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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Confusion Party of Maharashtra

Even as the assembly elections fever is yet to catch up with public, political parties are finding it difficult to manage the unbearable tension. On the one hand, no party is sure as to whom it should align to. Secondly, the political atmosphere is so divided and obscure that no one has any idea of clicking it big this time. This is the most confusion times in Maharashtra.

Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, ruling for almost ten years in the state, are still entangled in the seat sharing war. Congress wants NCP to blink first and it has justification for its demand. It has garnered most seats in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. At the same time, NCP has suffered huge losses due to various factors. One of the major failures of NCP is in Satara district. Sharad Pawar, national chief of NCP chose Udayanraje Bhosale, 13th descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji as party's candidate to consolidate Maratha votes. Even though Bhosale was elected, and he was destined to be as his leadership is unchallenged in the Satara constituency, he refused to align himself with the party's stand. Right from the campaigning, Udayanraje acquired a posture which more or less eroded party's position in Satara and eventually Western Maharashtra.

Unable to bargain for more seats, NCP is now trying its hard to hold on to existing seat sharing formula. But it is unlikely that it will get 124 seats. Congress leadership in the state was forced to eat many bitter pills in last ten years due to NCP's better position. Now, all the side effects of those pills are spilling out. Even if the sharing takes place, there will be much internal manoeuvring for the detriment of each other. A meeting of both parties is to take place at Varsha, the official residence of Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

Opposition parties do not have a much unenviable position. While Shiv Sena has suffered losses in the urban belts in Lok Sabha elections, Bharatiya Janata Party has to put its own house in order before plunging in elections. The only solace these parties have is that they have an alliance in place and their seat sharing formula is almost finalised. Shiv Sena even though accepted to give same number of seats to BJP, but is yet to be convinced that its ally will be able to stand on its feet what with recent drama in the party. There was talk in the inner circle of BJP that Lal Krishna Advani will not be invited for the campaigning in the state. Neither will be Narendra Modi. This puts the onus on Gopinath Mundhe only.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, the new enfant terrible on Maharashtra's political scene is in the eye of discussion over the period. But it is still unclear whether the party will go it alone or will fight the election with others' help. Raj Thackerey, party's chief has made it clear that the party will not field candidates in all constituencies in the state. Besides, in some recent interviews to local newspapers and news channels, he has made it clear that his party will not share power with anyone. “My plan is to assume full power and never until then,” he has said. This effectively takes wind out of MNS' ship. The only thing now the party will achieve is eating in of the votes of Shiv Sena. Since both parties claim to address the same voter base.

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Aurangabad to Go dry on

measure aimed to avert Dengue menace

The current rage in Maharashtra is H1N1 flu which is still called swine flu even though the World Health Organisation has recommended not to do so. With the casualties on account of this disease touching 100, it is hardly surprising that the media and people alike are obsessed with it. But then there are other diseases also which are claiming lives of citizens. These killer diseases are here each year but this year they are being relegated to the oblivion.

One such disease is dengue. The killer fever has already plagued Maharashtra with many patients in Pimpri Chinchwad. The municipal corporation there is fighting hard against the disease. Fortunately, Pune is not so much troubled by it. However, other cities in the state are not so lucky. One of the prominent cities in Marathwada, Aurangabad, is finding it hard to cope with the problem in addition to Swine Flu. To find a solution, the municipal corporation of Aurangabad has decided to observe a Dry Day in city.

The municipal corporation of Aurangabad has appealed to the citizens to keep their house dry on September …... the measures to be followed on the day include, throwing out all the water stored in house for more than five days. It is also advised to keep all the utensils in house dry at least for four to five hours. The civic body aims to keep the breeding of mosquitoes to minimum through these measures. It is one of the bold attempts in recent history and goes beyond the usual measures of spraying insecticides etc.

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