President Pranab Mukherjee-‘Not the best PM which India never had but the best President that India would have’ !

The trepidation is finished. UPA did not only announced their candidate but decided the 13^th President of India. Pranab Mukherjee looks certain to become the President. After more than 4 decades of political career . This would be his last station. Some days ago, when I wrote in one ofmypiece that ‘Why APJ Abdul Kalam should not become the next President’ I received many comments, some on twitter in fact termed me as I am joking and totally un-precise. But the fact of my outlook was why to repeat a President? The UPA coalition lacks the votes to ensure victory, but Mulayam Singh Yadav of the SP and Mayawati of the BSP have both offered to back him. The country is happy that they have ensured their support. This will give Mukherjee victory even if Mamata Banerjee splits from the UPA coalition. Like many political pundits I believe she is wrong not only on Bengali factor but if we see Mr. Mukherjee, he is definitely accepted by everyone. Many term him as Bhisma-Pita-Maa of Indian Politics which is precise.

 Nevertheless the political entwine and turns preceding week were so tortuous that they miserably uncovered the flaws of the UPA and certainly damaged its integrity. Thanks to our dear TV News Channels which throughout telecast live coverage from outside houses of important players in this drama and with live discussions from their studios with political commentators and experts.   Someone thinking that a presidential victory will make the UPA stronger or improved positioned to pursue sturdy policies looks a fruitless optimist.Neither it will bring their credibility that has gone from last week’s drama. Last week’s plotting make it cynical whether the government will last its full term till May 2014. Other parties will perhaps force an early election in 2013. The 'tamasha' which saw last week was understood as an initial plot for that factor. When on Thursday, Mulayam and Mamata joined hands to reject Mukherjee as a presidential candidate, and instead suggested three other candidates.Thier press conference at Mulayam bungalow was seen as a slap on Mrs. Gandhi’s face. But folks, you cannot underestimate a member from the Nehru-Gandhi Pariwar who has led this country from very beginning. This seemed to change all political equations. But the marriage of convenience lasted just one day. As expected Mulayam switched sides and formally backed the Congress candidate, Mukherjee. Well in spite of any reason (CBI cases against Mulayam) as political pundits suggests there is not even a person who can articulate that Pranab is not a good choice for President.

The authentic lesson of the episode(one of the most interesting which I have even seen in my life) was not that Mulayam was one with the Congress, but that he would gully or prop up as he contentedly, without regret. He would love to become Prime Minister, but time is running out for him since he is already 73 years old. If this is not the truth he would have never left the Chief Minister post of UP for his son. His top and maybe only chance will come after the next general election.As many polls have suggested that the air is of Mulayam and he may get even three times more he got in the last general elections. Therefore he may lead the third front. This could well see both the Congress and BJP is losing ground, opening the way for a national coalition government led by regional parties. Which would have not only the partners of UPA and NDA but also parties which are not supporting the two alliances. If the SP can photocopy its assembly avalanche in a general election, it could win 60 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh, making it by far the biggest regional party in Parliament.That would be an outstanding launching pad for Mulayam to bid for prime ministership. And this phenomenon seems true very soon as we can expect general elections early next year. Bear in mind, instantaneously after the March state election in Uttar Pradesh, when the SP won 224 seats against the Congress tally of just 28, there was chat of Mulayam trying to vigor an immediate general election to take advantage-in of the electorate’s anti-Congress disposition in the minds of the populace. A senior political pundit articulated that Mulayam Yadav and Mamata Banerjee had a general interest in an early parliamentary election: both could ride the thrust that had taken them to colossal victories in their respective state elections. If they waited till the general election fell due in 2014, that thrust would be lost, and may by then be replaced by anti-incumbency sentiment, to their grave difficulty. Why not strike while the iron was hot?Why not to have another point when you are advantage-in, in a tie break of a tennis match? Yes folks this is definitely a tie-break situation as it is now or never for Mulayam. Yet, the SP speedily ruled out an immediate general election. Ramgopal Yadav who not only announced support for Pranab also ruled out from early general elections. Its cadres and coffers were both exhausted after a long election campaign in UP, and the party needed time to restructure its energies and cash deposits. Till then, it was willing to support the UPA as and when the cost-deposits ratio looked good. The Congress flatter Mulayam obstinate, and as a gesticulation allowed Dimple Yadav, Mulayam’s daughter-in-law, to win the Kannauj byelection uncontested. The last time she was defeated from Congress candidate only. This temporarily brought the two nearer. But it will not douse Mulayam’s prime ministerial ambitions for long. Every politician's desire to become PM whether is Mulayam or Modi or Mr. Gandhi Or Advani or Nitish etc. Moreover, Mayawati’s BSP has become a marginal partner in the Congress coalition government in Uttarakhand. Yet, the BSP there has just three seats and one minister. This is too slim a basis for a sturdy squashed. The Congress and BSP are rivals in wooing the Dalit and Muslim vote, and so are not natural allies. The Congress will happily do deals with both the SP and BSP, but sees the SP as a better match. What about Mamata’s aspirations? Since 2009, her 20 Lok Sabha seats have been crucial for giving the UPA a hairline majority in the Lok Sabha. This has facilitated the lady to blackmail the government at will. She scotched the Teesta water agreement with Bangladesh, forced the government to back down on foreign direct investment in multibrand retail, forced the government to change the railway minister and railway budget, and stalled land acquisition legislation. This is bizarre Congress should definitely search for her replacement as she has time and tide she has given the message that she has the power to stop anything in spite of only hairline support. The tamasha to remove Dinesh Trivedi was a bizarre instance indeed in Indian polity. Her truculence suggests she is ready to split away. She may think she will gain by distancing herself from the Congress and its corruption-tainted image. She believes that in a fresh election, without Congress support, she will raise her Lok Sabha tally from 20 to 30 or more. By the end of this year, both Mamata and Mulayam may decide the time is ripened to ditch Congress and force a general election. Preceding week, marriage against Congress on the presidential issue, but only for 24 hours. Now Mamta is trying again to gain support for Kalam through Facebook. Let see when would Mamta and Mulayam will unfriend Congress for their desires. Lastly, I believe next time, they may join hands long enough to tumble the government and force an election.

