Less revenge, more governance

Picture Courtesy – Google

Now that the results of elections to Lok Sabha and some states are out, governments are gearing up to move forward. The LS mandate has disappointed everyone because it gave a confusing outcome. Had it given at least a simple majority to BJP, people would have felt relieved with regard to the stability of the government. A brute majority might have allowed Modi to go ahead with his 100 day time-bound agenda but with known devils rather than unknown angels, Modi can still bank upon Naidu and Nitsh provided he is able to ensure that BJP is in tact and its relationship with RSS is not eroded though the latter did make some squeaky noise soon after the results. Yet, Modi is now compelled to tread cautiously when in case of the majority he could have done what he wanted in the best interests of the country. People have voted for his party fairly well which itself is the proof of their assessment of Modi but somehow deprived him of what he would have liked to do if given a good majority. INDIA Alliance is a kichdi but looks like it cannot be ignored, however insipid is its recipe.

On the other hand, Naidu getting a brute majority has once again revealed the eccentricity of the voters of Andhra Pradesh. In 2019, they gave an unimaginable majority reducing TDP to mere 23 but this time they went further ahead and denied even opposition status to Jagan Mohan Reddy. The seats were less than half of what TDP got in 2019 adding to a devastating humiliation to YSRCP which mocked the former for getting the number of MLAs that defected from YSRCP during the 2014-19 regime. Now YSRCP is almost in ruins and only time will tell whether there will be any resurrection of the leader and the party. During Jagan’s regime, one could see the same revenge pattern they accused TDP of during its earlier governance.

Andhra voters have in a period of 10 years very clearly warned both TDP and YSRCP that they cannot be taken for granted and they would decisively with clarity throw out the government mercilessly as happened, be it in 2019 as well as 2024 or in future too. Maybe, AP people might be wanting to convey that they would not tolerate revenge politics, caste politics, crime perpetuation, which took place in two hitherto regimes for which both parties paid the price heavily. Like it is said, past is past, or gatham gathaha, it is high time this government both at state level and NDA at Centre balances the ratio of revenge versus governance. The voters have given a clear and loud message that the government they elected cannot bide time in blaming the earlier rulers but rather concentrate on what needs to be done as they have now been elected with a clear majority.

Needless to say, Revanth Reddy in Telangana is relentlessly on a revenge spree against KCR and people in AP hope that this kind of system does not prevail in their state. They have said not once but twice that what they look forward to is a rich blend of welfare and development. Jagan simply blaming either EVMs or people’s sincerity in spite of giving so many subsidies would be of no use because basically the rulers should know that voters believe in having the cake and eating it too. People feel that nobody is doing anybody a favour when subsidies are doled out. They feel that they are their rights and would not hesitate in asking for more. It doesn’t mean that they are greedy, selfish and disloyal but want to send a clear message that they are on alert 24×7 and see everyday how they ended the day – loss or gain. This is precisely the reason, what people in AP may be expecting from Naidu is a total revamp of the State from welfare and development points of view. It is very challenging for the new government but not impossible to overcome provided it goes about sincerely and not taking people for granted just because they got a brute majority. In fact not having a strong opposition like in Odisha or for that matter at the Centre, AP has a disadvantage. Take Telangana, the opposition is not weak and the government is able to be on tenterhooks always and is able to rectify as and when something is put out by the former either through Harish or KTR or other senior leaders/spokespersons of BRS. If Revanth reduces the intensity of his personal revenge against KCR and co, he would still perform far better as his intentions may be good except for the bad time he had to go through personally when KCR was in power. His statesmanship in retaining all good done by KCR would in fact enhance his image. Time is a good healer and people are expecting him to give priority to governance over revenge.

In AP too, people would be closely watching with greater hope on the Jana Sena component which can now, in a way, be a watchdog and keep helping the government as and when there are missteps, if any. In a way it can perform the role of an internal auditor and keep checking that the government is able to function as per people’s expectations. In fact, for Jana Sena being in government, it would be a learning experience under an experienced Naidu and with or without BJP, the two parties, in tandem, can think of glorious and golden Andhra Pradesh. The government through social media may be tempted to prevail upon TDP and Jana Sena to settle the account by going on a full blast against the earlier Jagan Mohan Reddy and his accomplices but at the end of the day, the state has to show patience and move forward with greater speed. This doesn’t mean that the irregularities of the earlier government be overlooked but see that at least 80% focus is put on nothing but welfare and development of AP. Revenge can always wait, a mistake Jagan made during his rule. He was concentrating more on targeting the chota opposition rather than what the rich mandate asked him to do. The TDP with no power used the power of the same people who gave such a huge mandate to YSRCP in throwing out the latter at the ripe time. Continuous abuses and targetting TDP and later Jana Sena by YSRCP proved to be a blessing in disguise to romp home with a historic win for the two parties.

