First thing in the morning, I enter office and see this headline - "Thackerey says only Pawar can lead India, sparks row". Immediate reaction - shocking, but not surprising. Sitting here in New Delhi, and thinking about the stinky state of Maharashtrian politics - it feels a bit depressing to see the events in what I consider my home-state. First of all, Happy Birthday Balasaheb !
Balasaheb Thackerey's open support to Sharad Pawar comes at a very crucial time in Maharashtra - not even a month ago, both leaders quite publicly flirted in what was considered to be a "courtesy" meeting. Elections beckon in 2009 and as much as the Shiv Sena looks seemingly frustrated with the BJP, on several issues, the NCP (Pawar's party) has also developed a gradual apathy towards Vilasrao Deshmukh and the Congress' politics. The Congress has also gotten into a big time muddle within its own ranks as Narayan Rane's public outcry against Vilasrao Deshmukh's handling of the state. And, some of the policies of that Congress-NCP Government is nothing but sham of the highest order. With the exception of Mumbai, the city - some of the outer suburbs are put to a two-hour load-shedding run everyday and this is not good for a state, which was once a power-surplus one. Farmer suicide at Vidharba is not a major issue for Mr. Deshmukh, who surprisingly has got himself re-elected from that constituancy. His interview to Karan Thapar's Devil Advocate in 2006 is worth a mention, where he went on to say, "Maharashtra is not a failed state" and as Stephen P Cohen mentions about Pakistan's description - I'd like to call Maharashtra a "flawed state".
Mr. Thackerey, let Sharad Pawar lead Maharashtra first, forget about India. As of now, only Anil Kumble can lead India.
Maharashtra has got into a bad TINA state of affairs. There is no alternative. Period.
Balasaheb Thackerey's open support to Sharad Pawar comes at a very crucial time in Maharashtra - not even a month ago, both leaders quite publicly flirted in what was considered to be a "courtesy" meeting. Elections beckon in 2009 and as much as the Shiv Sena looks seemingly frustrated with the BJP, on several issues, the NCP (Pawar's party) has also developed a gradual apathy towards Vilasrao Deshmukh and the Congress' politics. The Congress has also gotten into a big time muddle within its own ranks as Narayan Rane's public outcry against Vilasrao Deshmukh's handling of the state. And, some of the policies of that Congress-NCP Government is nothing but sham of the highest order. With the exception of Mumbai, the city - some of the outer suburbs are put to a two-hour load-shedding run everyday and this is not good for a state, which was once a power-surplus one. Farmer suicide at Vidharba is not a major issue for Mr. Deshmukh, who surprisingly has got himself re-elected from that constituancy. His interview to Karan Thapar's Devil Advocate in 2006 is worth a mention, where he went on to say, "Maharashtra is not a failed state" and as Stephen P Cohen mentions about Pakistan's description - I'd like to call Maharashtra a "flawed state".
Mr. Thackerey, let Sharad Pawar lead Maharashtra first, forget about India. As of now, only Anil Kumble can lead India.
Maharashtra has got into a bad TINA state of affairs. There is no alternative. Period.
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