Round The States

New Delhi, 5 January 2012

BJP Gaffe

UP POLL PROSPECTS HIT

By Insaf

Uttar Pradesh battleground has got its first victim, at least so it seems. The BJP, which has been taking a high moral ground on the hot issue of corruption, seems to have undone whatever mileage it had extracted so far on the Lokpal issue. The induction of scam-tainted and expelled BSP Minister Babu Singh Kushwaha into its party on Wednesday last, has undeniably put the BJP on the wrong foot, not only with its electorate, particularly the urban class, but also within the party. A section of its leaders, including LK Advani and Sushma Swarj, are upset with President Nitin Gadkari, who is said to have taken the decision. His reasoning that the OBC leader would consolidate the votes of the backward classes for the party in the Assembly elections has in fact fallen flat. Luckily for the Congress, it has now got a handle to trash the BJP’s holier than thou attitude; the ruling BSP can use it to further its cause of cleansing the Government; the SP can go to town saying it shunned Kushwaha to uphold its leadership decision not to give tickets to tainted candidates; and the JD (U), its NDA partner can cite another reason for going it alone in the State polls. Under an all-round attack, only a miracle can help BJP salvage its image. By saying that it will not give a ticket to Kushwaha, is only adding insult to the injured UP voter.      

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MP Cow Slaughter Bill

Madhya Pradesh is the latest entrant to the list of States which have made anti-cow slaughter laws more stringent. However, trying to do one better than the others, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government’s MP Cow Slaughter Prohibition (Amendment) Act 2010, has raised doubts over its intentions. Approved by the President on Tuesday last, the Act allows raids on any premises on suspicion that “an offence has been, or is being or is likely to be committed” and take necessary action. Many see this as giving unlimited powers to the State machinery, as mere suspicion cannot be basis of any action. Opposition parties fear the BJP government could use the law to further harass and target the minorities. Additionally, the burden of proof would lie on the accused, who could face a jail term of seven years instead of three. Will the CM ensure the law is not misused? 

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WB’s Allies Row

West Bengal continues to give a headache to ally Congress. Ruling Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s proposal to rename Indira Bhawan in Kolkata after Bengali poet Kazi Nasrul Islam has triggered an unsavoury war of words between the two partners. While State Congress leaders are agitating against the Bhawan issue, Mamata is accusing the Congress of colluding with the rivals CPM. At a public meeting on Tuesday last, she questioned the Congress silence when the house was being used as a CPM party office during former Chief Minister late Jyoti Basu’s tenure. The squabble, however, is yet another attempt towards asserting her supremacy. The TMC is eyeing the Rajya Sabha polls this April and panchayat elections later this year. Already smarting under its partner’s rebuff on the Lokpal issue, the Congress needs to put its house in order in the State and ensure its unit is not relegated to being TMC’s B-team.

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Manipur Opposition

Opposition parties in Manipur have decided to come under one banner to challenge the ruling Congress Government. While the latter is confident of retaining power in the January 28 Assembly poll, it may now find it difficult to retain 30 of its seats in the 60-member House. The new alliance, the Progressive People’s Front, is a combination of the Manipur People’s Party (MPP), NCP, BJP, the JD (U), RJD and CPM. The main two players, the BJP and the MPP are hopeful that the new banner would help it reach out to the tribes in the hilly areas, where it has little presence. At the same time, the two would need to work hard on changing their image amongst the voters, i.e. the MPP is seen as a Manipuri party with both influential Naga and Kuki tribe discounting it and the BJP as too Hindu by the Christians across the State. At his end, while Chief Minister Ibobi Singh is finalising the candidates’ list, he may be keeping his fingers crossed the Front gets its first crack, with the CPM unwilling to accept BJP’s induction.

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Kerala Fears Unfounded      

The Kerala government has received a big jolt over its Mullaperiyar dam issue. On Tuesday last, the Empowered Committee set up by the Supreme Court to consider Keral government’s petition was informed by its two technical expert members that the recent tremors in the region had no impact on the dam. Clearly, this has put a spanner to Chief Minister Oommem Chandy’s claim that the dam was unsafe and a new one must be built. His demand has been keenly contested by his counterpart in Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha and had led to a bitter feud between the two States. Obviously unhappy with the report, Chandy has now sought to discount it by stating the experts’ views could not be construed as those of the Committee! However, this has not cut any ice with the panel, which shall submit its report to the Court month-end. Till then, Chandy’s next move will be keenly watched by Tamil Nadu.  

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Punjab-EC Tussle

The Punjab Government has run into trouble with the Election Commission. With poll preparations underway, the State chief electoral officer recently transferred four deputy commissioners and five senior SPs, much to the chagrin of the SAD-BJP ruling alliance. An upset Chief Minister Parkash Singh has complained that the CEO’s move is affecting the moral of the forces, creating confusion about administrative control and overstepping Constitutional parameters. However, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi would have none of it. In a strong rebuttal, he has drawn Badal’s attention to the fact that maintaining law and order during polls was a pre-condition for a free and fair poll and that the Commission was only ensuring the same. This apart, he noted that the Supreme Court has upheld its contention and that if the CM had any specific cases, he could bring these to the Commission’s notice. Though the ball is back in Badal’s court, wonder whether he would bat again?---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)