra S.M. Krishna.  The Governor’s frequent trips to Bangalore were a sore point with Gowda. To make matters worse, Krishna’s political friends like D.K. Shivkumar have been leading a vicious campaign against the JD(S) and its leaders.  Given these fact, many in the Congress concede that the Central leadership cannot escape responsibility for the turmoil in Bangalore.

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Congress Lapse In West Bengal

In West Bengal too, the Congress leadership seems to be bungling at a time when the people of the State are yearning for a change of the Government.  The Opposition parties, especially the Congress and the Trinamool Congress of Mamata Banerjee have failed to work out any electoral deal for the Assembly poll in April-May. This despite the  repeated pleas of the State’s veteran leader, A.B. Ghani Khan Chaudhury that the Congress should talk to Mamata for unitedly challenging the Left rule.  Even the workers of both the parties are keen to join hands and contest the Assembly elections together to oust the CPM from power.  In fact, Chaudhary’s absence from the Hyderabad plenary is attributed by some as reflecting his anger against the Central leadership ignoring his advice.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission is going ahead with its efforts to ensure free and fair election this time.  While re-checking the voters’ lists in all the 19 districts of the State, the Commission teams have unearthed an offset press that has been printing fake voter identity cards.  A CPM leader from Bangaon, Parimal Biswas, was arrested last week for running the press.  Biswas had also reportedly acquired a hologram software from Mumbai and used it to make dud voter cards.  Meanwhile, the CPM patriarch Jyoti Basu has taken another potshot at the Election Commission, alleging that the officers drawing up the electoral rolls had failed to scratch out the names of those who had died or had moved out.

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Hurting Telugu Pride

The Congress is slowly but surely losing its popularity in all the southern States.  Even in Andhra Pradesh which organized the party’s plenary and made it a grand show, the people have an unspoken grievance against the top Congress leadership.  Their Telugu pride has been hurt by the brazen neglect of their leader, the late PV Narasimha Rao, the first Prime Minister from the State and indeed from the South.  He was conspicuous by his absence from among the portraits of national leaders that provided a backdrop to the dais. Moreover, not a single poster or banner carried Narasimha Rao’s photograph. In Kerala too, the Congress-led UDF Government has suffered a setback with its veteran leader, Karunakaran floating another party, Democratic Indira Congress. He is now having an electoral tie-up with the Left Front, which is favoured to win next Assembly poll, as reflected in the recent election to the local bodies.

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Amarinder Singh Upbeat

Punjab’s Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh has reason to be upbeat, as his Government completed four years in office on January 21.  He finds himself comfortably saddled, backed by a strong economy and a long list of achievements during his tenure.  He is confident that the Congress will have smooth sailing in the next Assembly poll a year away.  Among his great achievements is massive investment in industry to the tune of Rs.43,000 crore.  This is expected to generate employment for about 7.5 lakh people.  Amarinder Singh has also claimed that his Government has successfully implemented all the poll promises the party made. Prominent among these is provision of free electricity to farmers. This, alongwith fast and complete procurement with hassle-free payments, he claims, has consolidated the farmers’ vote for to the Congress.

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Hooda Circumvents Law

In adjoining Haryana, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has chosen to follow the  route taken by Amarinder Singh and: appointed Parliamentary Secretaries to circumvent the provisions of the 91^st Amendment Act, which mandates that the number of Ministers should not exceed 15 per cent of the total strength of the State legislature. He has appointed one Chief Parliamentary Secretary and seven Parliamentary Secretaries to retain the support of influential State Congress leaders and to sideline his arch rival Bhajan Lal. But he runs a risk.  Himachal’s Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh too had appointed Parliamentary Secretaries. But the High Court quashed these appointments on the plea that these did not owe their origin to any constitutional or legal provision.

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ULFA Terror Continues

The dreaded ULFA continues its terror campaign in Assam.  The underground militants set off as many as eight attacks within hours over the last week-end – three grenade strikes and five blasts on important establishment across the State.  Their targets included two gas pipelines, a power transmission tower, a bus and a CRPF camp.  Meanwhile, the Centre, on its part, is continuing its peace dialogue with the ULFA-nominated People’s Consultative Group, a group of overground sympathizers of the militants, which includes the Assamese litterateur, Indira Goswami.  It has scheduled a second round of talks with them in New Delhi on 7 February.

