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Congress must help BJP fend off the Karnataka crisis
I’m no admirer of B S Yeddyurappa. But I respect the fact that he’s an elected Chief Minister who cannot be trifled around by moneybags and mining mafias.
There indeed is a factional dimension to the crisis arising out of the Bellary mining syndicate’s rebellion against the Karnataka CM.
Bhartiya Janta Party
If the dissidents’ succeed, they’d inflict on the BJP a defeat it will have problems living down as a national party. A political force that loses power to sub-regional satraps and business interests cannot perhaps be trusted with governance at the Centre. The role and influence of money power in Delhi is more pernicious.
The prognosis for the Yeddyurappa dispensation would have been grimmer had the Congress not kept its distance from the saffron party’s internal mess.
The party knows perhaps that a regime change in Bangalore could make the Reddy brothers to move their arsenal of pelf to Hyderabad. They are ‘thick as thieves’ with the late YSR’s supporters rooting for his son Jagan Mohan installation as CM in the adjoining State.
Indian National Congress
For the Congress, the temptation to join forces with BJP renegades to oust the saffron party’s first government down South could be strong. But the good sense it has shown in keeping aloof, must abide in its own long-term interest. Or else national parties will be at the mercy of moneyed groups and corporate lobbies that in any case have deeply penetrated the system at the Centre and in the States.
The obscenity of it all is evident from the widespread administrative anarchy in Karnataka’s flood-hit areas where elected legislators should have been organizing relief for their electorate. But they have chosen to busy themselves in the power game that couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time for the Central BJP leadership. The party’s grappling with the Karnataka logjam at a time it needs to focus its energy on Jharkhand where the impending polls afford a good chance for ending its drought of electoral victories.
The Congress and the BJP’s relevance require no overstatement in these difficult times. We need stronger national parties to keep the country together. Regional forces sharing power at the Centre also serve the purpose. For its own survival, the political class has to draw a line where the influence of money ends and the country’s interest becomes paramount.
(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...Posted by Vinod Sharma on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Filed under india · Tagged Bellary mining, bjp, Chief Minister, congress, Karnataka CM, national parties, Yeddyurappa
What is this appropriate in a blog talking about Pakistan ?
How is this relevant here ?
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vinod Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Simple dear Sam. The blog’s titled Separted at Birth. So, it’s as much about India as about Pakistan — countries that went their own way after the Partition in 1947.
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Sam Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:08 pm
As per your explanation, you can pretty much write anything about India !!
(i was thinking your articles will be comparing/contrasting India/Pakistan or will be about mutually common issues but different approaches…)
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vinod Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Now stop setting the agenda for me Sam. I’m married and have a wife who does that on a daily basis
Sam Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Wow
so it must be even more easier for you.
Just capture what your wife says and write it in your columns.
or alternatively…
may be your wife should write this column, when you are tired.!!!
I personally feel that BJP deserves this crisis as it has totally lost discipline that it always boasted off. I guess inner party democracy in BJP is taking its toll.
However I’d be happy if our country is ruled by leaders coming out of masses (BJP or communists) rather than get ruled by one family.
I’d choose imperfect democracy over dictatorship anyday.
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Indeed a thoughtful and sensible commentary on the sordid power play in Karnataka. Mr. Sharma has correctly pointed out the pernicious role of money bags and mafias, damaging the cherished democracy in India and its neighbouring countries.
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http://news.rediff.com/column/2009/nov/03/why-talks-with-pak-will-only-end-in-frustration.htm
There are Pakistanis who believe Pakistan started incubating when the first Muslim stepped on the shores of the Indian subcontinent. Muslim encroachments and pillaging expeditions into India and subsequent establishment of Muslim ruling dynasties in India sparked off dreams that the whole of India should rightfully be ruled by Muslims.
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Paritosh Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
why only the pakis?? even the Indian Muslims are no different. the recent news about a senior Muslim representative body in Deoband issuing a fatwa against “Vande Mataram” is clarifying the fact
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I think we are giving over-importance to Vande Matram fatwa. It is very old dispute and this fatwa is nothing but to stress their MUSLIM identity thereby rejecting any links to Hindus or Hindu Paganism.
We must worry about fatwas that sound very similar to taliban ideology such as-
1. TV and Cinema are unislamic and morally wrong.
2. Women should not be allowed to be in mainstream.
These are the things that shoudl worry us.
