Opposition Tries to Hold Together

Under the Garb of Constitution

Various opposition parties tried to hold fort together against Bharatiya Janata Party under the garb of constitution. They they held a march ostensibly to "save" the Constitution which they alleged was under "attack".

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar led the efforts to mobilize against BJP and announced that opposition parties will meet in New Delhi on January 29 to mull on the way ahead in the fight against the ruling BJP. 

The march was organized coinciding with the Republic Day marking the democratic rule in India. Several opposition leaders, including from the Left, gathered on a single platform. The show of unity on the part of opposition assumes significance in view of the just over a year left for the Lok Sabha polls. Besides Pawar, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) Sharad Yadav (rebel JD-U leader), D Raja (CPI), Hardik Patel (Gujarat's Patidar leader), Dinesh Trivedi (Trinamool Congress), Sushilkumar Shinde (Congress), Raju Shetty and leaders from various states attended the "Save the Constitution" march that started from Oval Maidan near the state secretariat and concluded at the Gateway of India in South Mumbai, covering a distance of around two kilometres. NCP leaders Praful Patel and D P Tripathi, former Maharashtra chief minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan and ex-MP Ram Jethmalani were also present.

Addressing the media at the Gateway of India, Pawar said it was a joint decision of "like-minded" parties to come together and rally to "save" the Constitution. "It would be a great disservice to the nation and the Constitution if we do not raise our voice against this. All the like-minded parties, committed to our cause, will sit together in Delhi and deliberate on the way ahead to save the Constitution," he said.

Yechury claimed the fundamental rights of people, guaranteed by the Constitution, were being "assaulted" by the ruling party. "All the opposition parties have come together at the Gateway of India, which was once seen as a sign of slavery but is now a sign of freedom to save our democratic institutions, for which we have taken an oath. Our Constitution ensures equality for all. However, the fundamental rights, guaranteed by the Constitution, are being assaulted," he said.

Chavan alleged that the government has moved towards "dictatorship", and all secular people, who have a stake in democracy, should unite to fight against the BJP. "They are attempting to change the Constitution and this poses a grave threat to the country," he said.

Ever since a Nitish Kumar-led mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) of RJD, JD(U) and Congress handed down a stunning defeat to BJP in 2015 Bihar Assembly election, a grand alliance is being seen as the only way to stop the saffron party which has won elections in nearly a dozen states since 2014.

However, attempts to forge a grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh fizzled out. The Presidential election also saw fresh moves for opposition unity against the BJP but they too came a cropper.

In July last year, Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)returned to the BJP-led NDA, dealing a blow to efforts to form an anti-BJP front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

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Shiv Sena Is a Tiger Turned Tortoise - Ajit Pawar

With his days in opposition, Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is making most of this opportunity. Speaking in Jalana in Marathwada region, he took potshots on Shiv Sena, a party that is sharing power with Bharatiya Janata Party with an extreme awkwardness. Putting his finger at Shiv Sena where it hurts most, Pawar said that Shiv Sena was a tiger during Balasaheb Thackeray’s days but has been since been reduced to be a tortise.

Shiv Sena has not become even a sheep or a hare, but tortoise that thrusts its neck and doing nothing, the leader said. A march was organized at Jafarabad in Jalana district as part of NCP’s campaign Halla Bol, that seeks to attack the ruling BJP for its alleged failures on all fronts, under the leadership of Pawar Jr. The statement came during the meeting after the march.
Targetting Shiv Sena for its precarious situation, Ajit Pawar said that the party threatened a hundred times during three years to leave the ruling alliance, but it couldn't resist the lure of power that has come to its way after full 15 years!

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Uddhav Thackeray - The Man Who Perfected the Art of Sulking

By aligning with MLA Bachchu Kadu, the maverick politician from Vidarbha, Shiv Sena's Executive President Uddhav Thackeray has yet again proved that he was dead serious about opposing BJP. Kadu, who runs his outfit Prahaar in Vidarbha, is known mainly for his outlandish agitations. Since these agitations involve people's core issues, he enjoys a huge following in the region. It is the same region where Shiv Sena faced noticeable losses during the recently held municipal elections. It is the same region where BJP registered its strong performance accounting for almost one-third of its seats in the same elections that lifted it up to the top spot. 

Thus, joining hands with Kadu will ensure that Shiv Sena will leverage the former's popularity to challenge the blitzkrieg of its once-ally. Shiv Sena needs an aggresive leader in Vidarbha to counter BJP while Kadu needs a party like Shiv Sena. Interestingly, Kadu, an independent MLA from Achalpur in Amravati district, has extended support tp the Devendra Fadnavis' government. It is another marking of Thackeray's sulking and taking  his saffron friend-turned-adversary head on.

Actually another of his current adversaries and cousin Raj Thackeray pioneered this art. However, none has matched the level of perfection that Uddhav Thackeray has attained. He has given shape to a new kind of politics in Maharashtra where he is the ruler and opposition and that too concurrently! 

Just before completing (one must stay away from using the word 'celebrating!) two years in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, Uddhav Thackeray came up with another salvo. In the meeting held with the Shiv Sena shakha pramukhs and vibhag pramukhs, he was understood to have expressed his displeasure on the non-performance of his party ministers. He reportedly conveyed his unhappiness over the fact the party didn't use the power even when after being part of the ruling coalition.

