Round The States

New Delhi, 25 November 2010

Bihar’s Nayi Kahani

NITISH ALL THE WAY

By Insaf

Bihar wrote a Nayi Kahani by giving a thumbs up to good governance and development. In a historic mandate, JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar was elected as Chief Minister, the second time over. In a State where the lines of caste and class have been effective etched in stone, the 206-seat mandate (an 84.77% majority) for the NDA rewrote decades-old political equations and formed new ones around identity, aspiration and development. As Raj-Nitish asserted: “There is a new political awakening of backward caste, women and the young. Finally the State has moved ahead from the purely caste-based political-electoral strategies of old.” Importantly, engineer-turned politician Nitish’s three-fourth majority clearly underscores the maturing of India’s polity which has moved a way from Mandal-Kamandal politics to a plank of social justice, well-being and honest governance. A blend of Roti-Kapra and Makan and Sarak-Bijli-Pani. 

The BJP has emerged as the single biggest gainer as far as seats go, winning 91 of the 102 seats it contested, a strike rate of 90%.  For the Party, not only has the electoral victory re-launched the NDA as a model of governance. But for the first time, after the 2002 Gujarat riots, the Muslims have voted for the JD(U)-BJP combination in 40 of 51 Assembly segments in seven minority-concentrated districts. The election also spelt rout for the State’s 1990s favourite Yadav, Lalu who faced a double defeat. His wife, Rabri, former Chief Minister lost from both seats she contested. It was also a big blow to the vanity of Dalit messiah LJP’s Ramvilas Paswan who could net only three seats. For the Congress, it was a reality check for Rahul Gandhi whereby the Party got only four seats of the 234 it contested. Making plain that it hopes of revival in the Hindi heartland is going to be a long, bumpy and hard road. Significantly, Bihar has convincingly shown that good intentions can score even over caste. Undoubtedly, a reason to celebrate!

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Navi Mumbai Airport Cleared

Maharashtra finally breaths easy. It has got the clearance for the Navi Mumbai airport by the Union Environment Ministry. Albeit after one-and-half-years long tug-of-war between the Environment Ministry, Maharashtra Government and the Civil Aviation Ministry. After burning much midnight oil, the environmental approval for this crucial infrastructure project is laced with as many as 32 conditions. At another level, this is a good omen for new Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan who starts his new innings on the wings of a new project. Clearly with the second Mumbai airport taking off, flyers can now fly in comfort.

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Yeddyurapp Stays Put In Karnataka

Land scam-tainted Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa had his say and way. He will continue to ‘lord’ over the State. But this was not before a high-voltage drama was played out in Bangaluru and New Delhi. With the BJP central leadership privately making plain its decision to replace him, the 67-year-old beleaguered Chief Minister threatened revolt by parading a majority of the party MPs along-with  a backlash by his community, the Lingayats. With Zila Parishad and Panchayat elections slated next month, the BJP was faced with a Hobson’s choice. Should it take a lenient view of the corruption cases surrounding Yeddyurappa or should the Chief Minister be hauled for improprieties, notwithstanding the future backlash. A worried Party President Gadkari unwilling to lose its first southern State buckled under Yeddyurappa’s bullying tactics, by asserting, “since no commission has indicted him a decision can't be taken merely on the basis of the allegations hurled by the Opposition. Notwithstanding the Saffron Sangh’s double standards:  Defending its scam-tainted Chief Minister and demanding a JPC at the Centre over the litany of scams surround UPA-II. Who will have the last laugh?

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Andhra Gets New CM

The old order gave way to the new in Andhra Pradesh. In a move to set its house in order the Assembly Speaker Kiran Reddy was sworn in as the State’s new Chief Minister replacing incumbent Rosaiah. The cause celebre for the leadership change was the constant pressure tactics from Congress’s “problem child” Jaganmohan, son of former Chief Minister Rajshekhar Reddy. The Congress move intends killing two birds with one stone: The new 50-year old CM, is a strong loyalist of the deceased leader and was elected Speaker during YSR’s second term. Two, Jagamohon is not opposed to Reddy Interestingly, while his colleague in Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan is new to State politics, Reddy lacks administrative experience as he has never held even a ministerial post. Clearly, the four-term MLA-turned CM has his task set out. Nip Jagan’s revolt in the bud and provide stability to a faction-ridden Party. It remains to be seen how this former Ranji player bats to bring the Congress out of its rebels-infested mess!

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CRPF Avenge Maoist Killings

This time the boot was on the other foot. Security forces killed over 20 Naxalites in Chattisgarh’s infamous Dantewada district, hotbed of many Naxalites-CRPF encounters. The motive was clear: To avenge the dastardly murder of 75 CRPF personnel by Maoist in April last. The forces also became richer by recovering nine weapons and explosives from the site. But the respite from the Naxals menace was brief. In retaliation the rebels struck back by triggering a landmine blast killing two para-military personnel in South Bastar district. Happily, this has not demoralized the security forces who are now rearing to go all out to eliminate the terrorist scourge. Clearly, a pointer that Union Home Minister Chidambaram message of ‘assertive action’ has hit the right chords: tit-for-tat!

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Assam Tigers Need New Home

Assam’s famous Kaziranga sanctuary, a home to tigers and rhinoceros is facing a new difficulty --- a problem of plenty ---- more tigers less space. Plainly, there is high tiger density of 34 in 100 sq km area but due to lack of habitats to move, this is resulting in death of animals because of infighting and prey stress. Already, three tigers have died owing to congestion. This has set alarm bells ringing among tiger conservationists who expect more casualties in the near future. Given that the tiger population which stood at 1411 tigers in 2008 has gone up to 1500 today. Pertinently, while Kaziranga gives a leg up to the ‘Save the Tiger Project’, the Sariska game sanctuary’s record is abysmal. The recent death of a tiger has led to the transfer of the field director of the Project Tiger. Clearly, the big fat cats need a new home!---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)