Round The Stats

New Delhi, 24 October 2014

PM’s J&K Visit

DIWALI OR ELECTION TRAIL?

By Insaf

Jammu & Kashmir is next in line on Prime Minister Modi’s electoral map. Thus, his visit as planned-- ‘Will be in Srinagar on Diwali with those affected by floods’ actually kicks off a veiled campaign trail, way ahead of the other parties. While the Election Commission should soon take a call on whether and when to hold the Assembly elections, the State BJP is all set for elections. It is obviously brimming with confidence after the party’s terrific Maharashtra and Haryana performance. Barring the ruling National Conference, other parties including the PDP too are in favour of polls, rather than having Governor’s rule. While pros and cons of holding elections are being debated, the visit helps Modi to make his own assessment following his meeting with locals, businessmen, civil society and representatives of political parties. Having already given Rs 1,000 crore as special assistance package for the flood-devastated State, Modi used the visit to announce another Rs 175 crore for renovation of six major hospitals and Rs 570 crore for rebuilding homes damaged much ahead of the election code, if it comes into play. While the poll bugle may have been sounded at the world’s highest battlefield, Siachen Glacier, whether it would help the party accomplish “Mission 44” is going to be a keen watch.  

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Non-Jat Haryana CM

Winds of change have indeed started blowing in Haryana. Not only was the BJP’s victory stunning this Assembly poll, from four seats to 47, the saffron party has decided to have a non-Jat as the Chief Minister—the fourth in the State’s 48 year history. This apart, the new incumbent for the top post, Manohar Lal Khattar, is a veteran RSS pracharak and had made his first election debut, while other frontrunners had been sitting MLAs. Clearly, the choice was that of Prime Minister Modi, with whom Khattar has worked since 1996, both in Haryana and Gujarat. Additionally, the party is keen that it would not let down its non-Jat voters, who brought it to power. Their interest, unlike the past, would be taken care of. It is well-known that previous Jat CMs had gone out of their way to look after their community, causing heartburn amongst others. However, there is apprehension whether the unassuming pracharak would be able to keep the pace of development in the State, as was under savvy two-term CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Party leaders aren’t worried. A spartan Khattar has a sharp political acumen, is a “master strategist” and is tech savvy. His innings begin tomorrow, when he is sworn-in. His initial steps are going to be closely watched.  

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Maharashtra Govt Clarity

The cat and mouse game in Maharashtra shall soon be over. The BJP is close to clinching matters --whether to take along estranged old ally, the Shiv Sena or form its minority government with a tally of 138 MLAs including its own 122. Fortunately for it, while there are signs that the latter is softening its stance and is keen to be part of the new dispensation, how far the BJP is willing to oblige will be known next week. However, in the midst of dealing with both the SS and the NCP, which threw a googly by offering outside support, the BJP found itself entangled in an embarrassing drama over who will be the State’s new Chief Minister. While four-term MLA from Nagpur and party State unit chief Devendra Fadnavis is clearly the leadership’s choice, 39 MLAs from Vidarbha region ruffled feathers by rooting for Union Rural Development Minister Nitin Gadkari for the top post. The week saw bitter factionalism coming to the fore denting the party’s reputation and making the top brass see red. Gadkari opted out stating he is “happy in Delhi” and did not want to return to State politics. Another hint to Shiv Sena that pressure tactics won’t work, fall in line.  

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UP BSP’s Balm

Bad times are ahead for Bahujan Samaj Party firebrand supremo and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati. Her party is on the verge of losing its national status, following the recent Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections. The BSP needed to win two seats to retain its national status, but ended up winning only one in Haryana (4.4% vote share) and none in Maharashtra (2.2% vote share). As per Election Commission rules to get ‘national’ status, the party must have polled 6 per cent of the valid votes polled in any four States along with at least four seats in the Lok Sabha or it must have got 2 per cent of the total seats in Lok Sabha from at least three States. Remember, the party was completely decimated in the General elections, scoring a big zero.  This prompted the Commission to seek explanation as to why her party’s national status shouldn’t be cancelled. With the two State polls over, Mayawati has no more excuse. Will the BSP be deprived of benefits such as having a common symbol, using Government media for poll campaign broadcast and free electoral rolls? Likely, as and when Nirvachan Sadan decides to tame the elephant.   

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Odisha’s Illegal Mining

Odisha government has good reason to worry. It’s turning a blind eye to illegal mining of iron and manganese ore in its forest land has come under public glare. None other than the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee has indicted the State Government for permitting largescale illegal mining. Shockingly, its report states that “2.8 lakh MT of iron ore, valued at Rs 13,898.20 crore has been excavated from the forest land without approvals under the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980”! Of this, 67.74 lakh MT was illegally excavated during 1985-98, 54.38 lakh MT from February 2002-February 2005 and 164.27 lakh MT from August 2005 to August 2009. Intriguingly, while environmental clearances had been obtained in many instances, there were none from forest department before starting mining. A flummoxed committee now wants the court to direct the State government not to consider granting of approval for second renewal of the leases, among other recommendations. Will the Court order, much to the chagrin of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik?

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Modi Crackers In Bihar

Bihar does spring surprises. The capital city Patna celebrated Diwali with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, literally with a bang. Shops across the city were laden with firecrackers with Modi and the BJP’s party symbol ‘lotus’ on the cover of the boxes. In addition, the manufacturers unwittingly promoted his punchline of made in India written on these, so as to differentiate with the Chinese crackers, which obviously have flooded the markets. According to shopkeepers, while selling crackers with Bollywood celebrities on the cover is not unusual in Bihar, Modi bombs and crackers have left all other brands way behind. Apparently, there were also crackers named after Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar, but few takers. The Modi dhamka even paled Nitish day-long dharna seeking special status for the State. The demand went unnoticed like a bad cracker, which failed to burst. ---INFA

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