With this kind of majority, TDP and Jana Sena can bask under the glory of stupendous success but that should not eclipse the government in its governance and any amount of complacency might not be taken kindly in 2029. TDP and Jana Sena have precisely five years multiplied by 365 days and 24 hours a day. It just can not afford to waste even a minute because AP people are terribly hungry, thirsty and impatient to see their state back on track and not looking back for excellent growth in all spheres.

Published in The South India Times on 22nd June, 2024

Will Rahul Gandhi fit into the slot?

Picture Courtesy Google

Now that the INC will be given the opposition status by virtue of its increased strength unlike last time when it attained the status in spite of being ineligible, there is palpable excitement as to whether Rahul Gandhi would don the role of LOP which will be offered on a silver platter by the party, more out of sycophancy rather than the ability to face Gullivers like Modi and Shah who would love to make a mincemeat out of him. Not that he is not a good speaker – he has come of age and is able to make an impact in election rallies resulting in garnering more votes for the party. But the job in Lok Sabha as an LOP is far different. In view of the increased strength of the opposition alliance, it is all the more pertinent to have an effective and experienced LOP who will not resort to theatric, rhetoric and dramatics. It is a golden opportunity for the opposition alliance almost having half the strength of the parliament and it should strategically use this in running the house than simply going on one point agenda of how to pull down the government. That can be done outside the House any way. Inside the House, people would be seriously wanting to know what is being presented by the government and how is the opposition countering it not simply for opposing it but by giving something suggestive, informative and reformative.The ruling party will naturally be looking for the weak points from LOP which they might find aplenty if Rahul takes over the mantle. LOP in the present scenario has to be a leader who is able to keep the alliance parties in good humour and have the ability of making them sail with him with a common agenda of not simply scoring a point or two but rather make a meaningful contribution so that everything discussed, debated and argued upon goes for the public’s good. We need an LOP who is ready to spend more midnight oil, prepare thoroughly and put across important points as this time the Speaker cannot stop giving the required time because the ruling party does not have brute majority to bulldoze opposition MPs. Is it not prudent for the INC to have a brain storming session in this regard and have an LOP who should be responsible, constructive and persuade the government to be responsive instead of glossing over the bills more as a formality as it used to happen in the last Lok Sabha.?

The LOP’s focus should be not on what people see on TV during his/her parliament debate but rather show perseverance more than sarcasm and see that what he speaks gets translated into action and in public interest. Every time we tend to ask what government does but people are vigilant enough to see whether the opposition leaders are also representing their grievances in a no nonsense manner on public issues etc effectively. The INC should not regret later in choosing a wrong LOP. Better to plan thoroughly in choosing the right LOP who can take on the government responsibly and usefully.

While the ruling party would try its best to get the bills passed with minimum discussion, the opposition parties should just do the opposite. Extract maximum time for in depth discussion and should be able to thwart any such action that tends to bypass the parliamentary procedure and rules. Excellent coordination between various parties of the INDIA Alliance should be the mantra for LOP whoever he/she is.

Three senior citizens or three musketeers ?

Picture Courtesy – Google

Strange are the ways of politics and politicians. Two senior citizens above 70 are now endowed to help another senior citizen also above the same age. You got it right. Naidu and Nitish having parleys with Modi sums up the three senior citizens or musketeers. What they arrive at, agree and quickly form the government is right on the table and people are waiting with bated breath to know how the outcome would be. Had BJP crossed 300, this situation would not have arisen at all. Now, Modi has to heed someone who has five members of his family elected in his state either as MLAs or MPs from TDP or BJP which is part of the alliance in AP. Now, Modi has to heed someone much against his principle of not encouraging any kind of family or dynastic rule. TDP Naidu, Lokesh, his father in law Bala Krishna, his co son in law, Naidu’s sister in law Purandareswari are from the same family. Likewise, Modi has to compromise with Nitish, the most unpredictable somersault political gymnast not knowing how stable he would be at any given time. But in rajniti, rajadharmam is also a necessity. It is only hoped that good days are back for AP and Bihar under these two newly energised remote controls.

