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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Austerity! At what cost?

At the time when recession is officially lingering at receding line, the ministers and leaders of Congress party are having austerity drive. From the public elected 'heir-apparent' of country Rahul Gandhi to the non-committal Shashi Tharoor, everybody is coping with the cost cutting in his own ways. Media is untiringly picking up each and every piece of information disseminated from New Delhi. However, considering the wild card given by media to Gandhi dynasty, some facts will not be probed ever.

The celebrations were just short of fire crackers when Rahul Gandhi announced to travel by Rajdhani Express. The statement of Louis XV, that punctuality is the courtesy of the king, was given a twist to say that AC travel by one of the most expensive train was the nobility of this young man. After his voyage, some things were never asked:

• were other passengers allowed to seat in the same compartment in which Rahul was seated?
• How much cost was incurred on the travel taking into consideration the security arrangements including security personnel? 
• How did the security at each station managed?
  

 The wide coverage given to the pelting of stones on the train in which Rahul was travelling was also not surprising. It is on the same lines which was adopted while reporting on the famed speech by Rahul, wherein he referred to a woman in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. He portrayed, in moving words, the poor condition in which the woman lived and how he spent one night in the woman's hut. In the latest incident, print and electronic media alike expressed concern over the stone pelting. Surprisingly, the culprits are not caught yet. One national newspaper went on to say that the risk taken by Rahul was unnecessary and he staked country's future in his act. As if something happening to Rahul is directly culmination of India's prospects. The old slogan of Indira is India is resurfacing again. 

 

What is true of Rahul is true for other ministers also. The ministers who have shown readiness to give one month's salary for the drought affected areas in the country will not part with the perks and allowances they get. It is a common knowledge that salaries of these ministers and MPs constitute a fraction of their income. Even actual contribution of that salaries is also not known. Pranv Mukherjee is saying he flies by economy class. Other ministers are expected to follow the suit. But the question is not of flying class but of flying unnecessarily. Why should the ministers and other functionaries fly by air to attend the foundation laying ceremony of projects which take at least a decade to complete? Can't these men work sitting in their offices? While opposing to economy class flying, Sharad Pawar said ministers have confidential files and working in planed with people around causes problem. I don't think passengers in a plane go to the minister's seat and lean over to see what file he is working on. Pawar himself will face much less problem if he cuts his trips to Pune or Baramati from New Delhi over petty issues. But he won't. And he is not alone. Almost each minister in the cabinet is doing the same.

In this scenario, the Congress will do a favour to public if it stops this austerity drama. The country is best prepared to be relieved of public money for minister's expenses. That's what is the norm for last six decades. Once this drama stops, there will be hope that someone will have time and inquisitiveness as to what happened to that woman whom Rahul referred in his speech. Did her life improved after the party won vote of confidence?

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The Talks for The Seats

Poltical parties in Maharashtra are entangled in the parleys for seat sharing. Can this be a reason for the deadlock?

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Nanasaheb Peshwa and Parvati

Today, September 17^th marks the death anniversary according to Hindu calendar of Nanasaheb Peshwe, the third Peshwa in Maratha empire. Word Peshwe simply means the prime minister or head of minister council. Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa was first Peshwa appointed by Shahu Maharaj, the grandson of Chhatrpati Shivaji and son of Chhatrapati Sambhaji. Balaji was succeeded by Bajirao I. Bajirao's son was Nanasaheb Peshwa. Most of the magnificence of today's Pune is either created by Peshwas or stemmed from the Peshwa era creations.

Nanasaheb Peshwa is not remembered for the valour and romanticism like Bajirao I. Nor is he known for the political acumen like Madhavrao Peshwa. But he was instrumental in giving Pune some of the most memorable edifices and systmes. Prominent among them is Parvati temple which is a hallmark of Pune's cultural activism and aestheticism. Parvati hill situated near Swargate today is dotted, or rather dominated by the slums, but at the time of its creation, it was one of the architectural beauties of the Deccan.

