Wikileaks!

1)Wiki leaks
Son: Dad, now many politicians are trembling in their shoes afraid of wiki leaks' disclosure about them in coming days.
Dad: Yes, my son.Soon in parliament debates on Wiki leaks' revelations would stop.

(2)Alliance with honour
Son: Dad, Congress clamoured for a respectable alliance with TMC.
Dad: Yes, my boy.
Son: Is it alliance with respect?
Dad: Yes, my son.It's an alliance to respect the High Command.

(3)Whom to vote?
Son: Dad, are you pro-changer or no-changer?
Dad: I'm always a pro-changer,my boy provided, of course, it's a change for the better!

Poll Prospect Of Congress In Bengal

Congress took more than three weeks to declare the names of the contestants in upcoming assembly election since the announcement of poll dates.But what's unfortunate the list has practically satisfied none.So now all hell has broken loose.Infighting among the Congress workers has started almost in every district.Workers from many constituencies are staging demonstrations at Pradesh Congress office for change of candidates.However, it's nothing new for Congress.Before each election almost similar things happen.What is worrying is this time resentment among congress activists is quite high.Many heavy weight Congress leaders have been denied tickets.At many places the disgruntled leaderships are fielding candidates to contest the official ones. Heavyweight leaders like Adhir Choudhury in Murshidabad and Shanker Singh in Nadia have declared rebellion openly.Again, some Congress workers at Murshidabad have reportedly burnt the pictures of Adhir Choudhury in protest. Congress party seems now to be in total disarray.SUCI, PDS and other small parties which were scheduled to form alliance with Cong and TMC are now forming a separate front which would plant candidates against Cong.It's really difficult for such a disintegrated and disunited party to fight an election.It's very likely the workers won't put in their whole hearted endeavour to see their candidates win.On the contrary they might sabotage the candidatures of their own party.However, things might apparently shape up at the last moment, but under current of discontent might flow and that would stand in the way of faring well in polls,.

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Trinomool-Congress Alliance

Regarding alliance between TMC and Cong in the upcoming assembly polls it happened what ought to have happened.Cong High command was in no mood to let the opportunity of dislodging the LF from power in Bengal go wasted.Her experiment proved unbelievably successful in Lok Sabha poll as the left fared very badly at the hustings.She didn't,however, interfere in seat sharing that failed in civic polls perhaps because it was beneath her dignity to intervene in petty matters like municipal elections where only 17% of the electorate particpate.Her aim is to cut to size the Left in national perspective.As wikileaks have revealed US often meddle in internal politics of our country perhaps cong High command's decision to help TMC oust Leftist govt in Bengal might be influenced by US suggestion.That apart, position of the scam ridden UPA govt at center is abjectly bad.Its relation with one of its largest allies DMK is more or less sour with scamster A. Raja behind the bar in 2G scam.So High Command can't afford to incur the displeasure of TMC supremo who might opt out of UPA govt to refurbish her image.UPA is now more a liability than an asset to her as being an ally of UPA she's to face the criticism made by the opposition.However, she's a stake as well.She can highlight her successes as rly minister of UPA in assembly poll camaign.But what's feared her claims of achievements might not be accepted by the opponents lying down.They'd point out the disparities between her tall claims and actual work done for which they've requisitioned privilege motion against her in parliament.There's another interesting point to mention is High command probably looks upon this alliance between TMC and her party as an opportunity to teach the Left a lesson for their abortive venture to pull down UPA-1 govt in collaboration with BJP on nuclear deal issue.What ever be the reasons Congress High command is trying her best to make the Left non- relevant in national politics.

Though Pradesh congress leaders are not at all happy over the way the alliance was forged.But Congress High command in fact is least interested to assuage their feelings in view of her single point program to clip the wings of the Left in national political scenario.It's true if TMC gets single party majority, Congress will play the role of subservience as second class citizen in the TMC-Cong led govt.Congress men will gradually switch their allegiance over to TMC and Congress will ultimately reduce to a sign-board party.So wait and watch what's in store for more-than-century old national party in our state.

In lighter vein only!

