Independence rules in Holyrood!
The ensuing Scottish elections expose the bitter English-Scottish divide

(column by Mayank Singh)

If pollsters are to be believed, the first of May celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the union between England & Scotland are most likely to be cut short – the pro-independence Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) is currently reported to be way ahead of the Labour Party in Parliamentary Elections due to be held on May 3. Speaking to B&E, the London-based former Journalist of BBC World Service, Pervaiz Alam said, “The Labour Party (the single largest party in 2003 elections) is in for a rude shock. Post elections, not only will they have to grapple with vexed issue of Scottish independence, but also reinvigorate their efforts to prevent their sliding fortunes at the national level.”

With the leadership issue still haunting the Labour Party, a defeat in Scotland will only add to their existing woes. Tony Blair will certainly be blamed for bringing the party to the brink of relinquishing power to the conservatives; the real worry is related to Gordon Brown (Blair’s likely successor), who represents a Scottish Parliamentary seat. In fact, Gordon Brown’s standing in the party is due to 23 members of the present British Cabinet that are related to Scotland in more ways than one (even Blair is born & brought up in Scotland). Any dent in the party’s vote bank in Scottish Parliament Holyrood, is bound to weaken Brown’s chances of taking over the mantle from Blair. With the Tories raising the issue of disproportionate representation of Scottish politician n the Cabinet; matters are likely to get ven worse.

A victory for SNP, led by Alex Salmond, is sure to aggravate the English- Scottish divide, adding another thorn to the falling British crown. Although one doesn’t foresee an immediate separation between the two nations, political parties will use this issue to their own advantage, further increasing the divide between supporters of the two.

(End of Mayank Singh column)

Dragon Embrace!
Hong Kong denied true democracy

(column by Kumar Anuj)

As Donald Chang recently took over the coveted post of the Chief Executive (CE) of Chinese-ruled Hong Kong, the simmering discontent in the region started coming out of the closet. In the first ever ‘election’ for the post of CE after the city returned to the Chinese rule in 1997 – Chang won over his pro-democracy rival Alan Leong. The Electoral College vote, wherein Chang defeated his opponent by a 649-123 vote margin is alleged to have been heavily rigged.

The election in the region remains almost an in-house secret affair. According to the Civil Human Rights Front, “It was shameful that out of seven million Hong Kong residents, only 800 could vote in the CE Election.” More importantly Chang has stated his intentions to put ‘Equal and Universal Suffrage’ demand on hold till 2012 & concentrate more on ‘economic and social transformation’.

The election or rather handpicking of Chang by Beijing has come as one more example of unkept promises by China. Focusing on Taiwan’s ultimate accession to the mainland, China had sought to give credibility to their ‘One China, Two System’ policy. That system, as the Chinese projected was to maintain democracy in the regions that were to come under Chinese suzerainty. Hong Kong has, in fact, been one such case where the Chinese have gone back on their words. The promised wide ranging autonomy to the terrain (since Hong Kong’s accession in 1997) has been elusive till date.

The city maintains economic independence to an extent, but multi-party elections have been denied to it. The Chinese defence against the slow pace of democratic reforms in Hong Kong is that it is acting faster than the British did. Even the British were reticent about democracy till their departure from the colony & had conveniently denied these rights to Hong Kong. Irrespective of the Chinese claims, their hold on Taiwan would remain disputed till the time they maintain a clean track record. Denying that would reflect paranoid psyche, something in which the Chinese have simply excelled.

(End of Kumar Anuj column)

She came, she saw, she conquered!
The politically and intellectually savvy Delhi CM needs to introspect deeply before the next elections

(column by Saurabh Kumar)

She is one of the rare Indian politicians, who have turned their shortcomings into strengths. Those branding her as a political novice had to eat their words after Sheila Dikshit was re-elected as Delhi CM. She is close to the Congress high command, even though she is not a member of Signora Sonia’s ‘Kitchen Cabinet’. And her proximity to the political top brass helps her in reining in political bugs like Delhi state Congress Chief Rambabu Sharma.

However, her nine-year long smooth sailing in the seat of power has received the first major jolt, when the Congress faced a humiliating defeat in the recently concluded MCD elections. The veterans in the Congress are now baying for her blood but she is not petrified at all. A close aide of Dikshit states, “She knows she hasn’t done anything wrong so why should she be worried?”

