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Oct 25, 1999
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Smart Option
Hyderabad: Fresh from his electoral triumph,
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu wants to take the state administration towards his
goal of a smart (simple, moral, accountable, reliable, transparent) government. For that,
he is keen to retain only those IAS and IPS officers who are willing to fall in line with
his approach. Apparently, Naidu is peeved that during the polls several state officials
were in touch with APCC chief Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy thinking that the Congress would
return to power. Now that he is back with a bang, Naidu wants to avoid a "civil"
war and would be happy to relieve the Congress-friendly officials if they seek transfers
elsewhere. Retirement
Plans
Delhi: At
the CPI(M)'s politburo meeting last week, the agenda was overshadowed by West Bengal Chief
Minister Jyoti Basu's firm request to relieve him of the state's responsibility. Politburo
members downplayed it in the media, but a deadline was fixed. In March Basu would go on a
vacation to London, where he may divide his stay between his official residence at the
house of Prasanta Roy, a doctor close to the party, and a house that son Chandan has
recently acquired. According to the plan, the 85-year-old comrade may prolong his stay
there till July 8, 2000, his birthday, when he will formally resign. There was no
discussion whatsoever in the politburo on who would replace him.
Tiger's Meow
Mumbai: As the Maharashtra assembly election
results came in, Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray was huddled in a strategy session at his
Matoshree residence. The fractured mandate, split almost evenly between the Congress, NCP
and the Sena-BJP combine, had suddenly made Sharad Pawar all important. So when the BJP
tentatively suggested a tie-up with Pawar with Gopinath Munde as chief minister, there was
a roar of protest from Thackeray. Not at joining hands with Pawar, but at the prospect of
having the BJP's Munde as CM. A BJP leader commented: "He better stop roaring and
start thinking, else his roar will become a meow for the next five years."
Grounded Chopper
Chandigarh: Neck deep in a meltdown created
by its own financial mismanagement, the Punjab Government has grounded Chief Minister
Parkash Singh Badal's plans to acquire a six-seater air-conditioned helicopter. The
proposal, keenly pursued by Badal, reached a dead end in the Finance Department when the
negotiations were at an advanced stage. With the empty state coffer barely able to sustain
salary bills, the chief minister's office, wary of an outcry from the Opposition, has
quietly closed the chopper file, at least for the time being. For everyone knows that
frequent-flier Badal already has a hired chopper and an aircraft at his disposal.
CONFESSIONAL
SHEILA DIKSHIT: Delhi chief minister, is being
targeted by her partymen for the Congress' rout in the capital, which some of the losing
candidates hint was due to internal sabotage.
Are you ready to take the blame for the debacle in
Delhi?
No. It wouldn't be fair to blame me alone. The elections, remember, were fought on
national issues, not local ones.
Does it mean that Sonia Gandhi, and not Sheila
Dikshit, failed in Delhi?
I won't look at it that way. It looks like the BJP rode the Kargil wave well, and
we had nothing that could effectively counter that.
Some of the disgruntled partymen say they will go
to Sonia and seek your resignation.
They are free citizens, they can surely meet her. Let's wait and see what she says.
Your detractors say that the Sikh votes went to the
BJP because you fielded Jagdish Tytler.
I would not like to rule it out entirely. But the fact remains we had
carefully considered his candidature from the Sikh point of view as well.
Was your candidate selection poor overall?
There was nothing wrong with the candidates. After all, tell me, what is wrong with
Manmohan Singh?
Dissension has been the Delhi Congress' bane.
Internal squabbles, sabotage and indiscipline in the ranks have always torn the
Congress apart. Instead of strengthening us when we go through a bad time, some partymen
try and weaken the Congress further.
Does it worry you that you may be removed?
The rebels will be dealt with firmly. As for me, I don't see why I should be blamed
for the failure.
-Sayantan
Chakravarty |
