Round The States

New Delhi, 25 March 2017

A Better UP

YOGI’S AGENDA UNDER CLOUD

By Insaf

The priest of Gorakhpur temple and now Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath appears to be a man in a hurry. He must fulfil poll promises as well as Modi’s dream of making notorious and the largest State “free of corruption and anarchy”. Tall order alright. But the intent is there as he retains the high profile Home portfolio with him. However, the first immediate actions suggest wrong priorities for starters. Rather, eyebrows are being raised whether there is the other agenda, given the first actions that he has taken. State officials have been asked to go after cow smuggling, slaughter and that the ban has to be fully enforced. Thus, in an unprecedented crackdown, authorities have shut down scores of abattoirs and meat shops, claiming these were “illegal”. Then there is focus on “Anti-Romeo” squads where morality is to be taught! Cases of couples being harassed by the police are already being reported, in the name of making public places safe for women and girls. What about plans for development in the State? While, supporters would say give him time, this is just the beginning. It may not be the case. The choice of Yogi as CM suggests that by 2019, the task of show casing development is next to impossible. But then, at least he could deliver on the Hindutva agenda. Next moves in the State need to be watched and closely. 

*                                               *                                               *                                               *

TN’s Big Poll Fight 

Tamil Nadu’s former Chief Minister Late Jayalalitha must be churning in her grave. With the wide split in the AIADMK, the by poll for her seat, R K Nagar, will neither see the AIADMK alone as party name nor the party symbol of ‘two leaves”. The Election Commission has frozen the party symbol and prohibited both the rival factions against its use. It had no other option, given that it has to examine a whopping 20,000 pages of evidence to resolve the issue of both claiming the symbol. In an interim order it stated: “any hasty decision during the nomination process might lead to an erroneous conclusion, prejudicially impacting the right of either or both sides.” Thus, while party chief Sasikala’s faction will call itself AIADMK Amma and use ‘hat’ as its symbol, rival and fierce Amma loyalist O Panneerselvam’s group will go to the poll as AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi Amma with the symbol of ‘electric pole’. The poll scheduled for April 12, is of critical significance to both vying for Amma’s political legacy. While preparations are underway for the big battle, Sasikala’s group is contemplating challenging the EC order. Never-ending suspense indeed from this southern State! 

*                                               *                                               *                                               *

Delhi BJP Turmoil

Delhi is next on BJP’s poll agenda. In a bid to continue its winning streak and retain hold over the three Municipal Corporations, the party leadership had given a rude shock to sitting councillors, 152 in all, that they would not be given tickets. Obviously, the party was looking at the anti-incumbency factor, but it also sent a clear message that the councillors’ performance was not up to the mark. With the polls less than a month away, 22 April, the peeved councillors, some of whom have had two innings, have sought to reach out to National President Amit Shah, to overturn the decision of the Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari. With clear indications there would be no change in stance, around 118 councillors are said to have met on Tuesday last and are now contemplating whether to open up another political front—a new party. Is this a pressure tactic or will the BJP have to face rebels this election too? Who bats an eyelid first, time will tell. 

*                                               *                                               *                                               *

Odisha Taking Stock

Signs of Odisha waking up to the BJP threat are finally emerging. On Tuesday last, eyebrows were raised after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recalled Bishnu Das, member of Rajya Sabha on Tuesday last, just after nine months of him representing the BJD. The move suggests that his team of MPs should be a worried lot. This, after rumours have been floating around that a few from his flock of 28 MPs were contemplating switching over to the BJP for “ministerial berths”! Apparently on his recent visit to Parliament, he didn’t meet any of his MPs. Having seen the writing on the wall in the recent zilla parishad polls, where BJP made inroads into tribal-dominated districts, Patnaik rightly can no longer remain complacent of having a free run. With Congress being decimated, the people may be seeing BJP as an alternative. While time will tell, Patnaik has chosen to assert and hit back. On Wednesday last, his MPs staged a walkout over Arun Jaitley’s reply to the Finance Bill, after supporting the demonetisation scheme, which most Opposition parties had slammed. It goes without saying, more is in store.

*                                               *                                               *                                               *

Punjab Entertainment

Is trouble already brewing in the Punjab Congress? With Navjot Sidhu defending his appearance on TV shows, saying “what I do at night is nobody’s business”, the issue of the office of profit has come into sharp focus. However, other than providing entertainment to the Opposition, the cricketer-turned-politician may well be a thorn in Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s Cabinet. For starters, Singh has sought legal counsel on whether Sidhu can continue working in the entertainment industry as an office holder. This, after the latter refused to give up all his work saying “...I do office work from 9 am to 6 pm... and if Sidhu does TV shows, why should anyone have a problem...” His quoting what others did in the previous government doesn’t help either, as two wrongs don’t make a right.  Apparently, there is a code of conduct applicable to ministers in both the Centre and States, which doesn’t allow any minister to take any emoluments from any business. Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi has clearly said that what Sidhu was saying was “untenable”. Will Amarinder get a similar opinion and if so what next? All eyes would surely be on this case, as its verdict could have affect elsewhere. Will Sidhu be run out?   

*                                               *                                               *                                               *

States’ Bogus Univs

The University Grants Commission and some States are in a tussle over bogus universities. This, after the Commission listed 23 universities as fake-- i.e. not approved to grant degrees or diplomas. These include 9 in UP, 6 in Delhi, 3 in Bihar, two each in Odisha and West Bengal and one each in Karnataka and Maharashtra. The fake list released before commencement of an academic session is meant to warn students that such degrees or diplomas are not suitable for higher education or jobs. However, the States are challenging the UGC list as most of the ‘bogus’ universities are either not there or have closed down. Bihar says no such university exists; Uttar Pradesh which is notorious for such frauds says the universities don’t exist but are offering degrees; Kerala’s university is said to be functioning in a place that doesn’t exist; in West Bengal one is running with a different name, whereas the other is functioning, but not fake etc. Academic circles and authorities are thus wondering whether the UGC is playing politics and indulging in maligning the States. Is it a coincidence that barring Maharashtra the rest are Opposition-ruled States? With the Union HRD Ministry seeking an action taken report, hope there is clarity.--INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)