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In PM’s Footsteps!

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh has cocked a snook at Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by re-inducting the controversial and influential independent MLA, Raghunath Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya into his Cabinet.  He had been forced to resign about two months ago after the Supreme Court quashed the decision of the Mulayam Government to revoke POTA against him.  The Court had also transferred his case to Madhya Pradesh.  A Jabalpur POTA court released Raja Bhaiya on bail last month and Mulayam promptly re-inducted him last week.  As eyebrows went up, Mulayam’s second-in-command and party General Secretary Amar Singh smilingly clarified: “We are only following in the footsteps of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who has Ministers like Lalu Prasad Yadav, Shibu Soren and Taslimuddin.” ---INFA

 (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

ROUND THE STATES

New Delhi, 18 January 2006

Confusion Over Local Alliances

HECTIC ACTIVITY IN POLL-BOUND STATES

By Insaf

Political confusion is prevailing in several States where various political parties are  busy  working out or  re-working their strategies and alliances in their quest for power.  It is more so in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where Assembly polls are due in the next three or four months.  In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee’s efforts for a “grand alliance” against the Left Front is unlikely to succeed, even though the State Congress Chief Pranab Mukherjee has offered her the Chief Ministership provided she breaks away from her Trinamool Congress’ alliance with the BJP-led NDA.  In Kerala, Congress veteran Karunakaran wants his splinter group to cut a deal with the Left Front. Smaller Dravidian groups in Tamil Nadu, too, are trying to re-work their ties.  The MDMK is having a re-think on its association with the DMK.

Realignment of forces has also started in U.P., Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa.  In fact, it is beginning to hot up in Lucknow, now that the State’s former Chief Minister, Rajnath Singh, has taken over presidentship of the BJP.  He is trying to emerge as a leader of not only the Thakurs but also of  the farmers even as Chief Minister Mulayam Singh is trying to reach out to the CPM, TDP and the AIADMK in a bid to forge the third front.  The Congress is limiting itself to holding anti-Mulayam rallies.  Ajit Singh is holding Kisan rallies raising speculation once more that his Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) may pull out of the SP-led ruling alliance.  Uma Bharati seems set to queer the pitch for both the ruling BJP and the Congress in Madhya Pradesh. She may well tie up with the BSP of Mayawati to forge an OBC-Dalit alliance. In Orissa, the alliance between the BJD of Naveen Patnaik and the BJP is running into difficulty. 

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PM’s Bonanza To Assam

Assam has got a bonanza from the Centre.  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced for “my State” (he represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha) an investment of Rs.6,000 crore during his two-day visit there over the week-end.  Central funds have been sanctioned for two power projects and for expanding coal mining activity at Ledo in Dibrugarh.  The Prime Minister stated at Guwahati: “With both the projects we are investing Rs.6,000 crore in Assam so that the shortage of electricity is met, the production of coal is increased and opportunity for employment is generated”.  The PM assured a gathering in Guwahati that he was committed to taking Assam to a “new height of development”.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has gone on record to state that his Congress would seek “minor” amendments to the Foreigners Act in order to ensure legal safeguards to the Indian minorities in Assam who, he believes, are vulnerable to harassment.  Gogoi had earlier told a Press Conference that “some changes” in the working of the apex Court’s verdict were required.  The Chief Minister wants reference to the tribunals made mandatory for all cases of detection of Bangladeshi migrants.  Presently, cases “may be referred” to tribunals.  The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which spearheaded the anti-foreigners agitation during the 1980s has  threatened that Assam would burn if any amendment was undertaken. The BJP too has supported the AASU.

