MARCH

Point
Out
Deccan Point
Deccan
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Vijay Grover
Playing with Fire?
For those who have followed the
career of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
J Jayalalithaa, the complete U-turn
in her approach to Eelam cause and the
LTTE-led separatist movement comes as a
surprise. The speed with which she ordered
the release of the seven killers of Rajiv
Gandhi clearly showed the desperation in
her moves to wipe out political adversaries
in the state. Most people in Tamil Nadu
saw her as a politician who had kept the
LTTE sympathizers in control and was
acceptable as a progressive leader who
was willing to go beyond a chauvinistic
approach keeping the motto ‘India First’.
But as 2014 general elections inched
closer the changing stance of Jaya looks
like a clear move to dislodge support that
Karunanidhi , Vaiko and others have from
the vote-bank of the separatists. Jaya’s
stance came as a surprise, amidst her
bid for prime ministerial candidate of the
Karnataka
government doing an AAP!
M
oving
quickly on bringing further transparency in governance ,
Siddharamaiah government move to introduce the empowered lokayukta
bill on the lines of the UPA proposed Lokpal Bill in Karnataka stumped
many political observers. While opposition BJP , caught unawares on the issue
opposed move of state government to bring in a panel assisted and a stronger
Lokayukta vested with powers to prosecute , MLA’s , ministers and even the Chief
Minister. The state is all set to become the first to replace the present lokayukta
system in force. “We have drafted our bill on the lines of Lokpal, and our law may
even have some new features that the Lokpal does not have” said T B Jayachandra.
The incumbent Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rrushed to the Rajbhavan opposing the
move to change the present system and more importantly his own chair. The move
of the state government clearly did not go down well with him. The move however
started a flurry of activity in Loayukta’s office with over 50 raids in the following
week on corrupt bureaucrats to show that the present system was doing well. While
the bill will have to wait till the general elections are over, but Siddharamaiah is
making his intentions clear – he is a no nonsense Chief Minister.
11-member fledgling third front being
cobbled up by various regional players.
Was it a right move to champion cause
of Rajiv’s killers or is it a blunder that will
cost Jaya dear if ever she wants to fulfill her
dream of becoming a Prime Minister.
For her party, the move looks like an
opportunity that will give Jaya’s AIADMK
a chance to sweep the polls in the state.
Poll pundits predict that Jayalalithaa can
now romp home comfortably with 35
Modi eyes
Seemandhra at Telengana’s cost
N
arendra
Modi’s methods of reversing party policies followed for
years has put the BJP state unit in Andhra Pradesh in a spot. Close
after the reversal of the BJP FDI policy by Modi in Delhi , it’s
the party line on Andhra Affairs which is seeing Modi-fication. BJP,
was the first national party to ally with the TRS chief KCR supporting
Telengana during the NDA regime. The move helped the BJP make
inroads in Telangana region of state over the years. But what came as a
shocker for state BJP unit was diktat from Narendra Modi, who wants
state unit to tie up with TDP, a move the state unit feels will impact
party performance in Telangana region where it wanted to contest all
119 seats on its own. Having been a supporter of Telangana for over a
decade the state unit was looking at reaping its benefits, but Modi diktat
on TDP tie up may set the party behind.
Unfortunately for the state unit , Modi is eyeing the Seemandhra
region by raking up the issue of deceit by Congress on every platform
and making an effort to capitalize on the anti-Congress sentiment , the
Telangana region where party is stronger is upset but has no option but
to toe Modi line and work with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu.
seats enough to strengthen her bid. But to
allies in the fledgling third front challenge
is now to project and accept a prime
ministerial candidate who instead of
showing national fervor takes a dangerous
stance of siding with the killers of a former
prime minister.
LDF hopes to get
even with UDF
In the politically hyperactive state of
Kerala, it’s a pitched battle already not on
the streets but within the UDF allies and
the LDF allies itself over seat adjustments .
The 12-member third front, has enthused
the Left Front which got a drubbing in
the last polls with allies seeking more
seats. LDF which managed to get 4of the
20 Kerala parliamentary seats is looking
at riding the anti-Congress sentiment
in the country. While combinations of
both the fronts are a little too complex for
most within and outside the state , but the
migratory season has started with smaller
players bargaining and hoping to get a
seat extra if possible. Even the JDS which
has a marginal presence is believed to be
negotiating for a few seats from CPIM.
But away from the confusion of the
two fronts , the BJP was the first one
to announce its candidates and start
campaign. Former union minister O
Rajgopal will contest from Trivandrum , a
seat represented by Shashi Tharoor.
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MARCH 2014