India Votes
By Prof. (Dr.) D.K. Giri
(Secretary General, Assn for Democratic Socialism)
The biggest democratic exercise in the world kicked off yesterday. Of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, 102 went to the polls in the first phase across 21 states and UTs. While the Election Commission was reeling out polling percentages, as 40% odd around 1 p.m. across the board, it would be upset with its tally by the end of the day, given chunks of voters chose to boycott instead. In six districts and 20 Assembly segments of 60 in eastern Nagaland not a single vote had been cast. This is in response to call by Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) asking for a complete shutdown for the solitary Lok Sabha seat given the Center’s failure to keep its promise of creating Frontier Nagaland Territory. Apparently, state CEO show-caused the ENPO asking why action shouldn’t be taken against it for interfering or attempting to interfere with free exercise of any electoral right and thereby committing undue influence. Pat came the reply: “shut down was voluntary initiative by people” and call was given for maintaining law and order situation! In down south Tamil Nadu, the story is similar. In nine places, the voters did not go to polling stations either as a protest against a greenfield airport coming up, or for a railway bridge not being built, or non-resolution of their long-pending demands for basic facilities. However, no action can be taken against the voter. The blame lies elsewhere. The voters make their point, and it must be corrected.
Rajputs To Boycott BJP
Should the BJP be worried on western UP front? At a ‘mahapanchayat’, on Tuesday last, Rajputs decided to boycott the saffron party candidates in Muzaffarnagar, Kairana and Saharanpur Lok Sabha constituencies. Their grudge is that the community has been neglected in the distribution of party tickets. And thus, in these areas, the community will not vote for BJP candidates, ‘but will opt for another strong candidate from other parties.’ Interestingly, while the boycott is for BJP candidates, the Rajputs said it wouldn’t apply to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who ‘was their voice, but wasn’t being heard by central BJP leadership’! Intriguing indeed for the voter as in UP, it’s not Prime Minister Modi alone which holds sway, but Yogi too, who has come to be seen as a good administrator. The region has helped BJP per se win majority of seats in the past due to a consolidated Hindu vote. But now the big question is whether the ‘mahapanchayat’ decision ‘will become the reason for BJP’s downfall in Western UP,’ as claimed.
TN in Focus
Tamil Nadu this time round has surprised many an election watcher. Campaigning in the state had been hitting national headlines. This, given the fact that BJP has kept a sharp focus on the south and longs to make inroads. And that’s why this election is seeing a three-cornered contest: the ruling DMK-led alliance which includes Congress, two Communist parties and Muslim League; BJP and opposition AIADMK, which parted company from NDA. While the DMK and team is confident that it shall rule the roost, the margin victories may not be as easy as was in 2019 and that it is facing an inti-incumbency factor. For the BJP, state president K Annamalai has kept the party’s presence in the state, but it is star campaigner Modi and his popularity which the party is banking upon, given his repeated campaign visits in past year, especially the past couple of months. BJP, which has raised the stakes seeks to change the arithmetic, by relegating AIADMK to the third spot, managing the second for itself. Recall, the state has in the past voted one-sided: in 2019 of 39 seats, DMK-Congress got 38 and in 2014, AIADMK got 37. Will BJP be a new entrant in Dravidian politics?
Chhattisgarh ‘Surgical Strike’
Naxalism will see an end in five years in Chhattisgarh if BJP comes to power, were words of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking votes during last November’s Assembly polls. He is determined as on Tuesday last, the BJP-ruled state witnessed the biggest encounter in the state’s history of fighting Left Wing Extremism, with 29 Maoists killed in Kanker district and 3 security personnel injured in a joint operation of BSF and state police’s District Reserve Guard. It’s being said senior cadres of outlawed CPI-Maoist Shankar, Lalita, Raju and others, may have died in the operation launched and a huge cache of weapons, including AK-47, SLR, Insas and .303 rifles, were recovered. Since 2024, 79 Maoists have been killed in their stronghold of Bastar region, which goes to polls yesterday. Polling in Kanker district will be held on April 26. Hailing it as a ‘surgical strike’, Deputy CM and state home minister Sharma reached out to the Maoists saying ‘We want talks…whether they do it in a group or through representatives. Bastar needs peace. We are committed to this.’ Will his offer be taken up after this encounter?
States Laxity On Mob Lynching
State governments must pull up their socks. With most not filing their affidavits in a writ petition filed in July last regarding action they have taken in incidents of mob lynching and cow vigilantism against the Muslim community, the Supreme Court has issued a deadline of six weeks and shall take up the case after summer break. The petition was filed by National Federation of Indian Women seeking directions to States to take immediate steps viz the top court’s verdict of 2018 to effectively deal with such cases. Notices were issued to the Centre and DGPs of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Orissa, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana. While the latter two states filed their reply, the petitioner pointed out that in MP there was an incident of alleged mob-lynching, but the FIR was for cow slaughter against victims and likewise in Haryana FIR was registered for transporting beef but not mob lynching. All incidents, not selective, must be reported as states have principal obligation to ensure vigilantism, be it cow vigilantism or any other vigilantism of any perception, doesn’t take place, had said the court. It issued guidelines for authorities to deal with such incidents, but so far it’s been in vain!
Relief For Dog Lovers
Dog lovers will be relieved but must be watchful. The Centre’s notification banning sale and breeding of 23 breeds of ferocious dogs, including American Bulldog and Pit-bull Terriers has been a no-go in two courts. Karnataka High Court quashed it with no such power available under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 or Animal Birth Control Rules, New Delhi had no such authority. A week later, petitions challenging the directive in Delhi High Court were disposed, after Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying admitted it was put out without consulting or inviting objections and suggestions from private entity or stakeholders. Agreeing it wasn’t possible to give an oral hearing to every dog owner, the Centre was directed to issue “a public notice on its official website and one national daily inviting objections to the proposed draft notification/amendment to the rules.” These, it said, shall be considered before finalising fresh notification. The Dept must listen lest it finds itself in the doghouse! — INFA