Round The States

New Delhi, 19 June 2014

State-Centre Tussle

GOVERNORS UP IN ARMS

By Insaf

New Government, new Governors. Like its predecessor, the Modi-led NDA Government is repeating what the UPA did in 2004, whereby it got four Governors appointed by then-Prime Minister Vajpayee to resign after it came to power at the Centre. But 2014 is turning out to be tricky. What with some Governors-- Kerala’s Sheila Dikshit and Maharashtra’s Sankarnarayana digging their heels and refusing to vacate their Raj Bhavans. They are resting their case on the 2010 Supreme Court ruling which laid down that a change of Government at the Centre was not a ground to remove Governors, even if they were out of sync with the policies and ideologies of the Party in power. Notwithstanding, that over the years the gubernatorial posts have been used by the ruling dispensation to oblige loyalists and senior politicians who have outlived their utility. In fact, times out of number the Centre has used its men in States to play political havoc with the Chief Ministers.

Against this backdrop, Home Minister Rajnath Singh is busy trying to prod nine Sonia loyalists ensconced in Gujarat, Tripura, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura to resign. By following a three-pronged strategy: Resign on own, being shifted to a smaller State and last sacking them. So far, only Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi has obliged out of the Governors being nudged to quit. Reportedly, four – Dikshit, Karnataka’s Bhardwaj, Rajasthan’s Margaret Alva and Assam’s J B Patnaik have met President Pranab Mukherjee to voice their opposition. That Modi means business was apparent when the Government made clear it intends using the on-going CBI probe into the Augusta Westland VVIP helicopter pay-off deal which implicates two other Governors, Goa’s B V Wanchu and West Bengal’s M K Narayanan  as the reason to get them to quit or be removed by the President. More so, as the investigating agency is insisting on questioning both who served as SPG and NSA chiefs respectively prior to their gubernatorial posting.  

Arguably, with the CBI insisting on questioning both Governors its stands to reason that till they remain in office and enjoy immunity, the probe would not make much headway.  All eyes are on President Mukherjee. True, the President can return the Government’s recommendation, but in the event the Cabinet sends it back, Pranab Mukherjee would have to comply.  Resulting in an ugly face-off between the BJP and Congress. In fact, already the Centre has asked Maharashtra Governor Satyanarayanan to desist from nominating MLCs to the Legislative Council. Pertinently, in the worst case scenario an ugly and protracted legal battle could ensue if even one of the Governors decides to move court.  What next?

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Jayalalitha’s Court Woes

The electoral heavens might have showered blessings on Southern Purthathailvi Jayalalitha but Kuber, the God of wealth, is certainly unhappy. More so, after the Supreme Court played party pooper by vacating the stay in the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s disproportionate asset case. It is alleged that Jayalalitha has accumulated assets worth over Rs 66 crore above her known sources of income. This is not all. It also dismissed AIADMK supremo’s petition for staying her trial till the lower court decides on the plea of a Chennai-based company, Lex Property Development (P) Ltd. Reportedly according to the CBI the company was the benami front for Jayalalitha, wherein she was the actual owner of some of the assets. Despite, the firm claiming that some of the properties, in fact belonged to it. With the trail case taking place in Bangalore since 11 years, 2003, purportedly to ensure free and fair justice without any political influence, Jayalalitha’s troubles seem to be mounting. Especially against the backdrop of the recent Supreme Court diktat which bars political leaders from holding any posts in the event of their being chargesheeted. Also accused alongside, is her former inseparable aide V K Sasikala and two others. It remains to be seen how the shrewd Jayalalitha wriggles out of the judicial googly?

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Land Trouble In Maharashtra

Trouble seems to be mounting for the Congress-NCP in Maharashtra. If its dismal performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections wasn’t bad enough, worse is yet to come. What with the Shiv Sena upping the ante against the State Government in the run-up to the Assembly elections later this year. Towards that end, the regional Party intends capitalizing on public anger against forcible land acquisition for mega projects. Namely, the Rs 14,000 crore Navi Mumbai international airport and the Rs 1.2 lakh crore Jaitapur nuclear power plant, which have been cleared by the Union Environment Ministry. In a bid to out do his cousin Raj, the Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray too has taken to the streets opposing all projects being built against the citizens approval. No matter that his agitation last year against the nuclear plant came to naught as the Government forcibly acquired land. Undeniably, the SS Chief who has put his hat into Chief Ministerial ring wants to exploit the people’s disenchantment with the Congress and its senior leader Narayan Rane in the Konkan region. Also a big question mark hangs in regard to land for the new airport which is still to be acquired. Clearly, Prime Minister Modi who wants all projects in the fast lane will have to do some placating of his old ally in Maharashtra.

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Odisha Tough Budget

A triumphant Naveen Patnaik intends making the most of his honeymoon period in Odisha.  Presenting his mega Budget, his biggest in 14 years as Chief Minister he has proposed increased taxes on liquor, petrol and diesel, which will go up by 20, 25 and 18 per cent respectively. Patnaik rests his case by citing that the State Finance Ministers empowered committee which had recommended a minimum tax slab of 20 per cent on petroleum. As it stands, Odisha is one of the cheapest States vis-à-vis petrol prices. Notably, this first time 90 per cent increase in the State outlay will further burn a hole in the aam aadmi’s pocket who is already reeling under drought conditions, food scarcity and acute poverty. But this does not seem to bother Patnaik, as he intends foisting all his State woes on Modi’s platter by asserting that the Centre is playing hard ball viz granting the State special status and doling out Central funds for the people’s upliftment.---INFA

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