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Left Front Woos Muslims

The Left Front Government in West Bengal, led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is back to its old game: wooing Muslim votes, which constitute about 20 per cent of the total  electorate of 4,86,85,382. Bhattacharjee has made it clear that the Front will leave no stone unturned in catching Muslim votes.  The Government’s latest move in this direction is to reverse its earlier decision to de-recognise some madrassas.  Now, these will not only continue as recognized, but efforts would be made to modernise them.  Meanwhile, the Election Commission is pulling all stops to ensure free and fair poll.  It has planned to keep the teachers out of the poll process, as about 90 per cent of them are said to be associated with the CPM and other Left partners directly or indirectly.

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Karnataka’s Ambitious Plan

Despite the political crisis in Karnataka, the State Government has succeeded in getting the Planning Commission’s nod for a most ambitious plan outlay of Rs.16,166 crore for 2006-07, a 19.26 per cent increase over the current financial year’s outlay. Importantly, Chief Minister Dharam Singh assured the Commission’s Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia at their meeting in New Delhi over the week-end that his Government would raise as much as 85 per cent of the outplay from its own resources.  In other words, the State would be able to mobilize Rs.13,823.73 crore during the year.  The Commission has given the State a good chit for its performance during the current year.  The State has done well in social sector, with health indicators above the national average.

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Hefty Outlay For Rajasthan

Rajasthan too has been given a hefty annual plan outlay for the coming financial year.  The Planning Commission has cleared a Rs.8,424-crore plan for the year.  Deputy Chairman Ahluwalia has, however, communicated to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje during their meeting in New Delhi last week that the outlay could be raised to Rs.8,600 crore, depending upon the availability of resources.  Both the Commission and the State Government are hopeful of mobilising the required additional resources on the basis of the State’s performance so far in the current financial year.  In fact, the Commission has complimented Rajasthan for its performance and hoped that the State would touch a six per cent growth rate this year.

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The Coordination Centre on Left-wing extremism, headed by the Union Home Secretary and comprising the Chief Secretaries and Police Chiefs of the Naxalite-affected 13 States, has finalized at its meeting in New Delhi last week an action plan to tackle the increasing menace.  The plan includes strengthening of the vulnerable police stations and their modernization in a time-bound manner, enhanced protection to jails where Naxalite leaders are lodged, formulation of an effective surrender and rehabilitation policy by the States and strict control and movement of explosives.  The Centre has also decided to raise ten new battalions of the Indian Reserve Force and to train 25 CRPF battalions in jungle warfare.

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Broadbased Talks On J&K

The Prime Minister’s dialogue with Kashmir leaders for peace is being broadbased by the Union Government. Following a successful round of talks between Manmohan Singh and the People’s Conference delegation, led by Sajjad Lone, in New Delhi last week, the Centre has decided to invite more leaders from the State.  The line-up for the meetings is being finalized by the PMO.  Those likely to be invited by the Centre during the next few weeks are the JKDFP leader Shabir Shah, JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik and even Kashmiri Pandit leaders.  These planned meetings between the PM and a cross-section of Kashmiri groups and leaders indicate a clear message to the Hurriyat Conference that the Union Government does not consider the conglomerate as the sole representative of Kashmiris. ---INFA

 (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

ROUND THE STATES

New Delhi, 12 January 2006

Pravasi Meet At Hyderabad

CMs PITCH IN FOR NRI FUNDS

By Insaf

More and more States of the Union are zeroing-in on Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in their determined bid to secure investment for development. Having failed to get satisfactory response during the last three years, despite creation by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of a separate Ministry for the NRIs, the Chief Ministers of several States went overboard in luring them at the fourth three-day Pravasi Divas meet at Hyderabad over the week-end.  At least six CMs attended the meet with high-level delegations to attract the NRIs to their States.  If Narendra Modi of Gujarat made a strong “sales pitch”, Bihar’s Nitish Kumar turned up with a 40-member delegation to spell out the slew of measures his Government has unveiled to bring in foreign investment.  These include creation of an Investment Board, development of infrastructure and modified rules for speedy clearance of development projects. 