(1) Conspiracy:
Son: Why does Didi blame CPM too for failure in seat-sharing till date?
Dad: Didi's correct! There's conspiracy hatched by CPM.
Son: How?
Dad: With in a few days of announcement of election date CPM deliberately declared the list of candidates of LF and started poll campaign.
Son: So what?
Dad: Didi can't stay far behind.So she could not afford more time as asked by Congress to come to consensus in seat adjustment.

(2)Wind of change
Son: Do you think even now 'wind of change' is blowing as hard as during Lok Sabha Poll?
Dad: Definitely not, my son.It's nature of wind that its speed gradually subsides after blowing too fast.

(3)Majority
Son: Didi claims she'd get 2/3rds majority in the assembly poll.
Dad: It's her magnanimity she'd concede 1/3rd seats to others.

Horse-trading

UPA-2 is going through extremely bad patch of time.Scam after scam strikes it every other day.Now comes MP-purchase as revealed by Wiki Leak.However, horse trading is nothing new in parliamentary democracy, particularly in India. Interestingly, the amount is mind boggling-10 cores for each MP.Now as bribe taking has come to the fore, Govt should initiate an enquiry into the matter without wasting time and come clean.Pranab Mukherjee's contention that' what happened in 14th Lok Sabha can't be decided in the 15 th' is not only over simplification of the matter but is immoral too.Crime is crime whenever detected and it warrants prob and punishment.

Smashing a Lofty Ball!

It's simply idiocy to ban any drama or song or poem and for that matter any form of art as because it delivers some message that you think is prejudicial to your ideology.In fact to strangle a dissenting voice proves always counter productive and helps that voice itself.In fact ,by preventing to stage the drama Pasukhamar(dramatization in Bengali of Animal Farm, the most widely read book of Gorge Orwell) the administration, though it's now under total control of Election Commission, has put the ruling party, particularly CPM, on back foot before election as Rupchand Pal,a high profile leader of CPM, applied to the administration to stop staging the drama.However,local administration claimed they didn't permit to enact the drama on technical ground only and not on the request of Rupchand Pal.Chief Minister has openly disapproved of such action like prevention of staging any drama.But it's difficult to control the damage done by Rupchand Pal.As the election is near at hand the anti-LF lobby is up in arms against the 'govt's policy to gag voice of dissent'.If you make mistake, that too before election, must you pay price for it.If you give your opponent a lofty ball at net, he must smash it.Pity for LF!

In lighter vein only!

(1)Prac exam in pol.sc.:
Son: Dad,two groups of students are fighting with each other in the college campus in our locality even in presence of police.
Dad: Don't be afraid, my son!Students are only taking practical exams in their political science papers.Men in uniform whom you mistake for police are, in fact, acting as external examiners.

(2) Political Tsunami:
Son: Dad, a leader of a political party says tsunami is going to hit our state soon.
Dad: Don't worry.What he refers to is political tsunami, my boy.
Son: Still I'm afraid, dad.
Dad: Why, my boy?
Son: As after effect of a tsunami is always bad.

(3) Bargain:
Son: How many seats do you think Didi would concede to Congress?
Dad: Not more than 62 seats,I presume.
Son: See, congress demanded 98 seats at the out set.
Dad: Visit market places,you'd see women are better bargainers than men.
Son: Then no. of seats for cong could be increased if Sonia Gandhi directly participate in bargaining.

Playing second fiddle!

Perhaps Didi's not going to award more than 60 seats to Congress in assembly poll for contest. Congress has demanded 98 seats which they also know TMC supremo would never concede to them.But perhaps it's humiliating for them to settle at 60 and so they're clamouring for respectful alliance.However, respect would ever elude Congress till it emerges as a powerful force to reckon with in state politics.Had the political situation now prevailing been akin to that during Lok Sabha polls,Didi did not dither to go alone.In last few months situation has changed in favour of the Left.So Didi perhaps feels it's not prudent to contest alone.So she's sparing time to forge alliance with congress.However, even if there's alliance which is likely to ultimately shape up and TMC-Cong combine wins power, even then Congress won't expect respect from its ally if it(TMC) secures majority alone.Congress will have to play t second fiddle to TMC in Did's cabinet.

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Going Alone!