With this type of circus, it remains to be seen whether Modi would be able to steer through and perhaps, as some feel Shah or Gadkari may have that kind of strategy, shrewdness and sagacity to handle difficult people like Nitish and Naidu.

Published in The South India Times on 5th June, 2024

Will the poll results be a photo-finish ?

Picture Courtesy – Google

In about 24 hours, the exit poll would be out and then in subsequent 48 hours the actual poll result would come out. BJP seems to be pretty well relaxed and confident of its majority without showing the hidden fear of anything going wrong too. This is because like cricket, elections also seem to throw thrilling and photo-finishes with the only difference being the nature of secrecy maintained by the voters. Thank God we don’t have the last ball and six runs needed in election results.

All said and done, ab ki baar 400 paar slogan seem to be divided among the BJP cadre with one group saying that it denotes confidence and courage while the other group contends that unnecessarily people have been alerted to misinterpret the figure as arrogant number to tinker with the Constitution thereby trashing the reservations. This fear has been encashed duly by the opposition parties and this may have an effect on the outcome of the poll to scuttle ab ki baar benchmark. A man on the street is of the view that in the absence of any alternative, Modi seems to be the favourite figure though they are aware that ultimately all good things have to come to an end.

The INDI alliance, though a kichdi group, have this time sold the kichdi dish pretty well saying that it is the best recipe for pink health of the country. Just as many said Modi would be back, there are equally many who are sure of the opposition alliance improving upon its previous figures. There are those dangling between these two who might ultimately tilt the balance this way or that way.

In a matured democracy, there are many who wish that no brute majority should be there to avoid typical brutes who may be tempted to go for dictatorship though that is very unlikely in India in spite of its traces seen now and then. People know that many times, assertiveness is equated with dictatorship and the latter is a prescribed medicine to cure certain ailments that Indians suffer from. Most of the times Modi is projected as a dictator knowing pretty well that there are chota dictators in various states at micro level. If we come down further, we end up saying that, that way there is a dictator in every family. So, suddenly we begin to see a leader as a dictator and vice versa and reconcile to the reality that indeed we need strong leaders whom we selectively brand them as dictators. In fact in a press conference, KCR has in a veiled manner did say that firmness is a requisite qualification for a leader. This stubbornness is often confused with dictatorship. Revanth Reddy is facing these allegations because his actions are pointed towards it not necessarily in public interest but openly going on a personal revengeful spree rather than keeping people’s interests at heart. He may be doing so because people may also want that to happen but how long is a big question for which we will get the answers after 4th June. Jagan Mohan Reddy also faced the same enigma and his dictatorship is being paraded as his nemesis once the results are declared. Nowhere in India have people kept politicians on tenterhooks as in the case of Andhra Pradesh. Many are predicting minimum 95 for YSRCP only to be eclipsed by the onslaught of media exactly opposite to this figure. The less said the better about Mamata and Kejriwal who are dictators at their own level with different appearances.

People are hoping for a healthy democracy with functional majority and a strong decent opposition so that people’s well being is given top priority. It’s high time to realise that welfare and development have to go hand in hand and in fact they are interdependent. Extremes of only welfare and only development will boomerang. People are hoping that the ultimate result of Lok Sabha and some state assemblies will give a reasonable share of power and why can’t we have a cabinet having ministers from both ruling and opposition parties for a common cause – merit and performance? A wild dream worth daring to dream. And who said “dare to dream”. Yes. Abdul Kalaam.

Give the ECI (devil) its due

Picture Courtesy – Google

Having worked in both State government as well as Central government, and also as Presiding Officer during at least four or five elections, this writer feels some inputs might be helpful in understanding the Election Commission of India (ECI) in its correct perspective.

Of late, with so many comments against ECI, both in mainstream and social media, mostly critical and bashing the body, I felt I should express how a government servant views the whole thing in a holistic manner.