In fact, Nitish Kumar even struck an emotional chord to make his pitch for the diaspora to “spare a thought and a few pennies” for the backward States in India. Bihar with its lowest GDP is undoubtedly the most backward State.  But he promised to turn the State into an “investors’ paradise” within 18 months. Narendera Modi made a business-like speech: “Sow a rupee, reap a dollar”, was his slogan with a promise to Gujarati NRIs that their State provided them the best climate for investment. In fact, Modi’s claim was challenged by his counterpart in adjoining Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh. The latter listed several projects to claim that Mumbai had always been the most favoured investment destination. The new Chief Minister of J&K, Ghulam Nabi Azad too sought support from the Indian diaspora on the plea that his State had a long way to go on the development front.

Similar impassioned pleas to the NRIs were made by the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan were, however, represented by their Ministers.  The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who chaired the “CMs’ Interaction”, advised the States to introduce reforms in various sectors to attract investment.  Union Finance Minister Chidambaram too doffed his hat to the NRIs, stating that the remittances from abroad were a development catalyst and the most stable source of private funds flowing into the country.  He assured the NRIs that the balance of payments position was no longer a cause for concern with the foreign exchange reserves standing at $137 billion. Moreover, he promised “sensible economic policies”.

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CPM Kickstarts Poll Campaign

The CPM has kicked off its campaign for the Assembly poll in West Bengal in April-May this year.  To start with, the party Politburo has taken two decisions.  One, no confrontation with the Election Commission.  Two, all out effort to ensure majority for the party itself, without having to rely on support from smaller Left parties.  Importantly, former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu exhorted his partymen at a truly massive rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on Sunday last to cooperate with the EC officials. The EC has sent to the State 19 observers, including the “Biharman” K.J. Rao, to supervise roll revision in all the 19 districts of the State.  For the first time in 29 years of the Left rule in the State, the CPM leaders have publicly admitted existence of a large number of bogus voters in the State.

In the present Assembly, the CPM has 143 seats, five short of the magic figure of 148 in the 294-member Assembly.  The CPM leadership is hoping to get a majority on its own on the basis of its assessment that Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress may not be able to win more than 40 seats this time, as against its tally of 60 in the 2001 poll.  The CPM patriach Jyoti Basu stated at the recent rally that “we have to do better this time than our best performance so far in 1987 when we won 187 of the total 294 seats”.  Already, the Congress has ruled out the possibility of any poll understanding with the Trinamool, if the party continues to have any understanding with the BJP-led NDA.  This would mean a divided Opposition, to the advantage of the ruling Left Front.

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Poll Activity In Assam

Poll activity has started in Assam too. The ruling Congress in the State has fired its first salvo for the Assembly poll this year.  Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi circulated to the media the performance chart of his Government and, at the same time, hit out at the Opposition parties for their undoings when in power.  The main Opposition, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), headed by Brindaban Goswami, has started negotiations for an alliance with the BJP.  In fact, the new BJP president, Rajnath Singh, indicated in New Delhi the other day that in order to prevent a split in the anti-Congress votes, the BJP was trying to enter into alliance with the AGP and the United Democratic Front, a broad coalition of parties, including the United Minority Front which has already decided to disengage itself from the Congress.  The BJP-AGP combine may also seek a poll understanding with the Bodo National Front which wields considerable influence in Kokrajar district.  The ruling Congress faces a tough challenge. 

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Karnataka Towards Snap Poll

Karnataka too may go in for a mid-term poll this year.  The long-drawn differences between the ruling coalition partners, the Congress and the JD(Secular) of Deve Gowda, have reached a breaking point following the recent local body elections for which the State Congress tied-up with the new outfit of Siddaramaiha, who broke away from Deve Gowda.  This caused the former Prime Minister to blow hot and cold on his relationship with the Congress.  Gowda first threatened to withdraw support to the Congress and rushed to New Delhi to meet BJP’s, Atal Behari Vajpayee. However, on return to Bangalore, he announced he would revisit the issue again after meeting Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi on February 8.  Not much is expected to come out of Gowda’s talk with Sonia, because the AICC had earlier authorized the State unit to tie-up with the breakaway JD(S) of Siddaramaiha.  Most State Congress leaders favour breaking ties with Gowda’s JD(S) and a snap poll.