Wind of change is not at present blowing that hard as it did during last Lok Sabha and civic polls.It's much abated and LF's regained its lost ground to a considerable extent.It might be due some populist measures adopted by the govt.TMC have also contributed to some extent to the turn-around of LF.Its dismal performances at Zila Parisads at N- and S- 24- Parganas have disappointed voters in general.TMC supremo as rly minister is not successful either despite introduction of large number of trains and opening of innumerable computerized reservation centers.In fact her announcement of a large number projects has appeared to be too-good-to-be-true to voters.People have come to learn also the pathetic financial position of rlys.So they believe many of the projects declared will never see the light of the day and are mere election gimmicks.Again,TMC supremo's alleged hobnobbing with the Maoists whom the PM considers the greatest internal threat to the nation is also looked upon by many as political opportunism to wrest state power by any means.Nevertheless, this time,TMC has a fair chance to dislodge LF from power if they make alliance with Congress.However,if it goes alone it might miss the bus.

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Self- immolation!

It's really very shocking a young man in his thirties has had recourse to self immolation for some reason or other.What's no less shocking is the way a political party tried hard to hush up the incident and project it as an incidence of no consequence.A responsible member of the opposition hastened to say even without primary investigation that the man was mentally deranged and so there was nothing to clamour about the incident.Such an off-the- cuff remark is really unfortunate.On the other hand, it's equally sad some poltical parties are trying their best to derive a political mileage from this tragic issue particularly before election .It's not exactly as yet known why the man resorted to such an extreme step to end his life.However,contrary to Opposition leader's apparent conviction that the man is mentally ill,people of his locality and his dear and near ones have certified the man as normal and is in the bargain of philanthropic disposition.Though he's a TMC activist but he's very popular to all cutting across party line.Some say he went to Mamata's to report to her rly forms are being sold in her name for employments but he could't meet her as she was in Delhi.Out of frustration he doused him with kerosene from a jar and put fire to it near Mamata's house.Such an explanation is too naive and can't be believed.But as kerosene was with him, he went to Mamata's prepared for self immolation.Why did he take such an extreme step?It's a very difficult question-so queer is the human psychology!He's now battling with death at hospital and let us pray for his recovery.Only he can answer this million dollar question.

Perverse Presentation!

About a news TV Channel:
The way you're almost barracking a particular political party at every step and on the other hand brokering for its opponent is really shocking.You've made your channel almost a party organ.To serve your end you present news the way that practically panders to bad taste.Even the staunch supporter of a the party you betrays your tilt to would not perhaps approve of your endeavor.In fact, a sensible and knowledgeable viewer with any political affiliation would feel sorry to see how low a news channel can stoop.Unfortunately, all regional channels are more or less biased.They support either ruling party or the opposition.However,many of them do it in a very subtle way.But what's most irritating, you do it in a very crude way, if not bordering on giving a go-by to all decency and decorum.Now though honest and unbiased journalism is a myth and news are allegedly often paid the journalism you indulge in is not as yet happily very common either.Thank you.

Poll-vault

(1)Chief Minister:

Son: Didi’s not contesting assembly election.

Dad: Yes, my son.

Son: But, why dad?

Dad: If she contests election, she’ll have to be projected as next Chief Minister.

Son: What’s wrong in it? It’s a fact.

Dad: May be .But she hates Buddha and for that matter the post he holds .



(2)Poly phase elections:

Son: Why will elections be held in our state for so many days while it’s One-day or two-day affairs in other states?

Dad: Simple. Election Commission feels relaxed in our state and dare hold polls in leisurely manner over a couple of days unlike in other states.

(3) 8th LF government:

Son: Do you think 8th LF govt would be formed this time?

Dad: Perhaps not.

Son: Why, dad?

Dad: The Left is tired of governance .They need rest for some time provided Didi agrees to sanction it.

