‘Pioneer-Dilli Billi’- 28th.February.2010

There is so much noise being made on the price rise issue. Every political party is trying its best to get as much mileage as it can get from it. The UPA Government does not know how to tackle it. The Prime Minister is embarrassed but helpless. And the debate has attainted a high level of hypocrisy. No one has a solution or a constructive suggestion.
Firstly, the Prime Minister does not know how to tackle the Minister in-charge Mr.Sharad Pawar. He is the head of one of the major political party which forms the UPA today and unfortunately Pawar could not care less. He is a successful politician and is also a shrewd businessman. He is making the most out of the weakness of this Government. The aam admi is actually shocked at the silence of the Prime Minister, how he allows its coalition partners to blackmail him. It is more or less as you are in a fix. We are here for our agenda and not to make you comfortable beyond a point. Whether it is Sharad Pawar, Mamata or the DMK.
Mamata throws her tantrums and makes sure she gets her way. The other two partners are too arrogant to care. Sharad Pawar is a clever manipulator. He wears a lot of hats and as the head of the Cricket Board; he has lots of friends in the ruling as well as in the oppositions where favors are exchanged for their own benefits. Sharad had last year announced that he will not fight the next elections but obviously, gave up due to temptation. One wonders at times how much money does someone really need? Too much greed can make you loose your real focus. And that’s what has actually happened. But for sure his ambition of becoming Prime Minister, he know is not possible with Rahul as active as he is. Rahul has given all the other political party heads a run for their money.
Mamata Banerjee, on the other hand is too focused, she could not care a damn on what happens to the Railway Ministry. Her focus is only that she must, must take over as the West Bengal Chief Minister. She does not attend Union cabinet meetings; she is always in Kolkatta and hardly attends office in Delhi. She is very clear about her motive. She is not answerable to anyone. And makes sure her people are in line with her. Her agenda for the future is clear and will go to any extent to get her government in Kolkatta. To the extent of now even calling business to invest in West Bengal.
The DMK is of course all in the family for the Supremo. He has enough kids to be adjusted in the cabinet and he wants the most lucrative portfolios for them. He has managed till now and will keep managing between his two family houses he has till now managed with great balance. In the state and centre his kids are well looked after. They then look at the financial status of DMK. That is what happens to these regional parties. Finances to run a political party is a serious matter. The election’s expenses are so high. So, that is one good reason that the representatives in the high command of every party demand a sort of pay off for supporting the Government.
It is a shame that the voter does not realize how many adjustments even a straight and simple hardworking Prime Minister has to make to keep running if one party does not rule. Hopefully the voter will see through the hypocrisy of the allied partners and opposition too.