Bhopal’s Go-Getter
In one of the first decisions Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav took after assuming office was to do away with Bhopal's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor in the heart of the city. The BRT was hugely unpopular as it had little utility given that it straddled the middle of a busy road and was difficult to access. It ended up restricting the road space which is now being restored as a double lane. Yadav's selection as chief minister was a huge surprise as were BJP's picks in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. He has set about shuffling the bureaucracy and implementing BJP's poll pledges ahead of the Lok Sabha election. The party is quickly adjusting to the change of guard as Yadav exudes a go-getter attitude that has signalled a shift in gears. The BRT experiment proved to be a spectacular failure in Delhi where it attracted criticism of most users. The idea had been touted from time to time as a solution for urban transport needs with references to the system in Bogota, however inappropriate such comparisons might be. The Delhi project was executed during the tenure of Sheila Dikshit and was a desperate bid to find a solution to traffic woes. The result was more traffic chaos and the professor seen as the planner behind the BRT was labelled 'Master of Mayhem' by the media. After an unsuccessful and controversial existence, the BRT was dismantled much to the relief of lakhs of commuters. Meanwhile in Bhopal, former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan vacated his official residence and moved to another set of quarters where he conducts his affairs in a less high-profile manner. His residence is called 'Mama ka Ghar (Uncle's house)' in keeping with the popular nickname he had earned for his pro-women schemes. His decision to implement the Ladli Behna (Beloved sister) scheme just months before the state polls was an inspired move and helped crystallise support in favour of BJP. Eligible women received a monthly direct fund transfer that proved very popular and helped inject a fresh vigour into
the party's campaign.
Modi's Dwarka Dive
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to dive into the sea off Dwarka has received widespread praise for the cultural symbolism attached to the undersea site, but also for his fitness as he is in his seventies. The dip is also a move to popularise scuba diving that remains a limited sport in India. Scuba diving is popular in destinations like Lakshadweep, the Andamans and Goa, and Indians often travel to the Maldives to indulge the passion. Diving to sunken ships is a popular hobby and Dwarka has its own appeal. Manufacturing scuba Aqua-Lung and compressors is specialised work and India is still setting up its capacities. The government is planning to encourage manufacture of the sensitive equipment that is largely imported as this will provide a boost to the sport. As of now, a few government and private facilities provide training in scuba diving. A new water sports centre in Goa is expected to add to the expertise available in India and encourage professional diving for sporting and adventure tourism.
Farm Solutions
The discussions between the government and farmer unions have ground to a stalemate. Aware of the sensitivity attached to farm issues, the government has offered various options short of the ordinance making MSP a statutory requirement. It is, however, evident that the unions are looking for solutions and the idea is to create a bad vibe for BJP ahead of elections. The government, however, has learnt from the last time the unions held Delhi to ransom and is ensuring that the agitators do not cross the Punjab-Haryana border. Also, the successful culmination of BJP's negotiations with RLD has meant that the Ghaziabad border has remained quiet. It is also apparent that the farm stir has had limited impact on elections. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh (UP) election, RLD won just a clutch of seats in its core areas of western UP in alliance with SP. A Congress government in Rajasthan has been replaced by BJP and this has meant agitators do not have a free run of the Delhi-Jaipur highway. The farm leader who had led the stir in Ghaziabad failed to influence voters in his own village. All of this means that the current issue is essentially limited to Punjab. Though the stir has put BJP-Akali talks on the backburner, an alliance before the polls still cannot be ruled out.
370 Is a Real Target
There is a creeping realisation among Delhi's chattering classes that BJP's target of 370 seats may not be just a slogan. Many among the city's elite remain bitterly opposed to the Modi government and their sense of alienation has increased over time. This time, there is an apprehension that criticism of the government about alleged high-handed and politicised actions of Central investigative agencies and claims that the economy—contrary to official projections—is actually in bad shape are not making an impression on the public mind. On the other hand, the consecration of the Ram temple and the UCC legislation in Uttarakhand are having a strong impact. Another majority BJP government looms and the implosion of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, despite pacts in Delhi, is not comforting. The situation only appears grimmer in the light of setbacks to Congress in the Rajya Sabha elections.
Winter Not Over Yet
After a snow-less January, the weather is turning bitterly cold in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand where heavy snowfall is predicted. The snowfall follows squalls and storms in central India which also ushered in spells of cooler weather. There is a long-held view that irrespective of the vagaries of climate change, the warmer season begins only after Holi. This time the festival will come along only towards the end of March and despite some warm episodes, rain and cold weather is not going away just yet. The colder weather is welcome for winter tourism and the fruit cropping pattern. This is the time when new trees and flowering plants are planted in the hope that they will sprout in warm weather. Meanwhile, woollens and thick jackets continue to be in use in the hilly regions where the cold season is particularly demanding.
Lotus In the South
BJP's election campaign will pay particular attention to states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala where the party has struggled to make a mark. Achieving a breakthrough is a daunting task but BJP is working on alliances with smaller parties and projecting the Centre's development record against the opposition's stuttering unity moves. BJP may not win seats but is certainly looking to ensure it gains a respectable vote share.