One doesn't know how much salt these reports hold, but it is hardly surprising even when they turn out to be entirely true. Ever since the Fadnavis-led government has assumed charge, Shiv Sena has received a raw treatment. To start with, its ministers were allocated with non-descript portfolios and most of them were made state ministers. Thus, most of them are working under a BJP minister.

Except for Industries Minister Subhash Desai, no Shiv Sena leader has been able to showcase his prowess, let alone achievements. For example, Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam fought a  long battle with the bureaucrats in his ministry for the authority to approve development projects. It was CM Fadnavis himself who had to intervene and pacify the matter.

At various occasions, Uddhav Thackeray has expressed the need for giving more authority to Shiv Sena ministers. However, the CM has exploited the vulnerability of its apparent ally and actual rival. The recent results of the municipal councils in the state have established Fadnavis as an able leader and Shiv Sena as the foremost rival of BJP. Having decimated Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, the CM enjoys popular support and goodwill of party bosses. 

Uddhav Thackeray harmed his own interests when in the fever of election campaigning, he compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah to Aurangzeb and Afzal Khan.  Both the leaders are known for their self-loving nature. They could have never taken that diatribe easily. As was expected, they harbored a hatred for their faithful friend for 25 years. It was only because of CM Fadnavis' insistence that Shivsrna was allowed an entry to the government, as the CM didn't want any truck with the NCP. 

Uddhav Thackeray, who inherited a blatantly raging party from his father Balasaheb Thackeray, moderated it to a great measure. He tried and managed to turn a party of vandalism into the party of discourse and debate.  Now, he wants to take the U-turn and make the cadre furious again. The matters become a bit complex here because after enjoying the  power for two years, not many Shiv Sena members are ready to abandon it. This explains Uddhav Thackeray's helplessness in sticking to power even after so much humiliation.

 This is a very curious turn in Maharashtra's politics. Both Shiv Sena and BJP flourished in the state, as in other parts of the country, on the strong Hinduist agenda. As they gained force, after going through a roller coaster ride, both are them in power today. However, neither of them is talking of Hindutva anymore.

On one hand BJP, buoyed by Narendra Modi's cult status, is talking about development and infrastructure. On the another, Shiv Sena's Hinutva has zeroed on anti-Pakistanism. It has lost many of its basic ingredients that made it palatable and appealing to masses,say, two decades ago. And yet, both of them are enjoying a comfortable ride in the absence of credibility on the part of  opposition parties - Congress and Nationalist Congress Party.  

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Who rule Maharashtra - Babus or Ministers?

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis has complained that many bureaucrats in his administration moved slowly and were not cooperating with his government's initiatives which ultimately hampered the people's works. He made the grievance publicly during a program in Nagpur and his comments attracted intense displeasure from the bureaucracy.  

Even political analysts and opposition leaders saw this complaint as a lame excuse by Fadnavis for many of the failures of his government. However, he could be forgiven for putting up a strong sentiment among the public on a public forum. Just a little more than a year, people watched him launch one after another attack on the ruling parties, when he was leader of opposition and state president of Bharatiya Janata Party.

Fadnavis is a very youthful CM and the citizens expected him to lead an enthusiastic and active government. However, ever since he sworn in on October 31 last year, his government was perceived going slow and having a staggered journey.  One reason for this laggardness was the constant opposition by the 'ally' Shiv Sena and another was the non-cooperation from babus.

After decades of Congress rule, these babus became very cosy with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party. Except for four and half years’ rule of SS-BJP during intervening years, the officers enjoyed patronage and company of Congress leaders. Even today, they are uneasy to work with any other dispensation and many of them are said to be taking orders from former rulers. The people having their ears to the state secretariat in Mumbai even vouch that many of the bureaucrats routinely jest on their new masters.

Not that the mandarins in Mantralaya were quite competent during Congress rule or moved in haste during those years. Even when Congress was in power, the bureaucracy, in true Indian fashion and largely following the British tradition, worked at an excruciating pace. Some CMs tried to change this situation and were successful to an extent after acquiring stern postures over the years.

A. R. Antulay was one of such ruler who tried to rein in the babus and left his stamp on the administration. Antulay was known as a dynamic politician and attracted fame for his prompt and efficient decision-making. Not only he decided on matters instantly, he looked to it that they were implemented to the core. Shankarrao Chavan and Sharad Pawar came to be known as good administrators during their tenures as CMs. In fact, Chavan was so demanding in his functioning that he came to be called as Head Master.

Sadly, the latter CMs could not keep up the tempo and secretary-level officials got hold on the functioning of the government. Matters only got worsened during last two decades. 

The matters were confounded by the fact that most members of the BJP-SS cabinet, which is in place at the moment, are first-timers. CM Fadnavis himself leads the charge in this regard also. Eknath Khadse, the lone BJP minister in his cabinet who held the post during the saffron alliance’s last government from 1995-99, has not helped the matter in any way as he has not recovered yet from his fretting for not being made CM in Fadnavis’ place.

Thus, babus take advantage of their increase and they have the field left open for them as they claim more experience than the elected representatives who are technically their superiors. This has led to wrangling between two these arms of the government. It manifested some months ago when Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam kept thousands of files in limbo and refused to sign on them as secretary of his ministry wanted powers to sign on them. 

