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Round
The States
New Delhi, 15 April 2023
Of New Status & Unity
OPP TURF GETS MORE FOGGY
By Insaf
The contours of ongoing Opposition unity moves are
expected to change after the Election Commission’s review of the national and
State party tag. While it recently recognised AAP as a national party, it
stripped off the coveted status of TMC, NCP and CPI, in separate orders.
Besides, while it revoked State party status to RLD (UP), PMK (Puducherry), RSP
(West Bengal),Bharat Rashtra Samithi (Andhra Pradesh), People’s Democratic
Alliance (Manipur) and Mizoram People’s Conference (Mizoram), it granted “recognised
state political party” status to LJP-Ram Vilas in Nagaland, Voice of the People
Party in Meghalaya, and Tipra Motha in Tripura. Importantly, the top pecking
order stands altered with the country now having six national parties, down
from eight–BJP, Congress, CPM, BSP, NPP and AAP. In the changing fortunes of these
parties, BJP and Congress are being viewed as the main national players, despite
the latter down to ruling only two States and will need a lot of convincing to
do. Interestingly, the AAP, formed only in 2012, has got a shot in the arm and
as said by its chief Kejriwal “it’s nothing less than a miracle.” The new
status will give it impetus to focus on more States (right now it’s in
four--Delhi, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat) and see itself emerge as chief opponent
to BJP, a probable, having eaten into the Congress vote.
The grand old party, however, is going all out to be
the architect of cementing Opposition unity. On Thursday last, its President
Kharge held meetings with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Bihar Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi, CPM’s Sitaram Yechury and D Raja. “We
have decided to unite together and fight, we will talk to all parties one after
the other…all like-minded parties should work together in national interest,”
said Kharge. It was decided that talks be held with Mamata Banerjee and Kejriwal,
which so far have shown no signs of getting on board. And, while Congress seeks
to take on the mantle to get everyone together, the main challenge will be seat
adjustments at state level and of course a third front formation. This,
however, says CPM will only be after polls, like in the past such as United
Front in 1996, NDA in 1998 and UPA in 2004. Whether regional parties such as
BRS and SP will join the bandwagon too remains to be seen. The 2024 Lok Sabha
elections are not far, and the Opposition parties will need to set aside
differences and egos sooner than later. “Unite to defeat the BJP and save
India” is easier said than done!
* * * * * * *
BJP
Karnataka Rebellion
Displeasure and discontent within the Karnataka BJP
ranks ahead of May 10 Assembly polls should have the top bosses in Delhi
worried. The decision of former Deputy Chief Minister and powerful Lingayat
leader Laxman Savadi to join the Congress is being viewed as the biggest
setback in the ongoing exodus of some MLAs after being denied tickets. These
include MLAs, M P Kumaraswamy, Nehru Olekar, Raghupati Bhat, S Angara,
Goolihatti Shekhar, MLC R Shankar and former MLA Sogadu Shivanna, resigning
from primary membership. Reacting to the developments, Chief Minister Bommai
said: “Some aspirants and legislators have announced their resignation, a few
have resigned. We are speaking to workers and leaders and things will be
resolved by and large. I’m speaking to seniors (who are disgruntled), also our
high command will be speaking to them. I’m confident things will be resolved.”
Will the firefighting douse the fire? Predictably, it’s not going to be smooth
sailing for the party holding the reins of power. It faces stiff challenge not
from just within, but by Congress and its combative regional leaders. And then
there is the JD(S), which could go either way. The battle for the 224 Assembly
is slated for high pitched battle.
* * * * * * *
Rajasthan
Churnings
Rajasthan Congress bickering raises its ugly head
again. Is it just a question of ‘corruption’ or is it the ‘kursi’
(chair) which is under fire, is what Congress headquarters resolve as former
Deputy CM must, Sachin Pilot’s fast in Jaipur on Tuesday last has again left
the party embarrassed. The AICC is
trying to find a resolution as it can ill-afford to have a rebellion in the
State. While it had asked Pilot to desist from his fast, demanding action from
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in cases of alleged corruption under previous
Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government, the former disobeyed. It would amount to
‘indiscipline’ alright, but Pilot defended his action saying Rahul Gandhi and
other opposition parties have united over corruption and his fast will speed up
this movement. The fast, he claimed was not against Gehlot but on corruption
issue, though in the same breath he said that while he wrote two letters to the
CM, he got no reply. On Wednesday last, Pilot flew down to Delhi and all eyes
are on the party headquarters whether it brokers peace between the two warring
State leaders or says ‘enough is enough’ to Pilot. Remember, the young leader
is an asset to the party.
* * * * * * *
TN
Backlash
In the backdrop of the setback it received, the DMK
government in Tamil Nadu has upped the ante against the BJP. On Tuesday last,
the Supreme Court dismissed its appeals and upheld the Madras High Court orders
allowing RSS to hold marches in State. It observed “even though the State has
the right to impose restrictions, it can’t prohibit them totally, but only
impose reasonable restrictions”.While there was jubilation in both RSS and BJP
camps, MK Stalin has chosen silence, but raised the heat against Governor Ravi.
After passing a resolution against Ravi in the Assembly demanding the
Centre and President set a time frame for Governors to decide on files cleared
by elected governments (as many have been pending), he wrote to counterparts in
non-BJP-ruled States saying: “Indian democracy today stands at crossroads, and
increasingly we are witnessing the fading away of the spirit of cooperative
federalism from governance of the Nation.” And urged them to push similar
resolutions “to uphold the sovereignty and self-respect of state governments
and legislatures”.This
outreach obviously is part of his initiative
for a “social justice platform”against the Centre. Its success will depend on
the churnings, if any, in other State assemblies.
* * * * * * *
Arunachal’s Vibrant Villages
Will ‘Vibrant Villages’ programme in Arunachal Pradesh kill
two birds with one stone? That’s how North Block views its launch in border
village of Kibithoo on Monday last. Firstly, it seeks to counter Beijing recently
announcing Chinese names for 11 places in this north-eastern State viewing them
as “southern part of Tibet.” Amit Shah, who made his first visit to the State
as Home Minister launched a scathing attack against the neighbour saying, “No
onecan dare cast an evil eye on India’s territorial integrity and encroach even
an inch of our land…as the era when anyone could encroach the borderlands of
India is over.” Be that as it may, the Sino-Indian talks have not yielded any
efforts to resolve the border issue. More importantly, the big question is
whether words are enough. It’s critical the VVP programme, which provides Rs
4,800 crore as central aid, brings the much-needed all-round development of
border areas. Will it, as he claimed, achieve its objective of stopping exodus
of people from border villages, develop them as tourist attractions and bring
jobs? More importantly, will the scheme deliver ‘tap water, electricity,
cooking gas, financial inclusion, digital and physical connectivity and
employment opportunities as envisaged? Time alone will tell as monitoring of
programmes needs much to be desired. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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