‘MAYA’POLITICS in Uttarpradesh

A day after Rahul initiated official campaign in uttar Pradesh targeting Mayawati in all his political style Mayawati slapped Congress political strategy by passing a resolution to create 4 states in uttar Pradesh leaving national parties, congress and BJP in shock.

Mayawati yesterday held a historical meeting with her party officials and declared that the BSP party is decided to pass a resolution to create 4 states in up and submit it to the central government.

Mayawati’s decision receiving applause from those who believe smaller states provide much better governance at the same time it also kept the BJP in dilemma even though it has created three states in the year 2000. Bharatia janata Party which virtually carries the small statehood concept and portrayed it as USP of the party in several occasions now calling Mayawati’s move as political as the elections are reaching close by.

This also created a huge trouble for congress party which promised Telangana a separate statehood with respect to the people’s passionate demand. Considering the current political situation in the country congress has no choice but to accept the peoples demand to crate 4 separate states and as Mayawati made her decision to lose her Chief Minister ship to the world’s sixth largest administrative body Uttar Pradesh. 

The demand to split Uttar Pradesh is not new to any political party and each party is well aware of the fact that UP is a tough state when it comes to governance but they are skeptical about the credit which goes to Mayawati who literally took the initiative to split the state. The congress central government and the lead opposition BJP are the only parties who influence the decision to divide the state as the division of the state is under central governments control.

In a state like Uttar Pradesh which is complex with several inequalities and differences in economical social and geographical aspects needs a division for better governance but what is the basis for division of state??  The initial congress governments created 14 states and then the BJP lead NDA alliance created 3 states but the basis for the division was always different.

The division of a state is a pure political decision but the undeniable fact but the every time the motive to divide the state was different. It was language base initially then governance and then its people passion. There was no government which opposed the creation of any separate state but they were cautious about the timing and the political beneficiaries. Even the states re organization committee lead by finance ministry have no particular formula but to follow the populist opinion.   

But this time Mayawati deciding to divide Uttarpradesh just before the elections is drawing attentions towards her motive to play national wide role because Mayawati will only be able govern in central Up where she has a strong hold on all communal and economical equations and in places like bundle khand there are regional elements which are already on strong hold. The interesting point in her political move is she is now concentrating to gather other communities into her political lap and she cleared it by giving 114 assembly seats to Brahmin candidates.

Mayawati has always expressed her concern to develop the Bundelkhand and Purvanchal regions and also spent 80000 crores for the development programs. The proposed uttar Pradesh division allows creating four different states Paschim Pradesh (22), awadh Pradesh(14), Bundel khand(7), Purvanchal(32) .

The separate state formula seems to be helpful for Bundelkhand and Purvanchal which are back warded in economical and social point of view and strengthens the generation next by creating several government jobs but ultimately it all depends on the governing parties.

It is interesting to see how congress high command deals with this division because when congress party decide to demerge the Telangana state which existed independently for 8 long years they asked the state assembly to pass a resolution and then they kept the issue in pending for two years from now but here the BSP lead Up assembly likely to pass the resolution first and then put the ball in centrals court.

It is very clear that congress party is depressed with mayawati’s move and they cannot take a decision to form a state without forming separate state Telangana.

The coming election campaign indirectly started after the Bhattapaursol till now dealt with farmers cast and governance issue but with Mayawati’s move now the political equation will completely change.

The elections will only decide how congress and BJP use their political genius but right now Mayawati is in lead and it is an undeniable fact. She addressed the crucial issue of governance and social inequalities in her own way by placing the statehood in front and she also put forward her interest to play a nationwide roll.

THE FASTING BRIGADE

BHARAT IN RAMAYAN 

Hunger strikes are quite familiar to the world. This has been a best practice by national leaders and social activists to protest against their governments. Hunger strikes have roots in ancient Hindu mythology from Ramayana. Bharat went on a fast to get Sri Ram back to Ajodhya. Fasting had shown greatest impact several times in Indian freedom struggle. Gandhi used it several times to put pressures on the British government. In 1924 Gandhi went on fast considering the penance of the Hindu Muslim violence continued for 21 days.

After independence the same trend was adopted in south India by Sri Potti Sriramulu against the congress government fast on 19 October 1952 at Chennai to form a separate Telugu speaking state. Sriramulu continued his fast until he died on 15 December 1952. 

 This lead to the formation of language based states in India. The same scenario repeated in 20089 by telangana rastra samiti head Chandrasekhar rao to form a separate state of telangana. He went on fast for 11 days and the government agreed to form a separate state of telangana but the    formation is still pending at central and state levels and is pending at consultations.

Thileepan on 15 September 1987 at 9.30 a.m at the Nallur Murugan Temple, Thileepan began his fast. His main objective was to bring awareness and action to a list of public demands made by himself and the Tamil Tigers, considered to be a terrorist group.