It took CM Fadnavis himself to intervene in favor of his cabinet colleague. However, the episode only reinforced the theory that the political and administrative branches of the government do not share bonhomie. No surprise then that governance has taken a beating in the Maharashtra and people are openly asking – who rules the state?

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Maharashtra BJP Demands Expulsion of Home Minister R R Patil

The Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday demanded the expulsion of state’s Home Minister R. R. Patil for his failure in controlling the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. The party also expressed its support for the ordinance issued by the state government for anti-superstition law with one condition.

Devendra Phadnavis, state president of BJP, informed the media about the resolutions passed in the Executive meeting which concluded on Wednesday. Citing the incidents of murder of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar and rape in Mumbai Nasik and Pune, he said, “The resolution asked the expulsion of Patil because he would neither move out himself or will not be removed. The transfers of police officials are pending for because NCP and Congress want their own favorable officers in plum places. The file is pending with Chief Minister for over two months. The Maharashtra has lowest rate of conviction in crimes, 9.5%, in the country. Even the naxalism is on the rise and Patil has done nothing in five years ever since he assumed the guardianship of naxal-affected Gadchiroli district.”

Pointing to an incident in the Bhandara district where three OBC girls from same family were raped and murdered six months ago, he said, “The government does not care about the poor and disadvantaged people. How would they feel the pain of these OBC family?”

Prime Minister Can't Expect Us to be His Cheerleaders

Phadnavis said that BJP had supported the anti-superstition bill back in 2005 and had warned of the legal defects in it. The government was not serious to bring it in the legislature or pass it. “We had many meetings with late Dabholkar and Shyam Manav (another activist pressing for the bill) and had asked that the article 2 in the ordinance, which stipulates action against anybody exploiting someone in the name of miracles, to be clarified. We said that if third party complaints are allowed in this article, it will lead to blackmailing. This is the only condition which we had put. Also, we want that Warkari sect should be consulted in this regard and we are even ready to do something in it.”

On the issue of funding to Madarassas in the state, as decided by the state government on Tuesday, he said, “Reducing the assistance to Hindi and Marathi schools and giving it to madarassas is wrong. I would like to ask the government whether it would ensure that no religious education is given and only modern education is given in the madarassas if they are to be given subsidy by the government.

Phadanvis also said that senior leaders Gopinath Munde and Nitin Gadkari had chalked out the strategy of focusing on booth level and had said that minimum ten workers are to be prepared at the booth level. About 84 thousand booths have been identified all over the state and they are to be targeted in view of the impending Lok Sabha elections. The meet was attended by about 666 workers of the party. Earlier in the session, Maharashtra in charge of the party Rajiv Pratap Rudy, former national president Nitin Gadkari and deputy leader of party in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde addressed the workers.

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Maharashtra's Stale Politics

Ever since Prthviraj Chavan has taken over as the chief minister of Maharashtra, the politics of the state has become too stale and bereft of political drama. One reason behind this is that Chavan is not a shrewd and professional politician like his predeccecors Ashok Chavan and Vilasrao Deshmukh. He is more of a bureaucratic personality which pervades his political acumen. Much unlike his fraternity, he is not a public figure in the sense that he rarely is seen sorrounded by workers or common public. He has carefully placed himself away from the masses creating a halo around himself. Chavan has spent most of his tenure in centre and in that sense, he is yet to accommodate himself in the state's politicians.

In the initial days of his tenure as the CM of Maharashtra, Chavan was seen superceded by his deputy Ajit Pawar, who is a Nationalist Congress Party leader. Pawar had then conducted separate meetings with bureaucrats and appeared to have taken many decisions much against the wishes of Chavan. But soon, that euphoria also got disappeared. 

 

What we are now seeing is a kind of a boring drama where all the actors are just bidding their time before their final exit. Their body language gives an expression that they are not happy with the stage but their invisible director has forced them to show themselves before the audience, which in any way is not entertained at all.

It is not that Chavan himself does not understand this. But he is preoccupied himself with the task of appearing clean in the eyes of public which was least bewildered to see his predeccecor Ashok Chavan leaving his office in the aftermath of the Adarsh Society scam. Apparently, the Prithviraj Chavan's brief is to keep his party, Congress, away from scandals or scams. In the bargain, it is nobody's concern that performance is compromised.

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Will Prithviraj Prove His Mettle In Budget Session?

Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan is facing the budget session of state legislature first time since taking over charge of his post over 100 days ago. The timing is not so right main opposition party Bharatiya Janata Party is roaring with rants against the rule of Mafias in the state. On the other side of political spectrum, Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena are preparing themselves for the impending elections of Zilla Parishads and municipal corporations. The quadrangle is completed by Nationalist Congress Party which does not let go any chance of showdown against its ruling alliance partner.

Even though Congress enjoys the most MLAs and MPs from Maharashtra, it is still groping in dark because of lack of able leadership. CM Chavan, even though a good hand at the administration, has no nose for politics. Former CM Ashok Chavan was a seasoned politician who talked in same language with NCP when he lead the cabinet. However, he had to part with chair because of one of the worst scandals that hit the state.