Born on December 16, 1721, Nanasaheb was named Balaji Bajirao. He became Peshwa on June 25, 1740 and died on June 23, 1761. In his last days, he was much disturbed by the great defeat of Marathas at the battle of Panipat. He lost his brother Sadashiv and niece Vishwas at the battle. To add insult to injury, there was an impersonator claiming to be Sadashivrao Peshwa who came some time later after the battle. The case took many days and caused much upheaval in the ruling family as well as elite class in then Pune. Later, the impersonator was found to be a Brahmin from Kanauj and was killed. But till then, he was placed at Parvati.

Barring Raghunath Peshwa, whose ambitious politics caused much disorder during Peshwa rule, all Peshwas lived very short. On an average, they were only 40 years of age. Nanasaheb was no exception. He was 39 when he died of Tuberculosis. He did not take much part in the battles but more than that, he is known for his administrative skills. His predecessors had laid a solid foundation what with even Mogul rulers at Delhi consenting to their claims without much fuss. Nanasaheb built an artful and systematic rule on that foundation. It was during his rule that first water system in Pune was laid down. He managed to bring water from Katraj lake to Pune about 250 years ago. During his reign, he either created or rehabilitated Raviwar Peth, Budhwar Peth, Shukrwar Peth, Vetal (Guruwar Peth), Nagesh Peth, Ganesh Peth and Ganj Peth which even today are burstling with activities. 
 

Most of Nanasaheb's life was spent at Parvati. His existence was so attached to the place that he breathed his last at the site. Later, it was a place associated with many incidents of importance. After British rule firmly established itself on the land, the religious connotation of the place gave way to cultural one. Many citizens from old parts of the city were obsessive visitors to the place. Marathi literature is full of references of how old and young people alike had daily routine of climbing up and down the hill. Even as the city was birthplace of many movements and citadel of activists of all sort, the meeting spot for all of them was mainly Parvati. Converging at eateries and hotels is a very recent phenomenon for Pune. 
 

Paravati temple was established in year 1749 by Nanasaheb Peshwa. He started a trust to manage the temple. Opinions differ on the exact date of establishment of the temple-some say it is April 11 and some say it is April 7. But the foundation day of the temple is celebrated according to Hindu calendar. Nanasaheb was a devotee of Mahadev so he made an idol of Mahadev and Parvati with Ganesh sitting on their laps from gold! Along with Mahdev, four other temples dedicated to Goddess Parvatai, Ganesh, Vishnu and Sun were created here. The idol of Mahadev was made from 6337 tolas, Parvati 1245 tolas and Ganesh 686 tolas! Even five epitomes of the temples were also made from gold which weighed 1079 tolas. These idols were put in tight security cover and they were taken to Sinhgad many times during the enemy attack on Pune. On July 15, 1932 these idols were stolen. The perpetrators were never caught neither the idols were recovered. The present idols in the temple are made from silver and gold plated.

Nanasheb built a wada as his residence just beside the temple. Now his memorial is built in the room where he breathed his last.

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Voices of Dissent in Congress

Are They Serious Enough?

The voices of dissent have started to rise from the Congress party in Maharashtra. One of the first leader to raise the tone is Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar, who is enraged over non-inclusion in the candidates selection committee. Nilangekar is the former chief minister of Maharashtra and comes from Nilanga in the Latur district.

PTI quotes him as saying : I met Congress president Sonia Gandhi recently and apprised her of the situation. I pointed out that neither myself nor former MPCC president N M Kamble were appointed to the panel, which has several less deserving people on board.

Nilangekar is one of those old breeds in Congress who still avow Indira Gandhi's name. He was the chief minister of Maharashtra in 1985-86. He had to resign after a scam in which he was accused of influencing the results of MBBS examination in which his daughter was a candidate. Since then, he was relegated to oblivion and could never make a comeback in the state politics. In the new age of professional politics, he is a rare type of leader. In the 2004 Lok Sabha election, he fought against his daughter-in-law, who was contesting from a BJP ticket. And he lost it! So it is surprising that he is returning and even more surprising is the fact that media is taking him seriously!

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