IROM SHARMILA

In the northeast part of India Irom sharmila The 'Iron Lady of Manipur' has been on hunger strike from November 2000 demanding the Indian government to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Swami Nigamanand went on a fast unto death to protest against illegal mining on the bank of the Ganga in Haridwar. He started his fast on February 19 from Haridwar.and died after 115 days of continuous fast. His cause and hunger strike was quite and far from the 24/7 media. 

ANNA HAZARE

Anna Hazare fasted for about 12 days against corruption in forest management in Maharashtra which put pressures on the government to take action against 42 officers.

Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev's recent fasts are well known to all Indians as they have got prime time media attention at all levels. It’s been 12 days Mr. Hazare fasting for janlokapal.

There has been a humongous criticism over hunger strikes, some say its arrogance and some say it is blackmailing tactics but many times this method convinced or compromised the governments to give assurances and many times issues which have seen hunger strikes are still on their way for solutions.

KERALA POLLS- POLITICAL CARNIVALS IN KERALA

Just four days before the election the Kerala voters are witnessing a bunch of national leaders from various parties, Prime Minister Manmohan, Rahul Gandhi and BJP Leader LK Advani campaigning for their parties in Kerala, Political parties throwing stones on each other on various issues in public meetings. 

Manmohan Singh addressing a public meeting in Kottayam says ‘’ LDF has shown an ineffective governance in its rule, it has failed to bring the UPA’s welfare schemes to the common man  and says LDF failed to recognize the fundamentals of development in Kerala’’ Prime Minister called upon the people  not to allow the Left to damage their interests further.

Singh brought several development schemes implemented by UPA like (JNNURM) Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. He said UPA has always believed in Industrial development and voting for UDF will assure the implementation of all the schemes taken by UPA in centre and will assure stabilized growth in Kerala like in other states where congress is in ruling.

 Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s tour in chchalakudy, gathered many youth congress and NSUI leaders to the meeting point. Rahul was warmly welcomed by the local politicians.Rahul was all praise for the people of Kerala in his speech, he says” The spirit of Kerala has built the cities of Middle East, without their sweat Dubai could not have been built. The CPI (M) has stopped the spirit that created such wonders”.

He spoke about many schemes implemented by UPA and added mere industrialization can built a nation strong only when it revenue is spent in health care  education and youth training programs.

In a meeting in tiruvanatapuram Advani addressed BJP cadre and in a public meeting he threw stones on UPA’s failure in eradicating corruption. Said BJP is putting its all efforts to bring the black money back to India and he added BJP is in all sink with ANNA HAZARE’s demands regarding Jan lokpal Bill and Shown GUJARAT as a token of development done by BJP and Kerala will also witness such development if BJP comes into power.

Even though strong leaders from centre addressing rallies in Kerala a very few people seems to be paying attention to the promises made the politicians. Election commission has issued a public notice to not to telecast any recorded videos and advertisements in television after 5pm on Monday.

Tomorrow we will be doing a survey in Trivandrum on various schemes promised by parties in election and will bring in the views of all the sections of society on current political trends in Kerala.

  

                                                                                                  Rajkamal Vuppu 

KERALA POLLS -2011

“Kerala-a state famous for its nature, its culture and its sea shore”, these are the early responses from any tourist after visiting to Kerala. Unlike other tourists am in a political tour across the state to cover assembly elections.

A day after central government declared 100% literacy rate in Kerala, I moved to Trivandrum to start my first internship with DD national team and I received warm welcome from the Editor of DD Malayalam in tiruvanantapuram. On the very first day of my work I was given an opportunity to cover Soniagandhi’s tour in South Kerala with DD national team from Delhi. (Delhi team led by Ritu verma an experienced political journalist and two senior camera persons)

We started our day early in the morning to reach HARIPAD assembly constituency. Journey through hill stations, forest and sea shore was visually pleasing. Ritu mam and I discussed very crucial issues in Kerala election.

(Kerala is a very complex state geographically and even politically, there is never a repetitive government after its term from last forty years. The Major political quarters in Kerla LDF (a communist party lead alliance) and UDF (a congress lead alliance) differ themselves in all the ways)

As there is only a week left before elections, all the top political personalities from centre were addressing public meetings all over Kerala from last week.

     Congress president Mrs. Gandhi arrived at Haripad to address a public meeting to get support for cong lead, she explained UPA government’s role in developing Kerala from past ten years and she reminded UPA’s policies to strengthen common man. Sonia strictly opposed LDF’s administrative failures in bringing the corruption down and she quoted LDF as an OLD fashioned Political Crew.

Oman chandy and vailar Ravi accompanied Mrs. Gandhi in this campaign but couldn’t speak in public rallies. 

         Congress men worked day and night to bring maximum crowd to the meeting but were a bit unsuccessful. The meeting went peacefully but there was no enthusiasm in public while Sonia was delivering her speech.

It was first time for me to sit in media stand but it gave me opportunity to observe many things in live telecast, as the meeting finished we moved to allapi to cover boat rider’s views and expectations in coming elections. Alapi is all about greenery and water with beautifully decorated HOUSE BOATS.I suggest every one to visit allapi once.

                                                                                                                   Rajkamal rao