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Round The States
New Delhi, 18 March 2017
Goa,
Manipur Conundrum
CONGRESS’
OWN MAKING!
By Insaf
The goof-up in Goa
and Manipur is of Congress’ own making. And it’s of no use crying over spilt
milk! The grand old party may scream hoarse of ‘use of money power’ and ‘murder
of democracy’ in these two States, but it has only itself to blame. It did
precious little to encash on the people’s verdict of being their first choice.
For two days, the Congress High Command dilly-dallied on who should be its
legislative party leader and kept hopefuls hanging! In contrast, the BJP lost
no time and went for the kill. Morality, be damned. It wooed small parties and
independents, cobbled a majority and sailed through Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s
trust vote. Post-poll allies were suitably rewarded with ministerial berths. To
top it, Parrikar got support of 22 MLAs (instead of 21 required), with a
Congress MLA Rane disappearing (later quit) and old ally NCP supporting the BJP
instead. But it could have been the other way round. Remember, Vijay Sardesia
was a Congressi before he formed the
Goa Forward Party. It is said he was open for an arrangement and so was the
NCP. But after an exasperating wait both gave up and the Congress threw away
the magic figure of 21 it could have had in the 40-member House. Indeed, a
heavy price to pay for its folly. As for the BJP, the going is not easy. It has
to regain the people’s trust, which certainly wasn’t with it this election.
* * * * *
Likewise, the Congress must smart in
Manipur too. N Biren Singh, who took over as Chief Minister of BJP’s first
Government in this north-eastern State, was a former Congressman. It is said
that Okram Obobi Singh, who had to step down after three consecutive terms was
his mentor. Biren, a footballer turned journalist, joined politics in 2002 and
was enjoying a ministerial birth in Ibobi’s government since 2003. However, the
infighting bug bit the Congress here too. Biren, was the State PCC chief but
was kept out of the Cabinet in 2012. He chose his moment, quit and joined BJP
before the polls. The Congress, from being the single largest party with 28
MLAs, is now reduced to sitting in Opposition. Whereas, the BJP with 21 MLAs has
cobbled a strength of 32 in the 60-member House! The trick here too was to have
swift post-poll allies with National People’s Party, Naga People’s Front, LJP
and Independents and of course offer ministerial berths. Hard bargaining too.
As among the eight sworn in, NPP’s Y Joykumar Singh, former DG of Manipur, took
oath as Deputy Chief Minister, and Shyamkumar, who won on Congress ticket, defected
to the BJP! Manipur, after Assam
gives BJP hope of saffronisation of alienated North-East?
* * * * *
Karnataka
Eyes Voters
It’s now Karnataka’s time to worry
about anti-incumbency and keeping the Congress rule alive in this southern
State. With Assembly elections next year, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and team
have started wooing the voter. What better way than an obvious populist Budget.
Thus, measures from caps on movie tickets rates, free laptops for students going
to engineering and medical colleges, 7 kgs of free food grains instead of 5 to
BPL families, compensation for death of cattle/livestock, no interest on loans
to women self help groups by co-op banks, opening of “Namma canteens” in Bengaluru (on lines of Amma canteens in Tamil
Nadu), interest free agriculture loans up to Rs three lakh and three per cent
interest on loans up to Rs 10 lakh, etc, were announced on Wednesday last.
However, the Congress mustn’t rely on Budget alone. It must guard against BJP
poaching its leaders (S M Krishna could be one) and Siddaramaiah doesn’t land
the party in another controversy. Undoubtedly, holding on to Karnataka is
critical for the Congress’ survival in national politics.
* * * * *
J&K Test
Buoyed by its recent poll
performance, will the BJP want to test waters in Kashmir?
With bypolls to two Lok Sabha seats next month, the party is contemplating
whether to increase the NDA’s tally. This, even as its ruling coalition
partner, the PDP has announced its candidates. Be that as it may, the Congress
and National Conference have become wiser. With polling in Anantnag (vacated by
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti) and Srinagar
(by PDP’sTariq Hamid Karra), slated for 2nd week of April, the two
Opposition parties have decided to change tack. Instead of fighting separately
as in the Assembly polls, they have decided to put up a joint fight against the
PDP-BJP government. The recent past few days have forced the leaders to conduct
‘internal exercises’ and conclude that together alone can they put up a
challenge. Thus, NC President Farooq Abdullah will take on PDP’s Nazir Ahmad
Khan in Srinagar,
and JKPCC Chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Mufti’s brother Tassaduq Hussain in Anantnag.
Both will work for each others’ success. Whether the BJP is a contender or not,
a victory for the Opposition should help revive spirits, not just in J&K.
* * * * *
Punjab
Challenges
Victory in Punjab
may act as a balm for the Congress, but the road ahead is not going to be easy.
Despite factionalism in the run up to the polls, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder
Singh has bounced back and with a decisive mandate. However, it can’t be denied
that the anti-incumbency factor against the SAD-BJP Government did come to his
aid. Besides, though it is not being voiced, junior partner BJP chose not to
give the much-need push to help the Badals. The fact that the voter thwarted
Aam Aadmi Party’s challenge suggests that the voters’ expectations are high.
Will promises be fulfilled —root out drug menace, dish out farm loan waivers
and give jobs to the unemployed, smart phones to 50 lakh youth etc, when the
State finances are said to be in the red? How will the Congress deal with the Sutlej
Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal issue? Victory celebrations will need to be short.
* * * * *
Rajasthan
Turns Villain
Rajasthan is turning into a villain
for Bollywood. The sets of his film Padmavati
being vandalised in Chittorgarh and Kohlapur, is not Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s
only worry. Worse, is to follow. The Karni Sena, if Social and Justice Minister
Chaturvedi has his way, will have the final word whether the film will be
screened in the State at all. In simple words, another Censor Board! Yes,
according to the Minister the movie after completion will be screened before a
committee of members of the Shri
Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena (SRRKS) and other ‘knowledgeable members of
society’ and their ‘objection will be invited”, before it is released. Clear
indications that Bhansali would too have to do what Karna Johar did in Mumbai,
for the release of his film Ae Dil Hai
Mushkil. Knock on the door of Chief Minister for blessings. Will Vasundhra
Raje oblige, will be worth a watch. --- INFA
(Copyright,
India News & Feature Alliance)
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