AAP in a Punjab Hole

The pre-election scenario in Punjab is rapidly heating up. Law and order and the problem of drug abuse are gaining prominence after the father of an addicted son committed suicide following a public confrontation with a Punjab minister over the drug problem. The issues of drug use and law and order are not unconnected. The availability of lab-created synthetic opioids points to a deep nexus between drug cartels and the gatekeepers. A viral audio recording purportedly asking police personnel to avoid wearing uniforms was swiftly debunked as fake but the discussion over gang-war killings and extortion, as well as cases such as the abduction and murder of singer Inder Kaur by a Canadian man who acted with apparent impunity before fleeing the country, has shocked public opinion. The BJP fielded Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to drive home the message that the AAP model has been ousted from Delhi and that now it is Punjab’s turn.

Well Played, Agarkar

Former India cricket Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar’s decision not to seek another term was not a surprise as he seemed at odds with the board over player fitness issues. However, there is little to support allegations that he was “pressured” over team selection. Agarkar usually explained team selection in detail and worked closely with the captains of India. Issues related to the selection of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were not merely a matter of selection. Concerns over their availability were shared by BCCI too.

Karni Sena

BJP’s interactions with the Karni Sena, which demands that reservations be implemented not on the basis of caste but economic status, need to be seen in the context of the Uttar Pradesh (UP) election due early next year. But the meetings between the Sena and Health Minister JP Nadda gained added salience after the suicide of a Dalit student at IIT Bombay following an apparent violation of examination rules and the filing of an FIR against a senior professor. The roil among the upper castes typically gains momentum ahead of just about every UP poll. Yet, since 2014, the upper castes, or forwards, have stuck with BJP, wary of the return of the Samajwadi Party, which they continue to see as the greater evil.

Uphill Struggle

The latest draft notification on the ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats has predictably raised hackles in Karnataka where concern that tough regulations will severely affect livelihoods and economic development has united political parties. They have called for verification of satellite mapping against the ground situation. The draft represents a continuing conundrum as the Ghats are in a fragile state. The situation may call for new policies that encourage a balance between sustainable development and environmental restrictions.

Vijay on Top

The new TVK government has ostensibly clamped down on corruption, and several aspects of the government-public interface reflect this. DMK, meanwhile, is figuring out life outside office, with its leaders facing cases over allegedly loose comments about Chief Minister Vijay’s private life.

Annamalai’s New Avatar

Former BJP leader Annamalai, who has floated his own outfit, has rediscovered the merits of EV Ramasamy “Periyar” in an apparent effort to recast himself as a “social justice” warrior. But the contrast with his previous advocacy of “Sanatana Dharma” is too stark, and sceptics question whether his newfound zeal is anything more than skin deep.

Pawar on Tatas

The battle within the Tata Group is not only pitting top lawyers Abhishek Singhvi and Harish Salve against one another. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has weighed in too. The Maratha veteran said in a social media post, “The Tata Group’s legacy is rooted in the belief that business should serve society. Tata Trusts’ institutional role and rights must be respected under the established governance framework.” This suggests that Pawar is leaning towards Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata in the latter’s dispute with the Tata Sons board.