A Dry Run for Mumbai Civic Polls

Despite the State Election Commission’s (SEC) controversial decision to put off polls in 20 local bodies, the decks for the Maharashtra civic elections were cleared after the Supreme Court refused to consider petitions it felt were essentially aimed at delaying the electoral process. While the SEC drew flak from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for delaying polling in some civic bodies, the commission’s decision to delegate authority to the divisional commissioners in the delimitation of Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara zila parishads was upheld by the apex court. The three councils were a particular bone of contention but no infirmities in delimitation orders were detected. The polls to 280 municipal councils and nagar panchayats have tested the strength of all political parties as even alliance partners have not been shy of indulging in ‘friendly’ poaching of candidates.

The bad blood is, however, exaggerated as the results have no bearing on the political equations in the state as NDA won 235 seats in a House of 288 in the November 2024 polls. Further, BJP with 132 seats is far ahead of partners Shiv Sena and NCP. The jostling was a bid to gain the upper hand in local body elections. The court earlier allowed polls in bodies where the total quantum of reservation has crossed the 50 per cent ceiling with the caveat that results in these councils and panchayats will be subject to the final orders of the Supreme Court. This round of elections will be followed by the keenly awaited match-up in the Mumbai civic election where the stakes are high.

Dust In the Eye

Days after the Supreme Court observed there were limits to what it could do to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR, the court asked the Commission for Air Quality Management to act speedily to control the situation. The court also wondered the extent to which stubble burning contributes to deterioration of air quality. Answering a question in Parliament, the government said effects of stubble burning are episodic. This is true enough but stubble burning does contribute as much as 20 per cent to particulate matter through October and November every year. Yet, the real battle is against dust which is an annual feature, and is significantly driven by continuous construction activity.

Concern for Khaleda

Ailing Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Khaleda Zia is doing poorly amid reports that a team of Chinese doctors has examined her. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lost no time in expressing his concern indicating that India does not see her in an adverse light, despite offering refuge to Sheikh Hasina. Indian diplomats are in touch with Zia’s son Tarique as well. India sees both begums as legitimate political entities in contrast to chief administrator Muhammad Yunus, who continues to receive the cold shoulder from New Delhi.

Siddaramaiah’s Waiting Game

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and challenger deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar continue to circle one another like hawks eyeing a prize treat. Siddaramaiah, being the one in the chair, holds the advantage since he has all the levers that come with the job. He has been content to host Shivakumar for a couple of breakfast meetings, which do not seem to have done much to resolve differences. The chief minister is a canny survivor of Karnataka politics, having got the better of one-time mentor Deve Gowda. In keeping Shivakumar at bay, Siddaramaiah is fully prepared to play the waiting game.

Musk Talk On H-1B

Elon Musk’s strong defence of the H-1B visa on the grounds that Indian talent has greatly helped American tech companies is stating the obvious. But it does not wash down well with MAGA cheerleaders who insist America has enough skilled people to do the jobs that go to foreigners. Musk’s comments during a lengthy interview with Zerodha co-founder and investor Nikhil Kamath will likely further infuriate the MAGA crowd that sees tech billionaires in almost as hostile a light as immigrants.

China’S Olive Branch

The Ministry of External Affairs used the phrase “cautious normalisation” to describe the current state of relations with China in an interaction with a parliamentary committee. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong has called for a “de-Americanisation” in India-China relations, arguing this will build trust. Ironically, China has always looked at India through the lens of the New Delhi-Washington dynamic, rather than a bilateral equation on its own footing. It is unclear if this has changed. If it has, there could be room for real progress in India-China relations, resulting in a more predictable border management. Peace along the Line of Actual Control is the litmus test of Chinese intentions.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury comes across as an unlikely advocate of animal rights. Her decision to bring a stray dog to Parliament smacked of a publicity bid as she does not have any track record of animal rights advocacy. Even during the heated debate on the Supreme Court’s decision— which was later rescinded—on the removal of stray dogs, Chowdhury was not to be seen or heard. It might be the case that the MP has been out of headlines for a while and the dog issue was a means to get back in the limelight.