Vijay Keeps His Lines Open

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has so far done a good job of articulating “state” issues and keeping his lines with the Centre open so that he does not get into an out-and-out adversarial position with BJP. Vijay seems to have learnt a lesson from the predicament of rival DMK, which went out of its way to befriend Congress and confront BJP. The strategy brought no gains for DMK but managed to antagonise BJP, resulting in a constant tug-of-war over policies and devolution of funds. Vijay paid a quiet visit to New Delhi recently and told senior ministers that he is focused on the welfare of Tamil Nadu. He has kept his options open on policies such as PM Shri schools that require states to accept the National Education Policy (NEP). On the other hand, his party, TVK, won two recent bypolls and kept DMK at bay.

Courting Controversy

The Bombay High Court allowed actor Imran Khan, a US citizen, to remain in India after he apologised and undertook that he would not participate in a political protest. The message that an OCI card can be cancelled is important but it is hardly the court’s call once it is satisfied that the law has not been misused.

Wooing Traders

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta led a march at Chandni Chowk in support of traders unhappy with protests by the Cockroach Janta Party and the I.N.D.I.A. bloc that have held parts of Central Delhi to ransom. Requests by trading organisations were disregarded by Congress and it is unclear how the decision will play out for the opposition party. Traders are an influential part of Delhi’s political landscape and matter in each of the capital’s seven constituencies.

Pollution Travels

While ‘polluting’ vehicles are being banned from entering Delhi, they continue to be used in the neighbourhood. Now, this ban on vehicles lacking the latest pollution-control certification is only leading to long crawls on the borders. The problem is that pollutants cannot be prevented from blowing across the border. The measure, like much of the Graded Response Action Plan, is unlikely to have much of an impact. A vehicle’s condition is as important as the Bharat Stage emission norms when it comes to assessing pollution.

Festival Politics

The Deepavali season sees a flurry of dos in the capital and the hosts and attendees are the subject of much discussion. It does seem that pre-Deepavali parties follow political lines, with guests aligned with one side or the other in the war of words between BJP and Congress over issues such as SIR and allegations of vote theft.

Diplomats at BJP Deepavali Bash

BJP chief Nitin Nabin hosted a dinner for New Delhi’s diplomatic corps attended by several ambassadors and their families. BJP also invited political counsellors who are often the main points of contact for party functionaries and the media. Senior ministers were present too, providing diplomats an opportunity for informal contacts and conversation.

Party Trouble for Omar

Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently posted about a new chapter in his life, confirming his marriage to a television anchor. But the good tidings did not deter unhappy NC MLAs carping about a ‘coterie’ around the leader. There is, of course, irony at work here as NC has always revolved around its leader and his inner circle. Intra-party democracy is a rare commodity in regional, family-run parties. The rebellion does however mean Omar may need to pay attention to rumblings in the ranks. The rebel MLAs may not have many options but it would be best not to test them.