Ashok Chavan resigned after it was surfaced that his relatives owned flats in the now infamous Adarsh Society. With this background in mind, it was completely obvious that Prithviraj chosed to play it safe. He ensured to create an image of Mr. Clean and reigned over the builders' lobby.

However, in his endeavour to mend the administration, he forgot to make it move. The administration came to a standstill. Now, the Congressmen themselves started to blame own government. On February 3, some 25 Congress MLAs held a meeting at former minister Baba Siddiqi's house. Those who attended the meeting criticised the tardiness of administration. Interestingly, Chavan was present in the meeting. 

 

Even as Prithviraj steered clear of corruption allegations and scandals, he could not evade the controversies. The state government first faced the ire of media and public when additional collector of Nashik,was burned alive by oil mafia Popat Shinde in Manmad on January 25. Last week, CM Chavan again found himself in thick of fire when Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh named him as culprit for appointing P. J. Thomas as Chief Vigilance Commissioner. Chavan, thanks to his academic skills and graciousness of PM, could avert the allegations. 

 

These chain of affairs has not helped the Congress party in view of impending civic bodies elections. Matters are made worse because CM Chavan is not elected to any house of legislature. Sanjay Dutt, the member of Legislative Council has shown readiness to vacate his seat for CM. But a definite course of events is still far away.

With Congree in search of impressive leadership and opposition's armoury full with weapons, the budget session is sure to prove a hard nut to crack for CM.

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After Chavan, Who?

Ashok Shankarrao Chavan is unarguably in the midst of worst crisis of his tenure as the chief minister of Maharashtra. The political pundits have already written his government’s obituary. It is only an impending visit of US president Barack Obama that has helped his survive at least for a week. The Indian National Congress cannot change the Maharashtra CM just before the US president’s visit to Mumbai, where the latter is to visit Hotel Taj.

What a coincidence it is, that it was political developments after the devastation of Taj that Chavan was catapulted to his present post. Till then, he kept a low profile in the state cabinet and working as minister of revenue, cultural affairs among other departments. When 26/11 happened, then CM Vilasrao Deshmukh showed lack of regard to the heightened sentiments of the common people and had to go when, in a utter disregard of political correctness, he visited Taj along with film producer Ram Gopal Verma.

Now, the same Taj has helped him retain in the chair at least for a week and there are slight indications that he may manage to evade the axe. The Congress has little choice in Maharashtra to replace Chavan. All the contenders of the post have inherent deficiencies, which can hardly be overlooked. For example, Narayan Rane, who has seldom hidden his aspirations for the post and went on the launch a little rebel against high command in New Delhi when denied the chance last time, was a strong candidate. But the timing of Chavan’s crisis went against him since he is already embroiled in controversy of land grabbing in Mahabaleshwar.

Rane is alleged to have helped his wife buy a plot in Mahabaleshwar, which falls under green zone. The recent controversy involving his son, Nitesh, is too fresh in the public memory. Nitesh was alleged to have fired gun shots at Chintu Shaikh, his former aide in Swabhiman Sanghatana. Rane had a hard time defending his and Ritesh’s position in case then. It was only when home department under R. R. Patil of Nationalist Congress Party gave a clean chit to Nitesh that the issue died down. But with allegation flying so fast, it is next to impossible for Congress to install Rane in Chavan’s chair. After all, what is the use of removing one tainted CM for another tainted one?

The same is the case with other contenders. Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushilkumar Shinde, both former ministers and now union ministers, figure in the Adarsh Society scandal. Their name is automatically deleted from the list of possible CMs. Also in Shinde’s case, the situation becomes more at odd since his daughter, Praniti, is sitting MLA. Beyond them, the Maharashtra Congress has no real leader to reach to state audience. In this critical situation, the party would not like to install someone like Patangrao Kadam, known for his sharp tongue and rustic manners.

Fortunately for Congress, the seat arithmetic is in its favour. Therefore, it has little to worry about the nuisance from his alliance partner NCP. Previously, NCP had claimed CM’s chair many a times, since it had more MLAs. However, in the last election, the tide turned to Congress side and it has got an upper hand. This has silenced the Sharad Pawar-led party, effectively putting the onus of appointing new leader on Congress only.

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Politics of Settlement

Settlement has become the catchword of the Maharashtra politics nowadays. The thing was part of the political manners for a long period, probably dating back to pre-independence era. However, the personalities involved in the process always tried to avoid the utterances which might give any clue to this thing.

On this backdrop, it was surprising when Sharad Pawar, a veteran of settlementalsim went public with his displeasure over how 'some opposition members are blackmailing builders, threatening them with raising questions in legislature and thereby arriving at settlements'. Having spent his almost five decades of political career in more than three parties, forging alliances with thrice that number parties and boasting of innumerable friends in various political parties as well as businessmen, Pawar is undoubtedly a seasoned player in the way the settlements are done.

To take an example, one can remember how Chhagan Bhujbal, the lone Shiv Sena legislator in Assembly during late 80s fought single handedly against the illegal sale of 289 land plots all over the state. Bhujbal raised a storm of protest which has damaged Pawar's image, putting a stigma of 'land shark' which has refused to leave him since then. Pawar managed a Houdini act of political settlement when he brought Bhujbal into his fold just two years later. The latter has become a stauch loyal foot soldier of Pawar since then and continue to enjoy fruits of power till today.