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Unrest In Tribal Areas

Tribal unrest in Orissa is fast spreading to the tribal-dominated areas in adjoining States. It all started on Monday last in Kalinga Nagar of Jajia district where police opened fire on a crowd of tribals agitating against the State Government’s decision to acquire their land for a steel plant. Thirteen people were killed and several injured. This unleashed a wave of protests across the State.  The first sign of the snowballing crisis came when tribal MLAs and Ministers of the BJP in the Naveen Patnaik Government decided to quit.  But the situation was saved when the BJP high command advised them against breaking the alliance with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).  But the Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) of Shibu Soren have made this a major political issue.  Sonia Gandhi has visited Kalinga Nagar  in the footsteps of her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, who rushed to Belchi in 1978 to nurse the tribals hurt in a similar incident. Soren has warned of a nationwide stir against the killing of the tribals.

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BJP-Shiv Sena Trouble In Maharashtra

Serious trouble is brewing between the BJP and Shiv Sena, the long-time political partners in national politics.  The problem has erupted ahead of the three Assembly byelections in Maharashtra on January 21.  These elections were caused by the resignation of three Sena MLAs, who joined the Congress along with the party’s senior leader Narayan Rane.   The split in the Sena has led to a division in the State BJP.  One view is to keep supporting Bal Thackarey. But a large section within the party wants the relationship rewritten, if not severed. The problem between the two parties looks serious this time because former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader with a statewide appeal, Gopinath Munde, himself is doing his bit to fan the anti-Sena feelings.

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Punjab Farmers Top Indebtedness

Punjab, known for spearheading the Green Revolution, today has the highest indebtedness among its farmers, according to the latest report of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), as disclosed by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.  Punjab is followed by Kerala, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in that order.  As of May last, the average outstanding loan of a farmer in Punjab was Rs.41,576, in Kerala Rs.33,907, followed by Rs.26,007 in Haryana, Rs.23,965 in Andhra, Rs.23,963 in Tamil Nadu and Rs.18,135 in Karnataka.  The Union Government and the concerned State governments have consequently initiated several steps to reduce the farmers’ dependence on private moneylenders for meeting their credit requirements and to provide relief to indebted farmers. ---INFA

 
(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

ROUND THE STATES

New Delhi, 4 January 2006

Terror in New Year

ALL STATES ON HIGH ALERT

By Insaf

All the State capitals stepped into the New Year on a high alert sounded by the Union Government following reports of increasing terrorist plots across the country.  After the militant strike at a conference of scientists in the Indian Institute of Sciences at Bangalore on December 28, the Centre advised the State Governments to raise their security umbrella, especially over places of higher learning, heritage sites and prominent buildings.  The Bangalore attack in which a former IIT Professor was killed and four others injured, could have turned into a major disaster, but for the failure of the defective grenades used by terrorists.  As many as four grenades thrown at the assembly did not explode, forcing the attackers to flee from the scene.

The Centre’s timely warning to the States has saved many a Bangalore-like situation, as the events in the subsequent days have proved. The Police foiled a plan by a Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed to trigger Delhi-like serial blasts in Hyderabad on the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the city to inaugurate the Indian Science Congress that began on January 3.  A red alert was also sounded in Kerala, following the recovery of powerful explosives from a bus stand in Kozhikode on Monday last. Investigations following these incidents within a week prove that terrorists have big targets in mind: high-tech cities and police headquarters across the country.

With major Pakistan-backed terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed joining hands with the Naxalites and other local militant organizations, the security situation has worsened. They have reportedly worked out a well-planned agenda to cover the entire country.  The intelligence agencies have also found that “sleeper cells” of pro-al Qaeda jehadi groups with bases in Pakistan and Bangladesh are operating in south India.  Bangalore-based General Officer Commanding of the Army Area, Maj-Gen. Shivashankar has expressed concern over “the free movement of Naxals to Bangalore from Jharkhand, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh” and advised additional security for Bangalore where several national level conferences are scheduled during the next few weeks.

