Round The States

New Delhi, 22 December 2011

Buzz In States

CENTRE FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE

By Insaf

Good governance is the buzz word across States, even as the Centre struggles with the passage of the Lokpal Bill. The latest entrant to join the bandwagon is Bihar, with grand plans this New Year. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has decided to set up a Centre for Good Governance (CGG) in January as a part of the State’s Administrative Reforms Programme. While he cannot take credit for being the first, he at least follows in the footsteps of his counterparts in Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, which have set up CGG’s in 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009, respectively. Likewise, the Bihar CGG will be based in the capital, Patna, as a society with a mandate to not only strengthen the administrative machinery but also guide the Government on best governance practices. It will have a separate budget for research, field trips to other States and countries to study best governance practices. To ensure that it’s on track, Nitish has put it under the General Administration Department, headed by the CM. And, it is should be no guess that the key areas of research will be sadak, bijli,  paani,  among others, to help formulate policies for the aam admi. Hope the number of centres grows in 2012. 

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TN Cleansing

It’s a classic case of friends turning foes. But instead of heartbreak there is jubilation. On Monday last, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha expelled her close friend V K Sasikala, and 13 of her relatives from the party’s primary membership. While this may not have been easy for Jayalilatha, as the association goes back 30 years, the break was inevitable. Apparently, Sasikala and brood had started behaving as an extra- constitutional authority with fingers in every pie— party affairs, administration and postings of bureaucrats! Evidently, Jayalalitha opted for leadership than friendship, in the backdrop of her Government’s reputation at stake. Decisions were being taken behind her back, handpicked ministers and officials by Sasikala were acting on her behalf and talk of corruption spreading doing the rounds, all of which the CM can ill-afford. It was time that Sasikala, a small-time shop owner, who had moved into 36 Poes Garden, was shown the door again. Last time it was in 1996, but now party cadres hope the cleansing is for good.     

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Andhra’s Liquor Business

Liquor business is big business in Andhra Pradesh. In a shocking revelation by its Anti-Corruption Bureau suggests that bribes by liquor shop owners work out to Rs 10,000 crore every year with Rs 6 crore handed out per month! In a report to Chief Minister Kiran Reddy, on Monday last, the ACB also stated that the owners sell liquor 30 to 40 per cent above the MRP to make up this ‘extra’ expense. The obvious question is why and to whom? Apparently, the owners operate at least three or four outlets which sell adulterated liquor against each licence they get, through bidding, which could be as high as Rs 5.20 crore. Thus, bribes rather “protection money” is given to officials, ministers and even journalists to save them from raids, harassment and bad publicity. Can Reddy do something? Unlikely, as names of 50-odd MLAs of various parties and family members of three ministers have come up during raids in coastal Andhra and Telangana. Not to forget that the State earns a revenue of Rs 20,000 crore every year from liquor sales.

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UP Battleground

The battle for Uttar Pradesh is hotting up with the Congress trying every trick to help young scion Rahul Gandhi and outdo Chief Minister and BSP leader Mayawati’s plans of a comeback. For one, the Congress has managed to woo Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh and carved out a poll alliance with him. In return he has been rewarded with the Civil Aviation Ministry. While the induction, on Sunday last, has helped the UPA government reach the halfway mark in the Lok Sabha, from 272 to 277, the Congress is keeping its fingers crossed that Singh revives its fortune in the most populous State, given that the Jat leader has a stronghold in Western UP. Recall that in the 2007 Vidhan Sabha and 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress had barely won three seats in the region. This time, it has allotted one-third of the 130-odd Assembly seats in the area for the RLD. It’s a different story that Singh has allied with almost every party in the State and the Centre and has been a Union minister thrice, during the National Front, Congress and NDA governments.

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Chandigarh Civic Poll

Meanwhile, as the Congress battles hard in UP, it has reason to work equally hard in Punjab, due to go to polls in the next month-and-a-half. The warning has come from the results of the Municipal Corporation elections in Chandigarh. The ruling SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab dealt a severe blow and ousted the Congress. Not only will its opponents now form the 36-member board, which includes 26 elected, nine nominated and the local MP, but it will need to worry about its tally going down to 11 from 14 in 2006. Against this, the BJP improved its tally from six to 10, the BSP won two seats and went to an independent. Two factors, however, have caught the attention of all the warring parties. One, the voter turnout was a record 60 per cent, with higher participation in upmarket areas (52 per cent compared to 35 per cent earlier). Two, that young and new candidates performed far better than many a stalwart. Guess, this civic poll will prepare them better for the royal battle.

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Gujarati Business

Young entrepreneurs should learn a lesson or two from Gujaratis on how to do business. Of all surprises, private Chinese and Japanese language classes have mushroomed in the State. And, young students are making a beeline for these. They have been prompt to take a cue from Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is looking east for investments. As a result, other than their college curriculum, the students don’t mind struggling to learn the foreign language. This apart, the Gujarat University has started its first Japanese course, giving into the growing demand. It should pay dividends for China draws businessmen from Gujarat for cheaper imports, and Japan has started the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial corridor, 40 per cent of which passes through the State. At the end, it may pay after all to mind one’s language.---INFA

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