On this backdrop, Pawar's statement drew a lot of criticism, which he intended, from the opposition quarters. Eknath Khadse, leader of opposition in Legislative Assembly, was at the forefront. Khadse has raised many issues pertaining to land scams in assembly, notable among them were irregularities in Lavasa and land scam at Pune.

Pawar had tried many times to repeat Bhujbal feat for Khadse but latter refused to budge. Again, NGOs and activists have shown with evidence how Pawar is involved in the Lavasa project. It was fitting then that when Pawar came up with his utterances, Uddhav Thackerey, Executive President of Shiv Sena replied him with 'a thief knows well the ways another thief uses'. It is a well observed convention in Indian polity that one politician does not reveal his cards, even after a game is over. So when Pawar disclosed the cards, it was evident that either he wants to change rules of the game, which is a Herculean task to say the least, or he simply want to dissuade others so that they are no longer interested in game.

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Another Blow To Sharad Pawar

Till Tuesday afternoon, Nationalist Congress Party supremo and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar enjoyed a week-long adventures of aggressive statements. He first ruffled some feathers in opposition parties' camps in Maharashtra. His associates and garters managed to wrest some brownie points in Pune by forcing mayor to announce that the Dadoji Konddeo statue will be removed from Lal Mahal.

However, the Supreme Court came down heavily on union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for saying that the court's suggestion on free distribution of foodgrains to the poor was not binding on the government. Referring to media reports attributed to Pawar wherein he said that the court only made a suggestion Aug 12 and the government will consider it, an apex court bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Deepak Verma told Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran: "Tell your minister not to make any such comment."

According to court: "What we have said is an order and not a suggestion. Let him not misunderstand our order."

This comes one day after Eknath Khadse, leader of opposition in Legislative Assembly let his tongue loose, in the same fashion as Pawar had done a day before. He went on to say that Pawar is a builder's friend and opposition will try its best to expose deals in the state done at the behest of builders. Khadse's pounding of words appears creditable since Narayan Rane, Minister of Revenue in state cabinet has openly expressed doubts over Lavasa deal. A meeting in this regard is scheduled tomorrow in Mumbai.

To add woes to Pawar's kitty is ongoing scandal involving Pakistani cricket players. Barely two months after taking over as the chief of International Cricket Council, Pawar has hand full with assignments. Seasoned politician as he is, it will be very interesting how he navigates his way through this mud.

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Games Politicians Play

Anyone who had even a tiny doubt about the talk of corruption, hawala and black money involved in Indian Premier League 3 might have been forced to rethink his analyzing ability of the current situation. One of the most powerful politicians of the country finding himself cornered on the murkier wickets of scandal speaks volumes about the manner in which the biggest entertainment of the country was run for last three years.

Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule are still struggling to get rid of the ‘IPL-gate’ taint. There explanation ranged from “we have nothing to do with the Pune bid” to “City Corporation’s chief Aniruddha Deshpande bid personally for the IPL Pune team.” Latest is that, Pawar has asked he has some small stake in the Royal Challengers Bangalore team.

A national daily that Mr Pawar and his immediate family controlled over 16% equity in a Pune-based construction company City Corp, one of the bidders for an IPL cricket team. The company bid Rs 1176 crore for a franchise. It was another matter that Sahara group, which pledged a bigger amount, emerged as the winner. The Pawar family, admitted that the company owned partly by them did try to buy a cricket team. But they tried to put the onus on Deshpande saying he was personally involved in the bid and not the company. This was a brazenly ridiculous pretext which was least expected from a seasoned politician like Pawar. Did he really wanted the countrymen to believe that Deshpande was staking Rs 1176 Crores for and on behalf of himself? Is it possible for a builder, let alone the one who has Pawar family as stakeholders in his company?

Pawar appeared to have in deep water as the opposition parties, mainly Bharaiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena are already gunning for his resignation? BJP was consistently targeting the Sugar-Strongman for his failure on the agriculture front, which he is supposed to manage as the minister. "When the IPL controversy came to the fore, Sharad Pawar and his family members repeatedly said they had nothing to do with it. After this report it is very clear that Pawar has not only mismanaged the food economy of the country but also misled the country," BJP Chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

The main opposition party also demanded Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the IPL affairs, saying the statements made by Pawar and his family members on the IPL issue were "lame excuses" and the matter should be inquired into "extensively". The party’s demand, however politicized it might sound, has some justification. With a union minister sitting at home over the under-cover deals and a minister bidding his time to do so, the IPL 3 has threw enough worms to infect the polity. The sports has long taken a backseat and it is the cloudy dealing of money that is the talk of the town.

Nation deserves to know who and how took the people for a ride in the name of a sport with biggest fan following. If on the contrary, government, officials and officials continue to impress upon the public that everything is alright with the game, then they either living in the fool’s paradise or thinking that public is. Fortunately or unfortunately, neither of them do so.

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Marathi Is Flavour Of Season Ahead Of May 1

With Maharashtra completing 50 years this May 1, the political activity is in full swing. The Congress-NCP government and almost every political party in the state is organising plethora of programmes to celebrate the foundation day of Maharashtra.