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Left “Poll Machine” Gets Set

Political activity is picking up in the five States where Assembly polls are scheduled this year: West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala. The Election Commission has already started its exercise beginning from West Bengal where polling is expected to be held in May-June.  Like it did in Bihar, the Commission is determined to ensure free and fair poll.  It has already undertaken a thorough check of voter identity cards which the State Electoral Commissioner has already issued. Several irregularities have been detected in most of the constituencies.  Nearly two lakh irregular cards have been cancelled so far and a fresh voters list is being prepared for the entire State.

Meanwhile, the ruling Left Front has fired its first salvo to retain power and add another five years to its record rule of 29 years.  The Front’s most formidable vote-bank of nearly three lakh government employees held a massive rally in Kolkata on Wednesday last. The Employees’ Coordination Committee pledged its support to the CPM and promised to start “oiling” the party’s poll machine. It announced keenness to see the Left Front back at the helm.  Former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu addressed the rally and stated: “Had the Coordination Committee not been there, we would not have been able to stay in power for 29 years.”  Basu and the Committee leaders joined hands to hit out at the Congress which ruled the State before the Left Front about three decades ago.

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Gogoi’s Gift To ULFA

Assam’s Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi too is taking steps to ensure that his Congress returns to power once more.  Besides several steps taken to tone up the administration for speedy completion of development projects, Gogoi has given top priority to bring peace to the State.  His first move in the new year is to tackle the dreaded ULFA, which has killed countless innocent people.  Gogoi has given them a new year gift: Safe passage to the ULFA cadres from January 7 to 20 to visit their families or relatives. Announcing his safe-passage decision, Gogoi stated: “If they come they will not be arrested and can visit the places they want to for about two weeks”. The move is expected to soften their mindset against the Government.

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Poll Moves In Tamil Nadu

The Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu are girding up their loins for the upcoming Assembly poll.  While the ruling Anna-DMK, led by Jayalalitha, is busy providing relief for victims of the recent flash floods in the State, the DMK Chief, Karunanidhi has called upon the people to oust the ruling party.   He led a massive agitation to condemn the Government for the recent stampede at the MGR Nagar. Karunanidhi and other several leaders also hit out at the Government for detaining the party Councillor Dhanasekaran under the Goonda Act for allegedly spreading rumours that caused the stampede.  The DMK has demanded a probe into the whole issue.

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Kerala CPM On Reforms Path

A wind of change is blowing in Kerala.  Encouraged by its comfortable victory in the recent local body elections, the Left Front is hoping to defeat the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front in the upcoming Assembly poll.  Importantly, it has decided to reorient its economic policies, with emphasis on foreign investment and reforms as adopted by “big brother” West Bengal. Appropriately, the CPM organized an international Congress in Thiruvananthapuram recently and got the Left’s  “poster boy of reforms”, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to inaugurate it. The comrades of Kerala, like those of Bengal, are eager to tap the fruits of globalization rather than turn their back on it.  They have now focussed their attention on growth sectors like IT, biotechnology and tourism.

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Kalam’s Vision of Bihar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has now got the First Citizen of India as his supporter for the State’s progress. During his visit to Patna last week, President Abdul Kalam expressed his confidence in Nitish Kumar and presented his vision of Bihar to emerge as a developed State under his leadership.  The President appreciated the big responsibility which Nitish Kumar had taken on his shoulders for the State’s progress. The Chief Minister used the opportunity and sought the President’s guidance for his plans to develop the State.  The latter agreed instantly and promised to re-visit Bihar in March to help the CM finalise his roadmap for development: “Bihar Vision: Developed State by 2015”.

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Raj’s Blow To Shiv Sena

The split in Shiv Sena is now complete, with its former leaders and patriarch Bal Thackarey’s nephew Raj Thackarey drawing a large number of Sainiks to his new party. Raj has received a big boost when over 2,500 Sena activists pledged their support to him. The group is led by two-term Corporator Dilip Lande, who wrote to the Executive President of the Sena, Uddhav Thackarey, that they were quitting the party.  More Corporators, MLAs and MPs have also promised support to Raj. The real picture about Raj’s strength will, however, be known only after the bypolls for the three Assembly seats on January 21.  These vacancies were caused after three Sena MLAs resigned to join the Congress.---INFA

 (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)