We are in a digital world and we have become reckless, suspicious and lethargic in knowing the way the ECI carries out a monumental task of conducting Lok Sabha elections. Gone are the days when people participated in the elections with full faith in their respective political parties, leaders and of course the ECI. Not that in analog era ECI was not doubted but certainly not to the extent it is being suspected even at the drop of a hat these days. Those were the days when the media was respected and believed because of its impartiality and integrity. With few newspapers and fewer channels, everything that was doled out was treated sacrosanct because both receivers and communicators had excellent wavelength and clear understanding. When it came to fault finding, the government was taken to task in the harshest manner and the former responded cautiously, carefully duly rectifying itself in the process. People that way recognised the power of media in those days. Very few questioned the role of ECI, irrespective of the election result. The losers might have made a feeble noise about rigging or misuse of ballot papers or EVMs as the case may be and the noise used to fizzle out soon after a new government got ushered in. But now, media being what it is totally and vertically divided on party lines, and thanks to reforms from 1990s, every Tom, Dick and Harry wanted to have a media unit be it a newspaper or a news channel or both for either commercial exploitation and making money or wield required influence to keep the government on its toes or blackmail and make money from potential sources. All one wants is to have a few crores of rupees irrespective of his/her association with the field of journalism and start a channel or newspaper because they yield power more than they are supposed to deliver facts than fiction. This went to the extent of deciding which government could be brought to power, unlike how Indian Express single handedly, in mid 70’s threw out Indira Gandhi mercilessly post emergency and the same lady brought back with vengeance when Janata Party fumbled in its governance.

Added to this, the beginning of 21st century heralded the digital world when communication became free for all. Every stakeholder became a self declared journalist, opinion builder and a critic without knowing the spelling of criticism. Ironically, everyone is literally running a media unit, that too freely like starting a YouTube platform and in turn making some money if luck yielded a few thousand clicks or views. So, literally, we entered into a free-for-all arena and every consumer of media got influenced, toxified, and made himself or herself second to none in whatever they uttered, be it with the cacophony on TV channels or YouTube or X, then Twitter, Facebook and now Instagram. The consumer got addicted and began forwarding everything he felt was worth it or not. In this melee, let us be fair that ECI got entangled with too many stakeholders, particularly youngsters and first time voters who never knew how the election process takes place from the beginning to the end till the results are declared. Everyone took advantage of everyone else, missing the nitty gritty of the working of the ECI.

Our focus centered around the Commissioners, the way they were appointed and their appointments have always been under the scanner be it the NDA or UPA governments. All said and done, people respected the verdict but not before the loser finding fault with everything conceivable by them. The entire social media is repulsing the way the ECI responded to the Supreme Court with regard to 17C data to be uploaded in the system. One strongly feels that in this cyber crime based world, we need not suspect the ECI when it declared the possibility of morphing, photoshopping etc that may create bigger problems and the data is already in the hands of polling agents and a copy preserved carefully with their signatures is available in every strong room. It is appreciable that parties which have their own doubts are uniting to see that their data be compiled so as to compare should the results go this way or that way. ECI is apprehensive that wherever there are close contests (they may be having their own intelligence inputs), the possibility of misuse of the data posted by ECI through manipulation.

Normally much against doubts entertained by common man, the working in the government takes place quite differently. Most of the time any two employees within the organisation agree to disagree with each other and all are not corrupt or honest in lock, stock and barrel manner. They have the good ones and the black sheep and in between there are vigilant ones who play a crucial role in spilling the beans should something really go wrong at a massive level. As they are privy to a lot of inputs and as the ECI is responsible in all respects, the latter treads a cautious path in dealing with doling out information, notwithstanding the RTI Act we have. ECI is a constitutional body and cannot completely be carried away by rhetoric be it from either of the alliances. It takes the brickbats from them. Always bouquets from winning parties praising the ECI to sky that the election process went off professionally and impartially and definite brickbats from the losing parties who would accuse everything that is possible on their part is normally the order of the day post elections. ECI knows that it has to face the music either way should results bring out shocks and surprises. What would the opposition parties say if they have resounding success bringing them to power and the present ruling alliance if it loses power miserably. Both of them may mourn ‘we said so’ but ultimately what ECI says prevails in the eyes of the people.