Times change, people change. In current times, the post of President is vital so a man like Pranab Muherjee is the best person. Mr. Mukherjee has been singularly lucky in his long political career. The most famous sentence of Pranab is that ‘ he is the best PM which India never had’ but now we hope that would be replaced by ‘The best President which India had’ !

Prateek Pathak
Student
B.A in Media Studies
University of Allahabad

35 lacks of two toilets for commission who do planning for the country i.e. “ Planning commission “ - simply bizarre !

“Country is witnessing bad times on front of economy”

That is not my articulation but not only PM Manmohan Singh, FM Pranab Muherjee but time to time Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Alluwalia has also articulated. The recent news after an RTI was shocking for the populace of this nation. Not only in times when we are observing bad economic condition but in normal times too its bizarre that for two toilet renovation at the ‘Yojna Bhawan’ Planning Commission spent more than 35 lacks. It's merely heartbreaking for the country where much population doesn’t even have simple toilets for daily use.

And when the media questioned Alluwalia he simply answered that it is under our budget and it was necessary since it would be used not only by officials of planning commission but also ministers and media representative. How bizarre it can be even more? India is the largest democracy and people choose the ministers and they are not god that the people of this country don’t even posses basic necessity like food and ministers and officials of the planning commission will use toilet worth 35 lacks.

35 lacks is not an ordinary amount. A time when the rupee is going down in term of dollar in 35 lacks a two bedroom flat in the capital region is worth rupees 35 lacks. Commoners of this country in spite of lots of effort andlaborare unable to earn 35 lacks in their whole lives. This incident shows how a commission which tells the number of poor in the country is working for the welfare.

This is the same commission which few months ago defined that if a person spends 28 rupees a day is not a poor. This is a commission which we time to time credit for making good policies for the development of the country. This is the commission which has a problem is spending money for the policies of the poor but not giving relaxation to corporate houses. Using ‘door control system’ so that toilets can only be used by the 60 officials of the commission had the identical thinking i.e. Corporate ideology.

After this incident we can utter about Montek Singh Alluwalia that he is a man who made policies for the poor of this country sitting in an air conditioned room. Last year he was credited to use 2 lacks daily for his foreign visit. After this the depiction which we sees is certainly who makes fun of the populace.

Alluwalia can give hundreds of reasons but to use the money of the taxpayers of this country like this is simply bizarre. Therefore when Nidhi Razdan anchor of Left, Right and Center on NDTV questions that if we need ‘Planning Commision’ she is precise in that.

Jai ho India !

Jai ho Planning Commission Ki !

Prateek Pathak
Student
B.A in Media Studies
University of Allahabad 

Sonia Gandhi and Nitin Gadkari are modern dictators ? (An open letter to all the Indians…..)

We are proudly the citizens of the biggest democracy of this globe. But certainly we feel ashamed when our parliamentarians in parliament which is the temple of this democracy torn books and ruckus appears at many occasions. Yet we feel proud that we have democratic system where we have Congress and BJP the two largest parties in this nation.

The last few weeks were awful as these two parties demonstrated how within these parties there is no democracy. As we are aware of the fact Congress is run by ‘Nehru-Gandhi Pariwar’. At many occasions congressmen utter that we have democracy in our party and everything is performed through that system. But yesterday after the ‘Working Committee Meeting’ of the Congress, Pranab DA himself announced that the candidate for the President & the Vice President post would be selected by Mrs. Gandhi. What is new in that Dada? We all know that whether it is the Chief Minister (Bahuguna in Uttrakhand) or the central or state Ministers the decision is made only by Mrs. Gandhi. Therefore how Congress says that it has democracy within the party? Isn’t Sonia Gandhi a modern dictator?

 

“Congress and BJP both have autocratic system, one is controlled by ‘Gandhi Pariwar’ so the other by ‘Sangh Pariwar’.”

         

Now let's switch to the other biggest party i.e. The BJP. Time to time BJP attacks Congress that within the Congress there is no democracy. I wholly agree to this articulation as I explained to in the above paras. But BJP is also controlled by the ‘Sangh Pariwar’. The President of the BJP, Natin Gadkari we all know got the post because of good relation with Mohan Bhagwat. Yesterday he was touching feet of Baba Ramdev. The top leader of BJP, Mr. Advani few days ago wrote in his blog that he is depressed from the Sangh interference. (We all know he is not happy about giving Gadkari a second term) When BJP also has a dictator by the name Gadkari who takes decision himself whether the top leaders like Modi or Advani are happy or not how can BJP attacks Congress on grounds of democracy within the party?

We Indians are certainly depressed that in this biggest democracy the two pillars i.e. The leading party and opposition party both have modern tyrant. Neither the Congress nor the BJP has guts to lead us. And strangely we don’t have the third option.

 

Jai ho Indian Politics ki!!!    

Prateek Pathak

Student

B.A in Media Studies

University of Allahabad