STAR GAZING: 2014

Results of Assemblies: Dec., 2013

• New Delhi: The BJP won in Rajasthan and

Madhya Pradesh.

• In Chhattisgarh, the BJP / Congress = 47 / 41.

• BJP has emerged as the single-largest party just

shy of a clear majority in Delhi (31), where Aam

Aadmi Party has (28) and the Congress (8).

• In Mizoram (40) Congress won 32 out of 38

declared.

Anna Hazare and team led a fast for the Jan Lokpal in

Delhi in 2012. The movement graduated into the Aam

Aadmi Party (AAP). Arvind Kejriwal joined the political fray,

campaigned, fought elections and was rewarded by the

electorate in 2013. The A A P took recourse to the Indian

constitution and within the rubric of the democratic

principles set down by it, the A A P seeks to conduct

politics. Today, India can take pride in their institution: A

political system that is premised on universal values (even if

we don't always adhere to them). A new entrant has

reposed faith in India's democracy.

BJP promoted Modi stating that his state is vibrant (and

that 2002 notwithstanding), his “dynamic” leadership will do

the whole of India good. But Gujarat has always been one

of ’ more affluent or less indigent states of India and Modi

inherited a reasonably good state of affairs. He has

courted corporate giants and Indian media houses boost

Modi�’s profile. A sizeable number backs Modi although

there is no wave. Now it is considered that in 2014, Modi

vs. Congress, is what India has to opt for. Will ‘AAP’

have a say too?

Campaign Against corruption By Anna

• In 2011, Hazare initiated a Satyagraha movement for passing a stronger anti-

corruption Lokpal (ombudsman) bill in the Indian Parliament as conceived in

the Jan Lokpal Bill (People's Ombudsman Bill). The Jan Lokpal Bill was drafted

earlier by N. Santosh Hegde, former justice of the Supreme Court of

India and Lokayukta of Karnataka, Prashant Bhushan, a senior lawyer in the

Supreme Court and Arvind Kejriwal, a social activist along with members of

the India Against Corruption movement.

In 2002, Narendra Modi was either negligent during or, by

many accounts, actually stoked up an anti-Muslim pogrom

in Gujarat, in which more than 2,000 Muslims perished.

However, Congress party leaders were implicated in an

anti-Sikh pogrom following Indira Gandhi's assassination in

1984 when more than 3,000 people were killed.

Congress and BJP have to take this issue in their strides

and debate on inclusive development and capable and

competent state leaders to run local governance and

coordinate with Union government.

What has the Congress achieved now? • Rights to information, education and food security are

legal now to be implemented.

• In response to a demand for a new State of Telangana, the process for bifurcation of the present Andhra State is actively contemplated and debated.

• Being a coalition, could not closely control implementation of allocation of resources such as ICT, coal and railways efficiently and was critically reprimanded by Comptroller. Action taken after the events brought a scam infested image to the party itself even though individuals involved were punished.

• Has worked with States governed by other parties.

• Faced a slowing of international economic situation.

To be sure, the Congress party’’s record in power has been

lackluster as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was unable

to proactively act to keep corruption under check or to

deliver equitable development.

In Karnataka, Congress could come back and is giving a

stable government. Kerala has shown how coalitions are

able to operate successful governance even if be for one

term. Andhra Pradesh is in a turbulent debate on forming a

new state.

In many States, Congress as a popular party has to be

resurrected and sustained against a strong local party.

Sonia and Rahul concede assembly defeat,

say they will transform Congress party

Accepting the people's verdict with "humility", top

leadership of the Congress on Sunday pledged to

transform the party ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha polls for

which it would announce its Prime Ministerial candidate

"at the opportune time".

Stating that the party was "very very disappointed" over

the assembly results in four states, Congress President

Sonia Gandhi said there was a need to do "deep

introspection".

Gandhi and her son Rahul, party Vice President, met

journalists at the Congress headquarters here to

acknowledge the victory of "our opponents"

whom she congratulated.

"Obviously people are unhappy. Otherwise they would not

have given the results that they gave," she said.

Briefly analysing the causes for the defeat, Gandhi said

there were a number of reasons, which included price rise

and different issues. Gandhi expressed confidence that the

results of assembly polls will not have a bearing on the

next Lok Sabha polls.

"General elections are quite different. People in state

elections do focus on personality at the state level, at

leaders who are likely to lead them," she said.

However, in national elections "people look at the person

who is likely to guide them and govern them at the

national level", the Congress chief said.

Asked whether the Congress party would name its Prime

Ministerial candidate against BJP's Narendra Modi,

Gandhi said, "people need not worry as, at an opportune

time, the name of the Prime Ministerial candidate" will be

announced.

Initially she appeared reluctant to give an answer when

asked whether Rahul would be named as the Prime

Ministerial candidate.

"We will make a statement. The party has to decide. The

party will decide at the opportune time," she said.

Rahul said through the elections, "people have given us a

message, which we have heard."

The Congress party has to transform itself to stand up, he

said. "We have to move to a new paradigm and give serious

space to the common masses."

Sonia, PM ‘deaf & dumb’ to Andhra agitation:

CM Kiran Kumar Reddy

• Dec 8, 2013: The chief minister accused Congress

president Sonia Gandhi and P M Manmohan Singh of

being "deaf and dumb" to the agitation for united Andhra

Pradesh without naming them. This is the first time he has

publicly criticized the central leadership.

"The state has catapulted you (Congress) to power at the

centre by giving 33 MPs and you are dividing it now," he

said. He wondered if it was justifiable to divide the state

just because TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao

demanded separate Telangana.

CM asked the party high command to emulate

late ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in keeping

the nation integrated.

He referred to the comments of Intelligence

Bureau chief on the consequences of the

division.

"The bifurcation will spell doom not only for one

region but for the entire nation."

The chief minister described the state's division

and proposed joint board on sharing of Krishna

and Godavari waters "unconstitutional".

He said the division would lead

to water problems and displace

nearly two lakh government employees

besides causing problems related to pensions.

After Mannu who? Thursday, August 19, 2010

New York: Prime Minister Manmohan

Singh tops Newsweek Magazine's list

of 10 world leaders who have won respect and is described

as "the leader other leaders love" though India figures at

78th place in the list of 100 best countries.

77-year-old Singh, who is into his seventh year in office

(in 2010), has played a "key role in India's emergence as

one of the rising powers of the 21st century.“

Who will succeed him in 2014?

India’s growth has combined openness with an

ability to withstand external turbulence. We were not

buffeted by the East Asian crisis in 1997. Recently,

India’s economic performance has shown further

improvement. The g n p of India grew at over 9.5%

per annum for three consecutive years starting in

2005. After the global financial crisis exploded in

2008, our growth rate slowed down but India was

even then among the three or four fastest growing

nations in the world

We took a number of promotional measures to

stimulate the economy. India seeks rapid economic

growth that will create wealth for our people and

also generate surpluses to fund our ambitious

social development programs, particularly in the

areas of health, education and environment

protection. We seek growth that creates

employment and development that is socially and

regionally balanced and inclusive.