Both the warring parties are up in arms in criticizing the ECI, though it is the opposition every time which becomes more vocal under the doubt of impending defeat. Here it becomes essential to note that when INC and its allies made hue and cry on Electoral Bonds, people came to know that all political parties took the money with no holy cows left anywhere. What happened? All parties shamelessly accepted the bonds duly encashing without any remorse till SC came into the picture. Tomorrow, if some such thing comes out from ECI holding both guilty in one way or the other, they get united and people are made fools. Therefore, as voters we accepted to exercise our franchise, voted and it is better to wait till the results are declared. Actually, by being extra conscious, all parties and their respective supporters exercising strict vigil will in fact help the ECI in carrying out its task. The root cause of suspicion is actually not from the ECI but from the brazen and arrogant claims both the alliances are making in the form of ab ki baar or Rahul Gandhi claiming that BJP would get one seat only from UP. It is these extreme claims that sow the seed of suspicion. Would it not be better that too having reached the final phases of elections to give the devil (here ECI) its due and allow the body to fulfill its assigned duties. Keeping extra vigil would be better than being a doubting Thomas.

Last but not the least, parties should desist from making extreme claims and be modest in claiming that they are sure of a simple majority, to begin with though they would love to expect resounding success. Stop ab ki baar war by both sides and allow ECI to do its work. The entire government machinery both at centre and states cannot simply work in tandem to ruin the election process and support either of the two alliances. Every government servant knows how careful he/she has to be to save his/her job.

Published in The South India Times on 25th May, 2024

Flowers and Colours

Picture by D. Nagarjuna

Flowers and colours are like Siamese twins. Impossible to separate them. Incidentally, flower does not have dual spelling like colour has in English and American version. Oldies prefer to go with Britisher’s English and hence this write up will have colour wherever it occurs as colour.

A recent visit to flower show in Ooty reinforces our belief that colours are derived from flowers or is it the vice versa? Gone are the days when an artist was limited to very few colours from the pallette, may be in three digits at the most. Now in this digital era, a graphic artist before a colour monitor has mind boggling choice in the range of 16,777,216 colors. Now one becomes curious to know if we can get colours from nature, mostly from flowers so many number of colours and colour combinations. One would prefer to say yes after visiting flower shows, nature loving places, wild forests etc.

Picture by D. Nagarjuna

Many refer white, black and grey also as colours when in reality, they are not so. For decades, we have been learning, unlearning, teaching, debating and discussing colour and more so, when you are a printer or a printing teacher by profession. Let us settle to the fact that black and white are total absorption and reflection of all colours respectively as the case may be. When it comes to flowers, there is no dearth of white ones ranging from lilies to jasmines not to speak of Hibiscus.

Picture by D. Nagarjuna

However, we rarely come across black flowers though black ones among roses are few and far and well known, and many don’t go after them. How about grey flowers? Have you come across them anywhere? Yes, they are there but they are debatable as they are either very close to pure white or pure black or slightly in between but not mathematically 50-50 of black and white. Grey gets its definition as 50-50 black and white, proportionately speaking. Grey is more a perception than a mathematical mixture of pitch black and absolute white. No wonder it is referred as partial absorption and reflection of all spectral colours.

Picture Courtesy – Google

Picture Courtesy – Google

A few pictures posted here just give us the tip of the iceberg in appreciating colours. Colour is a perception and a sensation produced on the eye. Brain in conjunction with eye defines the colour. Colour experts in good olden days were relied upon for correctness in colour printing. When technology took over, it gave rest to the fatigued eye of the human being. It is now scientifically measured, calculated and no ifs and buts and no more dependent on human eye.

Picture by D. Nagarjuna

Our colour measurement is taken over by densitometers, spectrometers and we talk colour with numbers when we describe its density, value, or even purity. If flowers are romantic leave alone aromatic, the credit goes to the colours they carry and there you are  with two sensory organs like eye and nose catching the beauty of the flowers. Colours send messages and signals.

Picture by D. Nagarjuna

They are functional like red traffic signal wants you to stop with green asking you to go and yellow urging you to take a damn decision quickly whether to go or not. We, nevertheless have a new problem with colours if not flowers. That’s in the political world.

Picture by D. Nagarjuna

Wear a saffron shirt and you are dubbed so and so, green with so and so, blue with so and so and so on. People have now become choosy in selecting colours avoiding the plain ones but rather go with designs even if they are flowers and colours in a unisex manner.

Picture Courtesy D. Chamundeswari

A handsome hunk with a flowery coloured shirt and beautiful partner of his in equally matching attire are safer than plain ones so that the onlooker does not read between the lines. When flower is given to a lover, the colour matters a lot. So is the case with bouquets or wreaths and next time watch flowers and colours that go hand in hand. A simple white flag denotes peace and mind you the black one, a mark of protest. Love or hatred also have colours and don’t blame the flowers here.

