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Kumar Ketkar

Senior journalist & political analyst

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NCP-Congress rift?

16 questions answered

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What is the future of ncp now? Asked by: Gunjan
Well, nothing has fundamentally changed and hence there is no question of either NCP being endangered or going on a any glorious route. Sharad Pawar had NOT resigned, nor had he thretened to resign. He, and mainly his colleagues, had merely expressed displeasure because they felt being sidelined. Though ostensibly, it was for the so called "second" position in the cabinet, actually the reasons were beyong the cabinet power structure. Pawar is the union cabinet for overe two decacdes and knows fully well that there is nothing ordained something as "second" in heirarchy. Unless of course if there was deputy prime minister. It is clear that Pawar had other grouses and not the one which has become a media story.
Is UPA in crisis? Asked by: Arjun
I do not think UPA is in crisis. certainly not because of so called Pawar rebellion. That UPA has been going from crisis to crisis, for the past two years is well known and commented. But there is a big difference between "crisis" and "collapse" or coalition being on ventilator. Pawar has only nine MPs. Trinmool and DMK had more than double that number and yet those crises did not lead the government in the ICU. One of the reasons is that the coialition partners too are not keen on midterm poll and another reason is that they have no alternative in sight. Even the BJP has not called the "final shot". Therefore, one can say that UPA is in trouble but not in crisis. In fact, the partners prefer the weak Congress and therefore weaker coalition so that they get more maneovuerable space.
WHY THAT SOCALLED SECOND NOT GIVEN TO THREE ? WHY MR. ANTHONY WAS NAMED SOCALLED SECOND? Asked by: RAJESH KHANNA
Did you recieeve my reply to this question?
Was this expected? Asked by: Madhu
I can say that such a situation was not unexpected. Because Pawar has been carrying the grudge for quite some time.
Is Sharad Pawar being too ambitious? Asked by: Anjali
Nowadays, being ambitious in politics and seeking power is not a vice. Indeed. some consider it as a virtue with expressions like "killer instinct" etc. But even if we consider ambition as legitimate motive, the ambitious person must know the size of his foot and the size of the shoe he is buying.
What are the other grouses Mr Pawar (power corrupt politician is having) , as u mentioned in the answer Asked by: Bhima
Pawar has been nurturing the so called political injury since 1990. His chief ministerial chair was challenged by the Congress rebels, supposedly inspired by Rajiv Gandhi. The rebellion was over, and he continued to be CM. Later after Rajiv's murder, Pawar contested for the post of PM against Narsimha Rao. But had to withdraw because of inadequate support within the party. (there was only congress, no NCP).There was neither Sonia nor Rahul then. He has kept nursing that injury that despite being the "most capable" person to be PM, he has been denied it by the congressmen and later Sonia. So when he saw Rahul to be more active and Sushilkumar Shinde being made leader of congress in Lok Sabha, he chose to raise the banner of displeasure (not rebellion) so as to consolidate the present status. It is more to retain the present power status to himself and to his party that he created this rather pathetic drama.
yOU ARE VERY MUCH FOUND OF PM, SONIAJI -- DO YOU SEE BJPS HAND IN THE REFIT BETWEEN NCP & CONG ? OR ITS FAILURE OF YOUR FAVORITES? Asked by: benigopal
My being fond of anyone will not change the situation or the configuration of political forces. Nor is it in the hands of Sonia or PM. The BJP, it should be obvious, is constantly looking for windows and doors of opportunity to demoralise the UPA and if possible keep it under pressure till next elections, whenever they are held. But BJP is not in a position to engineer to create rift. They can merely enjoy the discomfiture of the UPA and PM and Sonia. Unfortunately for them, they have no concrete agenda to challenge the ruling coalition, except punching or widening holes in the government. They are doing that, but their efforts are becoming more and more pathetic as seen in the Presidential election issue.
Sangh and BJP might have hatched a conspiracy to topple the UPA and hence this rift..Your thoughts on it? Asked by: Bhima
The conspiracies or absence of them, hatched or not hatched by the RSS/BJP will not fundamentally change the character of current parliament, nor willl they be able to change the personalities and politics of the likes of Mamata, Mayavati, Mulayam, Nithish Kumar and so on. They can conspire and keep pn hoping too but that will be a futile and hilarious exercise.
Congress has not been managing their coalition partners well.. Your thoughts on this? Asked by: Sachin
Are these partners "manageable"? Don't they have their agendas too? Don't they wasnt a weaker government to push their agendas? Yes, given these multiple agendas with multiple parties, there would be only two options: surrender to their demands or defer decisions. The congress tried both and also tried to have a dialogue. They failed. If that is not "being able to manage", well then yes.
Does not this episode once again reveal the poor coalition instincts of the Congress leadership? Asked by: Debarshi
There is nothing like "coalition instinct". Even in UK, the Lib-Dems are running an uneasy coalition. With similar tension. The BJP had to suffer the tantrums of Jaylalitha, Samata Party and Mamta. That does not mean they had "coalition instinct". The only instinct that matter is "power instinct". Coalitions survive or collapse when that power instinct gets into trouble. That happens when their agendas are threatened. Agendas themselves are reflections of certain power vested interests.
What are your recommendations to Opposition parties to oust this corrupt govt? Asked by: Naveen
My recommendations? well they must prove that they are above corruption. They have so far proved otherwise in Karnataka and even in Maharashtra. They have also to prove that their politics is "inclusive". Promotion of Modi as PM candidate proves ottherwise. Even if they had the so called coalition instinct, Modi cannot lead a coalition of multi-religious-multi-cultural-multi-regional India. Difficult to understand why the RSS does not learn. The Janata experiment collapsed only on one point. The dual membership of the Jansanghis--one with the Janata and the other with the RSS. They could have simply remained with the Janata and the government would have survived. But still they have not learnt and are promoting Hindutva or Modi kind. The young generation today has aspiration which are matierial. Of better material life, peaceful, non-divisive and non-corrupt. Also with leadership of integrity, well, at least equal to Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Do you think NCP will risk leaving the UPA and contesting the 2014 gneral elections and Maharastra assembly elections alone. Asked by: Alok Jain
Yes. The NCP will risk breaking the alliance with Congress and even join hands with the Shiv Sena-BJP combine if that brings them to power. Particularly if they feel that the congress is in danger of losing at centre.
Sir, don't you think that the action taken by NCP is just arm-twisting ? Asked by: Shyam Vadalker
It is even worse than that> it is merely to show that "I matter" that is Pawar matters and NCP matters. There is a continuous fear that they are being marginalised. So they have to make noise to get heard.
What are the chances for NCP if there were elections in Maharashtra now? Asked by: Sujan
NCP cannot go beyond 75-80 on its own and the Congress cannot get beyond 80-85. So only together they can stand. Or NCP can go with BJP-Sena and form government
WHY THAT SOCALLED SECOND NOT GIVEN TO THREE ? WHY MR. ANTHONY WAS NAMED SOCALLED SECOND? Asked by: RAJESH KHANNA
There is nothing like "second" poisition in the cabinet. There can deputy PM and then that is the second position. Otherwise sitting arrangement is only symbolic like in erstwhile Soviet Union, where the ranking was determined by who stands where in the national parade.
Will this rift turn out to be blessing in disguise for nda? Asked by: Gunjan
Any discomfiture of the UPA and Congress and Dr. Singh and Sonia /Rahul, will make BJP happy. But whether that will help them win elections, is a question. But you have to show something positive to win and not just thrive on the rival's problems.