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Round The States
New
Delhi, 5 March 2016
Poll-Bound
States
CLINCHING
LAST MINUTE DEALS
By Insaf
Political parties in poll bound
States are scrambling for ‘last minute deals’. After three months of
negotiations and declaring it would go it alone, the Asom Gana Parishad has
done a U-turn. It has sealed a deal with the BJP in the Assam polls, “in
the larger interest of the State, including ensuring a total rout of the
Congress”. A relieved BJP has now two allies, the other being the Bodo People’s
Front and is hopeful this north-eastern State may help it make inroads into the
region. It has its record win of seven of the State’s 14 Lok Sabha seats in
2014 and feels the people of Assam
are desperately seeking a change. Observers too feel the tie-up with AGP could
hurt the prospects of the Congress, which is facing anti-incumbency, but at the
same time the party is banking on its alliance with the AIUDF help it secure
its fourth term. Though alliances have finally been worked out, the partners
have another hurdle to cross—work out seat-sharing formulas. This may well turn
the new found bonhomie sour.
Likewise, in neighbouring West Bengal the three main players are trying to work out
poll partnerships, though they haven’t been as lucky so far. Like the AGP, the
ruling Trinamool Congress had announced it would go it alone. However, it now
seems to be having second thoughts. Its joint walk outs on issues with the
Congress in the Lok Sabha have raised eyebrows that it may want an
understanding with it in the ensuing Assembly election. This after the Grand
Old Party is said to having been in talks with the Left parties for some time
and is close to having reached an understanding, which the TMC described as ‘a
desperate attempt’ by the two to remain relevant in State politics! Though the
TMC may not like to admit it, but the party is obviously worried with BJP
President Shah concentrating on the State for the past one year. While he
hasn’t scored any gains at the civic level, his diatribe has peeved the TMC and
realises that the battle for the State Assembly may not be a cakewalk.
* * * *
TN Final
Tie-Up
In Tamil Nadu too, AIADMK supremo
and Chief Minister Jayalalitha may well dilute her stand of going it alone and
bat with the BJP this Assembly poll. This again would be under pressure as
rival DMK has revived its alliance with the Congress. The AIADMK-BJP talks are
learnt to be at the highest level and the former would want the BJP to contest
25 seats where its position is not strong. However, the BJP is said to be
bargaining for 60 seats. At the same time, the ruling AIADMK has kicked off its
campaign by raising the Aircel-Maxis scandal in Parliament and stalling it not
just to hit out at rivals DMK and the Congress but also to strengthen the
Centre’s hands. This apart, it has raised the popular demand of releasing the
he convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. While it has sought the
Centre’s opinion as per Supreme Court’s direction, the move is seen to pass on
the blame on to BJP if a poll arrangement doesn’t work. At its end, the BJP is
hoping to have an alliance with Vijaykanth-led DMDK, but the latter may be
inching towards the DMK. All eyes would be on how the final picture pans
out.
* * * *
Maharashtra
Dance Bars
Enough is enough, is Supreme Court’s
terse message to Maharashtra Government. With the latter continuing to make a
song and dance about granting licences to dance bars, the apex court has issued
a deadline--do so by March 15. On Wednesday last, it minced no words and
stated: The Maharashtra authorities shall act in accordance with the commander
of the apex court and not put any additional condition to stall grant of
license to dance bars.” It refused to
allow Fadnavis government’s demand that there be a live feed from a dance bar
to the nearest police station, saying ‘CCTV coverage of the performance area
would be a violation of privacy.’ The Dance Bar Association had petitioned the
court after the police imposed 24 new conditions, including putting up a three
foot wall between the performance area and patrons’ seating area, before
allowing them to open dance bars. How many licences will be issued is the big
question.
* * * *
Himachal’s
Googly
The pitch for holding the
India-Pakistan World T-20 match in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh is not declared
cleared. Till Thursday last, reports suggested that Virbhadra Singh’s
government wasn’t against holding of the match as people in the State were
against it for Pakistani terrorists continued to target India. It was
also said the Government was concerned over the protest by families of the
martyrs/ex-servicemen and wouldn’t use any force on the day of the match, March
19. However, after HP Cricket Association President Anurag Thakur called on
him, there appears to be a change of heart. Have the Association meet the families
of the martyrs, Singh advised Thakur and let’s find a solution. With practical
difficulties in shifting the venue at the 11th hour, it is hoped
Chief Minister Singh would bail out the BCCI and the nagging suspense is over.
If not, neighbouring Delhi
is getting prepared as a standby venue. Himachal’s loss will be Delhi gain!
* * * *
UP, Army
In Cheating Mess
Where is our education system
heading? After Bihar, Uttar Pradesh has hit the headlines with mass cheating in
the Class 12 Board exams in Mathura and Agra. Students were seen
openly copying and relatives climbing walls to help them with chits being
passed through windows in a school, causing much embarrassment to the
administration. Nine invigilators and a superintendent of a school were
suspended in Mathura.
On the other hand, the Army has had the most absurd way of trying to prevent
cheating. Some 1100-odd candidates for the recruitment exam for soldiers on
general duty and in clerical and technical categories being held in
Muzaffarpur, Bihar were asked to do so in
underwears! Its explanation: there were complaints that many taking the exams
were resorting to unfair means through notes, cellphones and Bluetooth devices.
The shocking incident has forced the Patna High Court to step in, following a
PIL. It has sought an explanation from the Defence Ministry and the Army
Regional Office. Wonder how they put up a defence.---INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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