Delhi Verdict
By Insaf
It’s D-Day today. Counting of votes begins for Delhi Assembly election. The million-dollar question is whether AAP will secure a third consecutive term in power or will the BJP’s 27-year wait to rule the capital finally comes to an end? While it has been a high-powered campaign by all three major parties, AAP, BJP and Congress, with freebies flying all across, citizens view it largely as a two-corned contest, with Congress apparently giving the message of being B-team of BJP, lashing out at its INDIA bloc ally the AAP, and in turn cutting into its votes, giving advantage to the BJP. Forty-eight hours before the results start pouring in AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and team have come out with fresh accusations against the BJP. They accuse it of attempting to poach on their candidates! In a post on X, Kejriwal claimed: “Some agencies are showing that the abusive party (BJP) is getting more than 55 seats. In the last two hours, 16 of our candidates have received calls that if they leave the AAP and join their party, they will be made ministers and given Rs 15 crore each.” Plus asserting “if they are indeed winning over 55 seats, why are they calling up our candidates? These fake surveys are a conspiracy to create an atmosphere to break AAP candidates. But not a single one of them will switch sides.”
Similar allegations have thrown up by AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh saying it clearly ‘shows that BJP has accepted its defeat even before the results and is now resorting to such tactics.’ On its part, BJP has trashed these saying it is clear ‘signs of AAP’s frustration’ over an impending electoral defeat. It demanded: ‘AAP must either retract their allegations and tender an apology or face legal action.’ Singh, however, sticks to his claim and has advised party candidates ‘to record such calls and use spy cameras to document what transpires in any face-to-face meeting regarding poaching attempts.’ Chief Minister Atishi has also weighed in on the issue: the exit polls predicting a BJP victory are a “conspiracy” aimed at demoralising AAP candidates. Predictably, not just the candidates but AAP as a party shall be demoralised as Delhi is its main fiefdom and if it loses, then its existence is in peril, leaving Punjab as its only bastion. In the end, the outcome is critical for Delhi, nation’s capital and its citizens who aspire for good governance and not a perennial pow-wow with the Centre.
Handcuffed Indians
Not only is a bleak future staring the illegal Indian migrants deported from the US, but the horrific treatment meted out to them will sadly remain etched. The latter reverberating in Parliament, with Opposition vociferously protesting the way 104 of these immigrants, mostly from Punjab, Gujarat and Haryana, landed in Amritsar on Wednesday last in a US military plane. Members protested while wearing handcuffs in the premises, accused Prime Minister Modi of allowing “Indians being chained like terrorists” and demanded they ‘deserve dignity and humanity and not handcuffs.’ A deportee was quoted: “For 40 hours we were handcuffed, our feet tied with chains, weren’t allowed to move from our seats. After repeated requests we were allowed to drag ourselves to the washroom…” Shocking, to say the least. But in Rajya Sabha on Thursday Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar making a statement asserted deportation process has been ongoing for several years and as many as 15,668 illegal Indian immigrants were deported by US since 2009. The deportations, said he are organised and executed by ICE authorities and “standard operating procedure for deportations by aircraft used since 2012, provides for use of restraints…We are informed that women/children aren’t restrained…. needs of deportees during transit related to food and other necessities, including possible medical emergencies are attended to.” The INDIA bloc in the Upper House wasn’t convinced. The bottom line being: Why is the US being defended and not interests of the Indians? An issue which the government can’t wish away.
Mahayuti Churnings
All is not good in Maharashtra’s Mahayuti government. Shiv Sena President and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is apparently sulking, giving BJP’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reason to worry, two months after government formation. The discordant note being struck by Shinde was by skipping a “war room” meeting held on Monday last by Fadnavis to discuss important schemes/projects related to various departments, including Health, Housing, and Water Supply and Sanitation held by the Sena ministers. This, as Shinde is apparently peeved over appointment of guardian ministers for Nashik and Raigad districts, among 36 districts announced last month. While one was from Ajit Pawar’s NCP and the other from BJP, two of his ministers staked claim, leading to Fadnavis having to stay the posts, leading to tension in the collation. Last week, Shinde had skipped the Cabinet meeting, as he was upset that despite returning from WEF at Davos over 10 days ago, Fadnavis hadn’t tried to resolve the issue. BJP is peeved over Shinde not reining his ministers and that he continues to bargain hard. Guess, he must extract his pound of flesh as his role in government formation can’t be wished away!
Gujarat on UCC Path
Uttarakhand comes to the aid of Gujarat. It’s given impetus to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to finally announce a 5-member panel under retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai to prepare a Uniform Civil Code. But after a 2-year gap after BJP government announced in 2022 it would introduce it. On Tuesday last, Patel said the panel would “assess the need” for UCC, prepare a draft law and submit its report within 45 days. The timing coincides with Delhi elections and local body polls less than a fortnight away in the state, but government is said to have been testing waters, as unlike Uttarakhand, Gujarat has a good number of Muslims 9% and tribals, 14% of population, wary of UCC trampling over their personal laws and customs. Given sensitivity, ruling BJP chose to tread carefully until confident. However, will it exempt tribals from UCC, and if so, what about other communities? While The Opposition sees the announcement as means to divert attention on BJP’s internal fighting and government’s non-performance, it may not be so. The choice of Justice Desai heading the committee shows a keen intent for state to deliver. She had headed the Gujarat panel and thus much of the work has been ‘done theoretically.’ Remember, well begun is half done!
Karnataka BJP Row
The infighting in BJP camp in Karnataka may offer solace to ruling Congress, which is battling a similar war within amongst its top brass. The BJP organisational polls are on the cards and there’s a big tug of war. State BJP President Vijayendra, son of former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa wants to continue, but MLA B Yatnal Patil is seeking a change in leadership and has been camping in Delhi for past few days to meet the top brass. More so, as Vijayendra camp is scheduled to meet in Bengaluru on Wednesday to discuss possible polls for state party hot seat. While Yatnal faction claims there shall be good news; former state minister Sriramulu is a contender to succeed Vijayendra. But Vijayendra camp is adamant for no change. Says it if he is asked to step down, ‘BJP won’t get even 10 seats in the State’! While BJP headquarters in Delhi would want to have a consensus, elections for the kursi is not being ruled out. The party, however, must remember a stitch in time saves nine! — INFA