Friday, September 15, 2006
IDRAAK namah
Dateline: Mumbai/Bombay
· ‘Split votes made all the difference’ , Daily, Mumbai comments on the recent Mumbai Municipal elections. Any poll understanding between Congress, Samajwadi and others of the third force could have routed Saffron Brigade. Unfortunately, Congress, SP, Janata all had the grand hallucination of carrying the day alone. Congress cannot change its stripes. The ‘imperial’ Bombay Congress President, Murli Deora, who had to resign, had earlier held court and expected all others to appear before him. His servile agents failed to convince others. The legacy of Congress arrogance, high-handedness, coterie rule, corruption and deep-seated contempt of Muslims, had sealed its fate.
· Samajwadi Party Bombay President deserved the front page banner photo with those of Bal Thackray and CM Manohar Joshi in Mid-day. Barely 3 years after Supreme Court released him from a trumped up TADA term, he inspired the people with his strong populist image, to be rewarded with 21 seats as compared to 26 of BJP. He could have done better, if third force alliance had been less demanding and more accommodating. The flavour of the election was accommodation and coalition.
· For Shiv Sena-BJP it was a negative vote. They have been non-performers. Minority baiting is still their trump card. The public has silently witnessed Kini-murder handling, Hazare’s corruption charges against state Ministers, the Enron affair, Thackeray’s public outbursts, Sena cadres’ mob attack on Mahanagar daily’s offices, Khairnar’s Dadar residence and Canossa school campus. Once the opposition gets its act togather, all these issues will haunt Sena’s future prospects.
· Total of 20 successful Muslim candidates including SP (14), Congress (2), Independent (4), remained about the same, as in the past when Muslim League held sway over the city Muslim votes. The more things change, it seems they remain the same. Still, the background difference is that Muslims are no longer with Congress, Muslim League suffered because of its servile dependence on Congress, Samajwadi Muslims have upper hand, they have non-Muslim support, their cadre are better placed to face Shiv Sena cadre.
MORAL: Samajwadi Party can make meaningful dents in urban centers with strong Muslim leaders corraling OBCs, Dalits,Uttar Bhartiyas, Muslims and other minorities.
26 FEBRUARY 1997
· ‘Split votes made all the difference’ , Daily, Mumbai comments on the recent Mumbai Municipal elections. Any poll understanding between Congress, Samajwadi and others of the third force could have routed Saffron Brigade. Unfortunately, Congress, SP, Janata all had the grand hallucination of carrying the day alone. Congress cannot change its stripes. The ‘imperial’ Bombay Congress President, Murli Deora, who had to resign, had earlier held court and expected all others to appear before him. His servile agents failed to convince others. The legacy of Congress arrogance, high-handedness, coterie rule, corruption and deep-seated contempt of Muslims, had sealed its fate.
· Samajwadi Party Bombay President deserved the front page banner photo with those of Bal Thackray and CM Manohar Joshi in Mid-day. Barely 3 years after Supreme Court released him from a trumped up TADA term, he inspired the people with his strong populist image, to be rewarded with 21 seats as compared to 26 of BJP. He could have done better, if third force alliance had been less demanding and more accommodating. The flavour of the election was accommodation and coalition.
· For Shiv Sena-BJP it was a negative vote. They have been non-performers. Minority baiting is still their trump card. The public has silently witnessed Kini-murder handling, Hazare’s corruption charges against state Ministers, the Enron affair, Thackeray’s public outbursts, Sena cadres’ mob attack on Mahanagar daily’s offices, Khairnar’s Dadar residence and Canossa school campus. Once the opposition gets its act togather, all these issues will haunt Sena’s future prospects.
· Total of 20 successful Muslim candidates including SP (14), Congress (2), Independent (4), remained about the same, as in the past when Muslim League held sway over the city Muslim votes. The more things change, it seems they remain the same. Still, the background difference is that Muslims are no longer with Congress, Muslim League suffered because of its servile dependence on Congress, Samajwadi Muslims have upper hand, they have non-Muslim support, their cadre are better placed to face Shiv Sena cadre.
MORAL: Samajwadi Party can make meaningful dents in urban centers with strong Muslim leaders corraling OBCs, Dalits,Uttar Bhartiyas, Muslims and other minorities.
26 FEBRUARY 1997