The flavour of the season is of course being Marathi. After Maharashtra Navnirman Sena achieved spectacular success in assembly elections, everybody is trying to appear Marathi.

The main official function would be at the sprawling Shivaji Park in central Mumbai in the morning. 'Suvarna Maharashtra Darshan' exhibition is also organised to mark the golden jubilee year of the formation of the state. Freedom fighters from Pune today took water from rivers and soil from the forts as well as historic places. These will be sprinkled at the Hutatma Chowk in Mumbai. The initiative is being implemented in all districts of the state.

A scintillating laser show would be organised at Girgaum Chowpatty and Marine Drive here on May 1, officials said. Not to be left behind, Shiv Sena and MNS have also organised separate programmes. After taking its blood donation to Guinness Book Of Records, Shiv Sena is relying on another magnificent event in which none other  than legendary Lata Mangeshkar will sing the Maharashtra song. The trivia in the event is that Mangeshkar had sung the same song, ‘Bahu Asot Sundar’ 50 years ago when a grand ceremony had taken place on May 1, 1960.

Not to be left behind, MNS has hogged limelight with the food festival being organised in Mumbai. The festival showcases cuisines from all over the Maharashtra and has drawn lot of visitors. A similar festival is organised in Pune also. Even the state government has organised a cultural event tomorrow at Shaniwar Wada.

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Unchallenged Power Generates Internal Sparks

NEWS : Rift In Congress, NCP
The exchange of brickbats between Congress and ally NCP provided an added element of entertainment to the public. Added because the public is already burdened with the IPL tamasha and price rise in the market-is that anything lesser than a horror movie?

The inauguration of the additional carriageway of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on Wednesday only brought to fore what was the  known to wide strata of public for long.  This was not the first time that Deputy Chief Minister Chaggan Bhujbal took potshots at the Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. The language he used at the ceremony was a veiled one. He had used much sharp and toned language during the cabinet meeting.

Bhujbal said that ministers ought to clear files and not sit on them. This was because Chavan had thwarted at least two attempts by Bhujbal to award contracts for big works to his prefered men.  Not a man to take it easily, Chavan retaliated by taking a dig at NCP ministers who headed Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and said that there seemed to be preferential treatment for road-building in areas like Nagpur, Aurangabad and Beed where they hailed from.

The second leg of Bandra-Worli sea link was inaugurated yesterday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan  Superstar Amitabh Bachchan graced the occasion. Keeping in view the relation between Congress leaders and Bacchan family, Chavan took a dig saying, "I feel like coming to a fIlm awards function." The  ontroversy over Bacchan being invited for the inauguration function is still raging.

With opposition parties in Maharashtra more or less in slumber, the members of ruling combination have got a free hand. Not surprisingly, they have started fighting each other. After all, not long ago these two parties were avowing each other's credentials when they were pitted against Shiv Sena, BJP and MNS in the assembly elections. Whatever these senior leaders talked last night at Sea Link, had it any link to the common man?

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Oath Taking Replaces Incertainty

After 15 days of lingering incertainty, there is a government finally an the state. The 38 members strong council of ministers tookl oath of the secrecy today. The Congress has 18 ministers and NCP 20. NCP ministers are expected to take oath on at once  and Congress ministers would be sworn in two phases.

Pune, including district has got only three ministers in the new cabinet while city will be represented by only one representative. Ramesh Bagve will be the only minister in cabinet. Bagave has been elected from Pune Cantonment constituency. He got 65638 votes to defeat his rival Sadanand Shetty of Shis Sena. Shetty managed to get 28313 votes. He had the biggest winning margin from all eight assembly segments in Pune.

Ajit Pawar and Harshvardhan Patil are other two minister related to the city. Dilip Walse Patil, who managed finance ministry in the last government has been axed this time.

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A Government At Last

Ok. What is the ‘big deal’

Full 15 days after the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party returned to power in Maharashtra, the new government is finally to be instated. After a fortnight-long tough bargaining over portfolio-sharing between two parties, Congress and NCP finalised a deal based on the 1999 formula to form a new government.

Chief Minister-elect Ashok Chavan had indicated on Tuesday that the next government would be in place within two days. NCP leader Praful Patel told reporters in Mumbai that portfolio-sharing will be done on the basis of the 1999 formula. Although media reports indicated that the ministries would be shared in 23-20 ratio with larger chunk going to Congress.

Congress and NCP rode back to power for the third time in a row defeating opposition Shiv Sena-BJP in a mainly four-cornered contest. The Government formation was delayed after declaration of assembly poll results on October 23 due to hard negotiations between Congress and NCP over portfolio-sharing. Irked over the delay, governor S C Jamir had to intervene and urge both the parties to show a sense of urgency to put in place a government.

This is not the first time that this type of delay took place in Maharashtra. In 1999, when the two parties fought separately, there was dilly-dallying by two parties for over a week. In 2004, they fought together but after NCP emerged with more seats, it staken claim to the post of chief minister. Then also the issue was stretched for almost a week before Sharad Pawar finally wrested more and important portfolios from alliance partner Congress. The two parties could so easily take their time because they are sure that opposition parties are in no situation to stake claim to form the government. Meanwhile, various major issues are pending and the new government has an uphill task in the form of load shedding, drought situation and most of all, health situation. Maharashtra is getting some persons to man the ministries, but the million rupees question is: will they deliver?