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vinod Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Dear Paritosh and Rajeev,
Let us for a change discuss the future of national parties in India with specific reference to the events in Karnataka and the demand for Jagan Mohan’s elevation in Hyderabad. The mining syndicate gunning for Yeddeyurappa also supports Jagan Mohan.
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Dear Vinod,
We all know about Reddys because they are megalomania. But there are many mining barons in Karnataka who are bigger than Reddys but keep a low profile. And these people are distributed across all the parties including COngress and JDS(Deve Gowda party). So which ever party we chose in Karnataka there is no escaping the mining barons.
Infact last time all other mining barons got together and wanted to defeat the Reddy’s MP candidate Shanta and outspent the Reddys when it came to money. There were numerous reports that said folks were paid as much as 5,000 rs per head to vote against the Reddys. In a by-election the BJP candidate V.Somanna was better candidate than this real estate rival Krishna who has an declared asset of 700 crores. But Somanna lost the election.
I am afraid we in Karnataka have to accept the fact that Mining and the real estate barons are here to stay in Politics.
The points is all parties have crooks and one cant really expect them to act against them.
Thanks,
Yash.
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vinod Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Dear Yash,
Yes, all parties have crooks and hardened criminals. But somebody has to stand up to check their growing clout. Even in adjoining Andhra, the likes of Reddys are playing havoc and want a CM oif their choice at any cost.
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Dear Vinod Sharma saheb
You have aptly defended and justified writing about the current political crisis in a BJP governed state in the country as much as writing about the turmoil prevailing in Pakistan, as both the countries got separated at birth. You have a point and we look forward to your taking up the analysis of political situation as well as challenges which our country faces.
I believe Congress party and JD(S) are both seemingly helping indirectly the BJP by not wooing the Reddy brothers so as to form their govts. There is no doubt that the agenda of mine mafia in Karnatka is very apparent and both the oppsotion parties may be wary of falling in uncertain muddy pool of mine mafia rather than be desiring to help BJP. May be Mr. Yeduyaruppa is not convenient CM for the Reddy brothers to further their interests. They are thus asking for his ouster as well as some of his trusted colleagues. By the way, this factional fight amongst political party is noty a new phenomenon in our country. It was not long back that Mrs. Bhattal had led the majority of Punjab MLAs to Delhi for Captain Amrinder Singh to be removed as CM. But the high command had a final say and the Captain continued to be the CM of the state. So what is wrong if BJP high command as well brings up a consensus solution to this factional fight? And again by the way,what is happening in Maharashtra after the recent assembly elections? Is n’t is a mockery of poll results that even after fifteen days of the declaration of results, there has been no govt. in Maharashtra. Do you not think there are important public issues waiting to be resolved as well in the state ?The current CM is only a care taker and he can not take major decisions. The recent Tamasha in Andhra Pradesh by Congress MLAs after YSR’s tragic death is still very fresh in every one’s mind. The political culture of all the political parties is the same. Hope only our media realises it soon and instead of conventionally bashing BJP for any factional fight in the party, they have a practical view of total political scenario prevailing in the country. Your blog on this topic was , indeed, very well timed. Wish you could have talked about Maharashtra as well.
Regards
Yours Sincerely
(Dr.) B.N.Anand
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vinod Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Dear Dr Anand
I have a take on Maharashtra as well. But making one point at a time is always good. Karnataka is more important because money bags there want to manipulate the popular verdict. Maharashtra was a fight over ministries—- a usual but unacceptable phenomenon in coalition politics.
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Dear Vinod,
But where to start ?
The first criteria for todays politics is how much money one has and how much he can spend. One can see the profile of the candidates standing for elections and their declared income itself will run into several hundred of crores. That sends a strong message to others who want to enter politics as to what they need to have in the first place.
Moreover the ministers spending 1.25 lakhs for one day accomodation is so dis hearterning. The amont of wealth that they will be having. So how on earth can the Indian society which has a chalta hain attitude supposed to stand up against it ?
Thanks,
Yash.
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vinod Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Dear Yash,
What do you think the Naxal movement is all about. I’m not supporting their violent ways, but there cannot be two opinions that they have been driven out of the system that serves only the rich and the powerful. The Karnataka CM could not tackle the mining mafia but the naxals (Maoists) are by making mineral rich areas inaccessible to the State apparatus.
We have to deal with their violent ways firmly. But at the same time, we have to take a hard look at what their are protesting against? That’s the beginning the civil society should pursue to a peaceful second stage. We must ensure the public hearings and environmental laws (governing mining leases) are faithfully implemented.
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