Currency garland

It was indeed shocking to read that BSP workers, who presented currency garlands to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and their party chief Mayawati on Monday and Wednesday, have decided to do so at all future programmes. Is it not an act of dishonour inflicted on our national currency? Ms Mayawati as well as her followers should realise that such activities will not, in any way, enhance the prominence of the leader. In fact, it will lead to a decline in the fame gained hitherto.

It is indeed shameful that in a country where thousands are starving, a political leader should embarrass us with such uncalled-for display of money. It is time our leaders grew up.

Uttar Pradesh, which could have progressed well, is among the most backward states, thanks to the lack of political will and indifferent leadership. Even a fraction of money used in the garlands presented to Ms Mayawati by BSP workers could have been used for better purposes. And the time utilised in planning and organising meaningless political rallies can be devoted to drawing up plans for better governance.

The BSP's act of offering a currency garland to its leader not once but twice is surprising. It reflects the current trend in politics. Is not a simple garland of flowers enough to show respect to a leader? What is the need for such vulgar display of wealth? The sight of a leader wearing a garland full of currency notes is an insult to the poor struggling for a square meal a day.

The RBI's clean note policy prohibits stitching of packets of currency notes by banks, disregarding the risks of pilferages, because the notes get mutilated and soiled before their intended lifetime. Political parties can escape from Income Tax rules on one pretext or the other. But how can they flout the RBI's direction?

coalition politics

The vote in the recently concluded elections for stability is more of a negative vote for politicians who exhibited their arrogance during poll campaigning. The Left, which enjoyed power without responsibility, received a drubbing. The Lalus and the Mulayams suddenly discovered that they were the dispensers of people’s choice and wanted to treat the Congress as their poor cousin. Mr. Paswan went a step further to declare that the Congress cannot survive without his support.

In Kerala, a septuagenarian leader wanted his son to don the mantle at the cost of the party and was willing to break the party to show his superiority. Another leader presumed that her new-found love for Eelam would make the people to forget her earlier stand and that she would be given votes unequivocally. Yet another leader presumed that he could make his side the winner and put a premium on his association, not to speak of the one who shouted from the rooftop that he was the sole custodian of the Dravidian spirit.

Senior Congress leaders are meeting with key pre-poll partners, the Trinamool Congress and the DMK, on distribution of Cabinet berths.Both parties are reportedly eying plum portfolios and more ministries. The market of bargain has started.

The Congress is under pressure from its ally DMK which is seeking several ministerial berths and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee reportedly insisting on getting one more ministerial portfolio than what the DMK gets. While the DMK has won 18 Lok Sabha seats, TMC has got 19.

A tussle is reportedly on wresting the Railway Ministry, held by RJD chief Lalu Prasad who is unlikely to find a berth in Manmohan Singh's second innings. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is eyeing the Railway portfolio as also the DMK.

Singh was appointed Prime Minister on Wednesday for a second consecutive term after the UPA coalition staked its claim to form the government with the backing of 322 MPs. Swearing-in is to take place on May 22.

In view of the comfortable numbers the coalition has in the 543-member Lok Sabha, the President has not asked the Prime Minister to prove his strength in the House. Parliament is likely to be convened on June two.

Post-election, the Samajwadi Party, the RJD, the BSP and other parties are only too eager to give unconditional support to the UPA government. A lion’s share of the media space and time are taken up by the allies and supporting parties seeking cabinet berths.

With the Prime Minister due to be sworn in on Friday, all sides are working overtime to first finalise the share of parties in the Council of Ministers and then decide on the portfolios. In all likelihood, the Prime Minister will be sworn in with only a few Cabinet-level Ministers representing the key allies, and the full Council of Ministers will be in place later.

Is it not time to enact the right to recall to pull back candidates for non-performance and those who switch alliances post-election. Only then will our political parties learn to respect the people’s mandate.