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Raj Charges Up The Scene

He enters the place where a grand stage is erected. As he put his foot on the ground towards the direction of the stage, whole atmosphere comes alive with the sound of crackers and bursting of fires in the sky. To top this lighting, a cumulative voice soars new height with each passing moment hailing the young leader. As he comes to the microphone, there is a pin drop silence. Next one hours, the crowd of at least over 50 thousands hears to the leader. He minces no words in deriding his opponents and steals the show by hitting a cord with each member of the crowd.

This is Raj Thackerey for you.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief has taken centrestage in the ensuing assembly elections in the state. He is the clear winner of this political game, at least for now, even before the assembly elections are over. Every party leader is on his backfoot while coping with the popularity of Raj. This has led them to go into denial mode. Surprisingly, each one expects that MNS will eat away share of other party?s votes. After affecting the election results in the parliamentary elections just six months ago, nobody is ready to undermine MNS as far as electioneering is concerned. His party is seen as a potential Shiv Sena in the making

It is ironic that foremost among Raj?s opponents turned out to be Shiv Sena of which he was a prominent leader just three years ago. After being sidelined in SS by his uncle and SS chief Balasaheb Thackerey, who favoured his own son over Raj, he chose to trade his own path. He formed MNS in May 2006 and chose Marathi pride as its main plank. This was the same agenda on which SS worked on for four decades. It did not afford to lose his issue. Adding fuel to fire, Uddhav, the heir apparent of SS did not have the charisma or following which Raj inherited from Balasaheb.

Just yesterday, there were three rallies in Pune: that of Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar and Raj Thackerey. Political analysts unanimously agreed that the most lively and most crowded of all these meeting was addressed by Raj. This when he held three successive rallies in the city on a single day. How many candidates of MNS can be elected is not that important. What is important is the relation he establishes with the youths-his core voters. No other leader in the state is able to charm the youths like Raj does. This is the reason why Ajit Pawar today said that NCP will not shy away a government with the help from MNS. Since he knows that the clout Raj enjoys is surely going to tore apart political equations, made by Congress-NCP as well as Sena-BJP.

(To be continued)

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Party time for rebels-2

State in a In-fighting state

Apart from Pune, the scene at the state level is also dismal. The biggest news of rivalry this time is that in the Amravati constituency. Sunil Deshmukh, a Congress minister in the state cabinet has accused President Pratibha Patil of misusing her position to get a ticket for her son Raosaheb Shekhawat. The party has denied a ticket to Deshmukh in favour of Shekhawat. Deshmukh has solace in the fact that various non-partisan organisations, including Vanrai have supported him. But he had little option to jump in the fray as a rebel candidate which he did.

In fact, Congress-NCP combine deliberately delayed announcement of candidates' list so as to avoid rebellion. Dilip Sopal, former NCP minister has filed his nomination from Barshi in Solapur distric against the official nominee. Another former NCP minister, Digvijay Khanvilkar is also standing in Kolhapur as an independent candidate. He was defeated in Kolhapur (South) by Satej Patil, then an independent candidate. In a twist of fate, Satej aka Bunty Patil is now official Congress nominee while Khanvilkar is his independent rival.

Most bizarre incident of rebellion occurred in Jamkhed in Ahmednagar district. Sharad Lokhande, sitting MLA from BJP was again given a ticket from the same constituency. But he rejected the ticket and made headed towards Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. The two time MLA is a MNS candidate now from Kurla. In a new low of part politics, chief minister Ashok Chavan's cavalcade faced footwear just yesterday. Chavan was at Loha near Nanded to address a rally in support of NCP candidate Shankar Dhongde. It is suspected that supporters of Pratap Patil Chikhlikar, sitting independent MLA from Loha did throw the footwear at CM. Chikhlikar is a supporter of Vilasrao Deshmukh, former chief minister and now union minister of heavy industries. He has supported the Congress-NCP government for last five years but does not have cordial relations with Chavan.

In Shiv Sena, the number of rebel is equally high. Sada Sarvankar, sitting legislator member of party has joined Congress. To top it, he has alleged that Uddhav Thackerey, executive president of Shiv Sena was behind the attack on Manohar Joshi's house which happened last week. That attack itself was indicative how widespread the discontent was in the party. For NCP, Udayanraje Bhosale, the descendant of Chhatrapati SHivaji is busy giving NCP a run for its money. He has already declared that he will field his own candidates in Satara district. The NCP MP from Satara has made enough statements to damage to standing of party in Western Maharashtra.

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Party time for rebels-1

Rebels Having a Feast on Official Candidates

Maharashtra, let alone Pune, is facing highest number of rebel candidates in the assembly elections. The state is especially known for its fighting spirit. But never in the history of electoral democracy was such a frenzy of candidates soliciting the votes from the electorates. What's worse, it is not limited to one party.

I have already written about the rebellion of Anna Joshi from Kothrud constituency. Chandrakant Chhajed, sitting MLA from now defunct Bopodi constituency, followed Joshi's suit by by fielding himself from two constituencies – Shivajinagar and Vadgaonsheri against the official Congress nominees. The three time Congress MLA could not gulp down the fact that he was denied ticket by his party. While Vinayak Nimhan, a rebel MLA of Shiv Sena is the official candidate from Shivajinagar, Vadgaon Sheri was given to Nationalist Congress Party, alliance partner of Congress.

