Corruption is replacing communalism and secularism issues in the coming Assembly elections in about half-a-dozen states. Reports coming from these states are suggesting that corruption is going to be the main campaign theme. But it is unclear whether civil society leaders, divided in different groups, will take part in the campaigning.
Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa and Manipur will have Assembly elections next year.
According to Congress insiders, the mood of the people in UP is changing after Mr Anna Hazare’s fast at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. “Corruption, inflation and governance will be the three major factors which can influence people in these states,” they feel.
While the regional players — the BSP, Samajwadi Party, Shiromani Akali Dal, United Goans Democratic Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party — will be the main target of the national parties in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Goa, the issues in Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh would be different.
The people of Uttar Pradesh had earlier voted for social justice and Ram Mandir by giving a clear mandate sometimes and a fractured mandate most of the time during the last two decades.
But now, corruption seems to the flavour of the season as most of the parties are raising this issue directly or indirectly. The Congress has already started collecting information on corruption in the UP, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Himchal Pradesh governments after realising that social justice and Hindutva would not work this time. But it could be counter-productive as its opponents could build up their campaign on the issues of spectrum allocation, CWG and Adarsh Housing scams.
The BJP is optimistic of retaining power in Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh because of strong leaders and the organisational network. But anti-incumbency could certainly be a factor which can damage its governments in these states if the Congress and other Opposition parties could provide an alternative to the people.
Reports coming from UP suggest that no single party is in a position to form the next government despite the fact that the ruling BSP continues to be ahead from other parties.
But it is not clear whether Mr Anna Hazare, Ms Aruna Roy, Ms Arundhati Roy, Ms Kiran Bedi and Mr Arvind Kejriwal will take part in the election campaign. Mr Hazare had earlier campaigned for Maharashtra home minister R.R. Patil and Mr Raju Shetti, the sitting LS member from Hatkanangle.
Mr Patil is the NCP leader while Mr Shetti is the leader of the Swabhimani Paksha in Maharashtra.
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CBI chief to give views to panel on lokpal ties
Age Correspondent
New Delhi, Aug. 31
CBI director A.P. Singh will submit his views to a parliamentary standing committee on the proposed structure of the agency’s working relationship with the anti-corruption panel, Lokpal, on September 7.
According to sources, the agency is against the splitting of the CBI and attaching its anti-corruption wing with the Lokpal. It is believed that Mr Singh may suggest “limited” administrative control of the Lokpal over its anti-corruption wing, sources said.
The administrative control over the anti-corruption wing should be limited to cases referred by the Lokpal only, sources added.
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Movement to be xlri case study
Jamshedpur, Aug. 31: Gandhian Anna Hazare’s success with his anti-corruption movement might soon become a case study for management students at the famed XLRI School of Business and Human Resources.
“The movement is fit as case study for budding management students here and we are seriously contemplating to look into various aspects of the movements, particularly Hazare’s leadership,” said Prof. Munish Thakur of XLRI.
— PTI