Some accuse her of being an outsider (to Delhi) – she hails from Uttar Pradesh. Actually, Sheila can’t be called a rank outsider. She was born in Uttar Pradesh on March 31, 1938, but she completed her schooling at the Convent of Jesus & Mary, New Delhi and then moved to the prestigious Miranda House College for higher studies. It was here that her tryst with politics began. She became a committed member of a pressure group that raised demands for the facilities provided to students and working women. During her graduation in Delhi University, she was courted by Late Vinod Dikshit, an IAS officer belonging to an illustrious political family of UP. Her courtship lasted 4 turbulent years after which they got married. It was after the death of Vinod Dikshit in early 80s that she was cajoled into politics by Rajiv Gandhi. And from there it was no looking back. She started her career as a member of the women cell in UP and then went on to represent the Kannauj Parliamentary Constituency from 1984 to 1989. Her moment of reckoning came in 1998, when she was asked by the party high command to lead Congress in Delhi Assembly polls. Sheila took on the formidable BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and was elected Chief Minister with overwhelming majority.

As Chief Minister, she unleashed various plans to modernise Delhi by implementing the Delhi Metro project and introducing CNG to bring down pollution levels in the Capital. Her special attention towards the construction of flyovers in Delhi provided it with a much needed respite from regular traffic snarls. Her work has been appreciated by both her rivals and supporters. One of her staunch opponents Madan Lal Khurana calls her his sister. She is being seen as an agent of positive change and it is widely accepted that she is the person who has helped make Delhi much less polluted and a liveable city in the last few years. It is her intellect, dovetailed with the image of a go-getter, which has enabled her to be equally popular amongst the masses as well as the intellectual elite of the city.

She does not fit the stereotype image of an Indian politician. She is frank, quite uncomplicated and an intellectual to the core. She is also easy to talk to and unlike most people of her tribe, does not come across as devious, calculating or corrupt. But, that would not be enough for a third re-election. She needs to analyse her shortcomings and repair the damage for next year’s Assembly polls. Else, she may be shown the door as well.

(End of Saurabh Kumar column)

C(ontroversial) D(isc)
Is BJP resorting to hard core Hindutva to retain its power in UP?

There is a fable about a scorpion and a frog where a drowning scorpion tells a dying frog that it can’t help injecting poison because it is his nature. Many political analysts were drawn towards this fable, when yet another controversy involving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Muslim community erupted during the ongoing battle for Uttar Pradesh assembly. A campaign 'CD' released by the senior BJP officials was found t o contain derogatory and inflamatory references to Muslims; something that BJP and its earlier avatars have sometimes excelled at.

There has been a predictable hue and cry. The Election Commission has asked the police in UP to file a case against the Party President Rajnath Singh. Many ‘secular’ parties like the Samajwadi Party, led by Mulayam Singh Yadav, and the Congress have demanded that BJP be barred from contesting elections. Top officials of the BJP have denied their involvement in the making and release of the CD. But the reality is, if the BJP top brass is acting coy, the other parties are being even more hypocritical. The UP assembly elections have seen major ‘secular’ parties shamelessly seeking the minority ‘vote bank’ by making senseless promises and by encouraging extremist elements within the Muslim community. The BJP thinks this ‘minority appeasement’ makes it an opportune time to target unhappy ‘Hindu’ voters. That it is all about a desire to gain power is quite clear from the statement of Ashok Singhal, President of BJP affiliate Vishwa Hindu Parishad, who says, “The controversy over the CD is good. Now more people will be curious to see it and the message will be delivered.”

Corroded Congress loses grip!
Congress debacle in MCD polls brings to fore their internal differences

(column by Vivek Asri)

Everyone, including the Congress leadership, was absolute sure of the inevitable Congress defeat in the recently concluded Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) elections. Having administered the capital city for the last nine years – a modicum of anti-incumbency was expected to work against the Congress party. But, the party’s complete rout in the elections has surely sent shivers down the leadership spine. Worse, it has triggered a witch hunting in the party. Reveals Congress Councillor, Jitender Kochar, while speaking to B&E, "Some problem with the ticket distribution led us to defeat.” Other leaders blame it on inflation, price rise and mishandling the sealing & demolition drive in the capital.

The persisting diff erences between State Party President, Rambabu Sharma & Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit adversely affected the party's prospects at the hustings. And this reality will make the task of preparing for Delhi Assembly Elections, due next year, even more arduous for Sheila Dikshit.

The spiralling prices & the mishandling of 'sealing' have left a indelible mark on the voters' psyche. “These results clearly indicate that Congress has lost its base. The BSP too damaged the Congress. It won 17 seats besides getting 2000 votes on 80 seats taking its vote share to 10%,” states Political Analyst Mahesh Rangrajan while talking to B&E. That Congress lost many seats in Muslim-dominated areas should also ring alarm bells for the Grand Old Party (GOP) of India. The most identify able targets to blame for the defeat are Sheila and Rambabu, and looks like one of them will have to bow out soon.

(End of Vivek Asri column)