Chhajed is known to be close to Suresh Kalmadi, member of parliament from Pune. He was instrumental in ensuring success for Kalmadi just five months ago.
While Anna Joshi switched over to NCP to contest election from Kothrud seat, Ujjwal Keskar, another prominent person from BJP stable is fighting it alone. He will also contest from the Kothrud constituency. He had made no bones about his wish to contest the election but the seat fell into Shiv Sena's lap during seat sharing bargaining. On the other hand, he seemed not ready to wait for another five years before diving into the state politics. This constituency seemed to have more rebel candidates than those of parties. Dipak Mankar, who was recently in a soup over the land grabbing cases was out of race in Congress for the candidacy. But he managed to get bail just on the eve of elections. He also filed his nomination from Kothrud making it difficult for Joshi.

Ramesh Vanjale, another notable figure in the district politics of Pune has switched over to two parties in the same league. The former member of Zilla Parishad has his origins in the Congress but was in talks with Shiv Sena for a ticket from Khadakwasla constituency. Later, when he realised it is not possible, he managed to get going in the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. 

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Anna Leaves BJP! What is the difference?

 Will  desertion by Anna Joshi be a jolt to Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of Maharashtra Assembly polls? The answer is no, it is relatively a minor set back. It is nothing extra-ordinary what with large scale desertions and defection in all political parties in the state.
Even though Anna Joshi is a a senior leader of the party and former MP of BJP. Yesterday, he announced that he is quitting the party and joining  NCP. He will be a candidate from Kothrud assembly constituency on NCP ticket.

Joshi, was MP from Pune in 1989 and 1991. his candidacy from Kothrud was declared by Nationalist Congress Party spokesman
Ankush Kakde yesterday. He will take on Chandrakant Mokate of Shiv Sena, alliance partner of BJP.

Joshi, who had also held the post of Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly, was licking his wounds for many days in BJP after he was sidelined twice. He was denied ticket in the last Lok Sabha polls and again for the Assembly elections from Pune. Joshi was known for his rivalry with late Viththal Gadgil, congress party veteran from Pune. He was helped by Sharad Pawar, who was in Congress at that time but was heading rival faction against Gadgil. Interestingly, Pawar had a man friday in Suresh Kalmadi at that time. The equations have changed a lot since then.

Born on April 3, 1935 at Varangaon, Jalgaon, Joshi has done a lot of work for Pune. He was a corporator in Pune Municipal Corporation during 1968 to 1979 and went on to become deputy mayor of city during 78-79. He was responsible to give BJP three consecutive wins in the Lok Sabha elections. He comes from the Brahmin community and started his career in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The voter base of the BJP came mainly from these two sectors. People of these sectors have significantly reduced in numbers. Therefore Joshi is hardly a winning candidate anymore for the party. Still to be fair, Joshi deserves honour as he stuck to his party even 13 years after losing his position. But Pawar's friendship with him has earned him the candidacy.

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No Sugar Candy For NCP

Pressure on Pawar before ELections

Just days after writing about the feud between Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), I am writing this post. The Congress seems to have taken a firm stand as to degrade and pressurise NCP so much as concede everything it want from the party. Lastest missive on this front is the letter written by Sonia Gandhi to Sharad Pawar. On the surface, the letter appears to have written out of the concern for poors. In fact, it is a perfect ploy to take the carpet out of Pawar's feet as a run up to the assembly elections.

When Sonia Gandhi deliberately choose to induct Pawar in prime minister Manmohan Singh's second cabinet as agriculture minister, it was evident that she was not doing a favour. It was a nice ploy to take avenge the rebell by Pawar 10 years ago. Pawar's rebel at that time had played spoilsport for Sonia's chances at prime ministership. In fact, Sonia missed the bus for ever for that coveted post. Even in four years that Pawar graced the chair of same post at New Delhi, he was not able to mend forces with Congress leadership, neither in state nor at centre. It was a testimony to the acrimony between two parties that Sonia also inducted staunch Pawar baiters in cabinet in the form of Vilasrao Deshmukh and Prithviraj Chavan. Some like Deshmukh have been given free rein as to throw their diatribe at Pawar.

On this background, it would be foolish to assume that Sonia had written from genuine concern. As the chairman of United Progressive Alliance, Sonia knew very well how the performance of union agriculture ministry is. When everybody was expressing apprehnsion about the shortage of food commodities and rising prices, Pawar was deriding the fact and Congress was nodding in unison. Now, the realisation has dawned over the minister as well as Congress party. Now all the right noises are made just to convince the voters in Maharashtra and Haryana that the party is not deserting them high and dry. Just two days ago, Maharashtra Congress had opposed reported moves to partially decontrol sale of sugar alleging that "atrocious" amendments in the sugar policy could make the sweetener dearer.

MPCC spokesman Kanhaiyalal Gidwani had written a letter to Sonia Gandhi expressing fear that some sugar manufacturers, along with a section in the government, were pressing for the amendments. Hence even if Congress is rejecting that Sonia has written such a letter, it has made it sure that its image is being portrayed more clear than the NCP.

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