Elephant in the room

PIcture Courtesy – Google

Whole of April followed by the first week of May this year took the biggest toll all over India and surrounding countries across the pan Asia region in the form of extreme heat faced during this period. Nepal with Himalayas around recorded 40°C. For instance, the temperature in Telangana threatened to cross even 50°C though the twin cities were confined to between 40 and 44°C. Normally, every year I make it a point to escape from Hyderabad and move over to a cooler place for a month or more. This is the fifth time I moved to Kotagiri, a small hill station close to Coonoor and Ooty and this is the first time I realised that we are all heading towards a climate catastrophe for sure. For the first time in 75 years, Kotagiri did not receive rainfall for over two months when in normal times this place is well known for a shower or two at least thrice a week or sometimes even daily. What is the result? Nilgiris, which derives its name as blue mountains, is brownish here and there retaining its blue shades in some places.

The greenery was clearly evident of a wilting appearance for the onlooker, yearning for rain. The hotels which boasted no need for fans had to helplessly provide small table type ones to beat the heat. The positive outcome is that after 4th May it started raining with sudden drop in temperatures prompting us to happily take out our jerkins and hopefully Nilgiris gets back its greenery and the age-old blue colour of its mountains. One could feel the great relief of the foliage attempting to convey its happiness after water, its great companion, joined it. The lush greenery of the Nilgiris is back and visitors all the more excited to meander through the ghat road crisscrossing with bated breath at hair pin bends.

Picture Courtesy – D. Chamundeswari from a moving town bus

Despite all intensified warnings since over a decade followed by COP agreements in Paris and succeeded by the recent ones, it appears we are headed for a climate disaster throwing the blame on El Nino or other effects. The fact remains that we, as human beings, have decided to live for the present and kick the future, come what may. The philosophy of live for the day and don’t bother about tomorrow may sound logical but definitely not in protecting our nature be it greenery, animal kingdom and different forms of biodiversity. We are ignoring the elephant in the room knowing pretty well that one fine day it would trample us with no one to mourn over each other. The end would be so disastrous that no one would be present to preside over the funeral of the other. We are speeding up the process of extinction, not bothered about future generations. We may end up looking for the reasons of disaster rather than taking any steps for prevention of the same. In the name of the green world, we have prefixed ‘e’ for everything tangible in our lives. We have e- papers, e cars, e two wheeler, e watches, and everything e depending on a new problem of e waste in our attempt to reduce or eliminate fossil fuels. The only solace is to go for non conventional energy like solar, wind mills etc but there again we produce a lot of material in the form of solar panels, blades for wind mills etc. Will e wastage outweigh the other conventional wastage we have been producing since ages. The problem of plenty in the form of drought, floods and extreme temperatures will haunt us in the days to come, leave alone months or years. We are heading towards a new form of concrete jungles replacing the natural ones where animals have their habitat. Recently, an elephant killed a tribal not caring about the bonding they have with them as they were their carers and protectors and have a common language to understand each other. Elephants know their surroundings are being usurped and they are not far behind in tit for tat which is not privy for human beings alone.

Since ages the world has been going through athee vrushti or ana vrushti spread over various places in the world and we took them as natural behaviour of nature but after seeing the kind of recent floods in Dubai we cannot ignore this as a natural phenomenon but rather something man made. We need to revive our natural intelligence rather than succumbing to Artificial Intelligence which is also man made.

Finally, we believe that when one door is shut on our face, God would open the other. We worship nature as God and perhaps the latter would also throw up His/Her arms when He/She finds that the ledger of our sins has run out of its pages. Let us therefore reform our lives to protect the lives of our grand and great grandchildren. One still hopes that there is little time left to save ourselves and future generations. Eco-friendly is a joined word that should be our mantra.

