Round The States

New Delhi, 3 December 2009

Central Team In Bengal

TMC-CONG PLAN AHEAD FOR POLLS

By Insaf

A question mark has gone up over the CPM Government’s rule in West Bengal. The visit of a three-member Central team to Left-ruled State has raised many an eyebrow. It is an extraordinary step, notwithstanding Home Minister P Chidambaram’s assurance that it was “non-confrontationist” and was aimed at “putting an end to inter-party clashes.” Importantly, he insisted that the team, sent on Monday last was only to “assist” the State government to maintain law and order and should “not be seen in the prism of Article 356”. However, Trinamool Congress supremo and Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee read it otherwise---that the Central team had gone to “assess” the situation. This, she counters is done only when there is a constitutional breakdown and is tantamount to invoking Article 356 (President’s rule).

While Chidambaram may have dispelled the fears of an angry opposition in Parliament on Thursday last, Mamata appears to be building up a case. The team was reportedly sent only after she met the Union Finance Minister and West Bengal PCC chief, Pranab Mukherjee, and insisted that he speak to Chidambaram and get him to do something about the deteriorating law and order situation. The Centre may not do something immediately, but sending a team is itself a message. That the TMC with its alliance partner, the Congress, is in a hurry to wrest power from the CPM, which has ruled the States for over three decades. Imposition of President’s rule would be of great help to both the TMC and the Congress before the State Assembly polls in 2011, even if it is highly controversial and is dubbed by the Leftists as unconstitutional.  

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Rosaiah Finally Anointed

The curtain is finally down on the ticklish issue of the successor to Rajasekhar Reddy in Andhra Pradesh. On Saturday last, Chief Minister K Rosaiah was nominated as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader by the Party chief, Sonia Gandhi, much to his relief. The CLP had met a day earlier and left it to 10 Janpath to settle the matter, which has been hanging fire for over two months. Soon after YSR’s death in a helicopter crash in September, a “Jagan-for CM” campaign had been brazenly launched by the ‘supporters’ of YSR, who wanted his son and Kadapa MP Jaganmohan Reddy to be given the top post. It failed miserably and Sonia named Rosaiah as the Chief Minister. However, in the first major election after he took over, the Congress has failed to get a majority in the 150-member Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, winning just 52 seats.  Rival Telugu Desam Party bagged 45 seats and the Majlis Ittehadul-e-Muslimeen winning 43 seats in the old city. The blame is being put on the “rebels” for working against the party.

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Sena Retains Mumbai

A beleaguered Shiv Sena can heave a sigh a relief. It has retained the much-coveted post of the Mayor of Mumbai, India’s commercial capital, much to the chagrin of the ruling Congress-NCP combine. On Tuesday last, four-term Sena corporator Shraddha Jadhav trounced the Congress candidate by 19 votes, thanks to the ‘indirect support’ from unexpected quarters. Both the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Samajwadi Party abstained in the election process! This apart, the Sena was able to contain a last-minute rebellion by five of its corporators, who refused to accept the Party whip and went “missing.” Not only did the Sena get them back, but its partner, the BJP bagged the deputy mayor’s post. However, one question remains. Will this ‘big win’ after the  debacle in the recent General and Assembly polls be not dampened by the public declaration of Bal Thackeray’s daughter-in-law Smita, a key member of the family’s inner circle, of her admiration for Sonia Gandhi and Rahul and her desire to join the Congress.       

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Gehlot Victory in Civic Polls

It is smooth-sailing for Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot. In the  civic body elections last week, the ruling Congress not only swept the polls but scored a first by wresting mayoral posts from BJP’s traditional strongholds of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Kota. In the elections to 46 civic bodies, its candidates won as either presidents or chairpersons in 25 bodies, where it is also set to form the board. The BJP, which was in power till last year in the State, managed a score of only 10 heads. Its consolation being that it would form the board in 16 bodies. “The mandate of the people is clear…They have shown they can trust the Congress”, said an elated Gehlot.

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Mining Mafia Expands

Orissa has joined the notorious mining mafia’s of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The State Vigilance Department has lodged nine cases against several mine owners for their alleged over-exploitation of iron ore, manganese and other minerals beyond the boundary of their demarcated areas. It estimates the scam is worth Rs 409 crores. Likewise, the Environment and Forest Ministry has suspended forest clearance for Bellary Ore Pvt Ltd and Obulapuram Mining Company Pvt Ltd, owned by Karnataka’s Reddy brothers, Karunakara and Janardhana in Andhra. This apart, the Central Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court has asked the State Government to ban mining in six mines and stop any transportation of already excavated ore.  The Opposition in the State claims that the scam could run into Rs 10,000 crores.     

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Strikes, Lockouts Play Havoc

Strikes and lockouts continue to play havoc in a number of States.  According to a study by the ASSOCHAM, there were 243 strikes and 187 lock-outs which led to production losses of Rs 304.6 crore during 2006. The number of manday losses due to strikes resulted in losses of 0.24 million in Andhra Pradesh, 0.13 million in Rajasthan, 0.7 million in Tamil Nadu and a whopping 1.25 million in West Bengal. In 2000, Bengal had recorded manday losses of 1.05 million. As for the number of strikes in 2006, Tamil Nadu had the maximum of 50, followed by West Bengal 29, Gujarat 23, Andhra Pradesh 18 and Haryana 14. It is time for both political and labour leaders to consider other forms of protest. Strikes should be a weapon of last resort. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)