Published in The South India Times on 14th May, 2024

Challenges and counter challenges

Pictures Courtesy – Google

Revanth Reddy challenging KCR is nothing short of a big joke. Is he ready to have a debate on one on one basis without any experts by his side.? KCR’s message has reached every household through TV which is considered the most influential platform. RR can also do sufficient homework and then challenge him singularly for a debate as both are good orators, though the fact remains that KCR is a treasure of knowledge when compared to himself. The bottom-line should be to ensure that in the process, people’s welfare is not affected just to make one scoring a point over the other. Secondly, it’s high time these politicians stop playing cheap politics by challenging one over the other with resignation outbursts. Look at Revanth and Harish simply challenging each other when everyone knows that this is merely a drama and that no resignation would indeed materialise, promises ignored or fulfilled. Harish knows very well that neither rythu bandhu nor runa mafi will fructify and Revanth would be the last person to relinquish office having seen past instances. Same with Harish that should these promises are really fulfilled, he would invent something new which will bail him out from resigning. That doesn’t mean that no noise should be made by opposition. In fact, noise from opposition is often result oriented as could be seen the way water was released recently when Harish threatened to get the gates opened by himself and his supporters. That also proved that the government was not sincere at the first instance. Vigilant and strong opposition like BRS is a blessing in disguise for the needy people as government tries to be cautious in not being caught off guard. Responsible role of opposition and responsive approach of the government will be a win win for the people.

Is it not high time to focus on issues once elections are over and people have shown the politicians their respective places so that they concentrate on the work assigned to them.?

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Published in The South India Times on 27th April, 2024

AP ELECTION MUDDLE !

Picture Courtesy – Google

Politics in AP are becoming murkier and murkier. Do we have to blame the political leaders or the people or both.? Look at the stone throwing incident and in AP everything becomes cinematic. Even slow motion, zooming of the stone and then allegation of TDP that there was no role of that piece which injured Jagan’s combination of eye and forehead. With so many layers of security, one wonders how the missile was thrown at him and that too so carefully that it was just a touch and go. Some tend to believe TDP’s version that the wooden frame of the huge garland might have rubbed his face. The fact remains that he was injured, be it a garland or a stone. Why make petty politics over small incident by both the parties. ? Don’t they have better and useful issues to raise instead of playing havoc with the emotions of the gullible voters. Doesn’t decency demand both the parties to ignore this missile incident and concentrate on healthy electoral debates so that they get to improve their respective vote percentage.

Another stone throwing incident of some other leader will throw afresh a new dimension to cheap politics. Why don’t we give benefit of doubt to a genuine and frustrated stone thrower who may be taken to task after investigating the gravity of the situation. At the same time it is agreeable that such incidents have to be taken seriously from the security point of view as one doesn’t know what would have been the intention of the culprit and who is behind him. Just imagine if in place of a stone, some thing more fatal was there and what would have been the consequence. Leaders and CMs may come and go but the security apparatus has to be fool proof and hopefully the Intelligence and Police will coordinate better and avoid recurrence of such incidents. Even if the incident is political and mischievous or even trivial, nothing should be left to brood after the incident takes place.

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Published in The South India Times on 16th April, 2024

Voters’ confusion galore!

In her interview to a leading national daily, Nirmala Sitharaman remained unsparing and answered all the questions, including the inconvenient ones in such a way that even her bitterest critic would be mellowed down. Her deviously intelligent answers are so defensive that it is impossible to corner her by even the best of the journalists. She proves time and again, like her External Affairs colleague Jaishankar, that they both are the most indispensable assets for Modi who might take them back when he makes it to third term. She looked patient to agree with an inconsistency here or there but over all she gave a picture of being firmly seated on the saddle. It is a different story when another economist Parakala Prabhakar who is Nirmala’s husband has an entirely opposite version of India’s economy and without mincing words he is very sure of India’s last days of democracy and economic disaster, should Modi win this time.

If one sees the answers of Modi in his latest interview to Newsweek one gets a feeling that all that is doled out by his critics is not 100% correct. He appears pretty focused and determined to do what needs to be done firmly for the good of the country. It is perhaps this quality, people are unable to see from any of the leaders outside BJP.

Conversely, Dayanidhi Maran’s interview in another national daily gives a clear picture of where we stand in various fronts and the answers are so convincing that any pragmatic and impartial person would be bowled out by the inputs from these contrasting celebrities.

India is going through a clear cut dichotomy among its voters and it is not equal in size. Two segments of voters are clearly divided with certainty but those voters who are sandwiched between the two may tilt the balance unless ab ki bar 400 par becomes a reality. A working majority for any group would be better for India rather than a brute majority so that no one plays havoc precisely because of that. Unfortunately, corruption is unitedly accepted as a dire necessity by all political parties as revealed by electoral bonds fiasco. Needless to say, 2024 would be a turning point in India’s history.

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Pictures – Courtesy Google – Published in The South Indian Times on 11th April 2024