Willy nilly

Corruption,the order of the day!
In our country when a scam comes to the surface-normally it's unearthed by media- efforts are made to cover it up as Kapil Sibal has unashamedly done in case of 2G spectrum scam.But as media go on clamouring about it govt find no alternative other than initiating an inquiry into it at least willy nilly.The inquiry in such cases is an endless process as host of people are involved along with the main beneficiary. People ultimately forget about it and a new scam overtakes them.Not any effort is made by the administration to make the results of the scam public either.So nobody would know the fate of A.Raja after the probe is complete and by this time some other celebrity involved in a scam would engage their attention.Scams are too common in our country but perhaps equally uncommon are the instances of persons involved in scams being awarded punishments.So India has left a host of countries behind in the international scale of corruption.

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General Budget-2011

It's customary for the opposition to criticize general budget and the ruling party to eulogize it.So it's futile to ask P. Chidambaram to make comments on the budge or call upon Susama Swaraj or Gurudas Dasgupta to spell out their over all impression about it.Economists too differ in their opinion either.Some say the budget is more or less pro-people and others say it is not.Common people in general are only confused.They can't make out if the politicians simply criticize or laud the budget out of political compulsion.They can't realise the nitty gritty of the budget the economists discuss in print or electronic media either. However, after some time they could at least understand they've hardly anything to gain from the budget except the message that they should get prepared for harder days lying ahead.

However,only the fortunate few who pay income tax are marginally benefited in the budget for change in the slabs of income tax.In the present budget the finance minister has done a commendable job for elderly people by lowering the qualifying age from 65 to 60 for enjoying income tax benefit.In every sphere of conceding relaxation to senior citizens 60yrs is considered the eligible age but for some unknown reasons 65yr was the age to enable an elderly man to have concession in income tax .Govt could not answer why such a disparity existed.Any way, it's better late than never.

Once again,to ordinary man budget doesn't appear that important as it's to people at higher echelon of the society.The middle class people are endowed with the fringe benefits only as mentioned.So while the people at the lower rung of the society suffer in silence, the higher ups represent face of shining India as wished by almost all finance ministers.

Rly budget & role of Press

Press and politicians together can confuse and misguide people the way they like to.Common people naively believes what they say.Most of the ordinary people have neither time nor temperament to read between the lines what the politicians spell out to achieve their end.Unfortunately a section of press unashamedly help the politicians in this regard.Rly minister's wish fulfilling(Kalpataru) or dream budget particularly in view of hard financial constraints Rlys are now passing through is deliberately presented in a section of press as one that deserves all praise. Most of the projects incorporated in the budget would never see the light of the day for lack of funds.Performance of the preceding years in this regard bear testimony to what is feared.Rly minister is also aware of such fate for many of her proposals.It's also known to Prime minister and finance minister too.But they're all praise for the budget.This is all play acting to hoodwink gullible public.Rly minister knows well there's a fair chance of her being chief minister and then she'll have the opportunity of shrugging off all responsibilities of implementing the budget proposals.So open the flood gate of proposals in the budget at your heart's content.Thank you.

On The Brink Of Bankruptcy

Pre-rly budget review:
It's true most of the trains, particularly Durantas, introduced by Mamata Banerjee have been very popular among people.So are the computerized reservation counters.But the amenities provided to passengers are regrettably far from satisfactory.In this sphere much is left to be done and passengers are highly critical of travails they've to face during travel.The less said about her other promises , the better. What's most alarming is her luke warm attitude to the safety and security of railways which deserve first priority.So in her regime there have been record number of accidents in rlys.In fact she's been prisoners of her populist attitude and impulse to do large number of things in the shortest possible time to showcase her ability as an able administrator to burgeon her vote bank.No noble thing can be done by humbug.Rlyways have to bear the brunt of her short sightedness and rashness as well. It's now on the brink of bankruptcy, which has never happened before.Today also she'd announce a plethora of new proposals in her budget speech with an eye to the assembly election in the offing.What's unfortunate a section of press is unashamedly brokering for her and pampering her nakedly.

Mamata & Foreign Press

The foreign press which is primarily staunch anti left is eager to see the fall of LF govt in Bengal.To them it's the wonder of wonders as to how a LF govt can survive for as many as 35 yrs(if the govt really falls this time) in a pocket of a vast subcontinent that essentially follows rightists' ideology.Why did people elect the govt for seven times consecutively?Perhaps it's no parallel in history of Parliamentary democracy.Mamata Banerjee's politics are in fact based on negativity bereft of any ideology or program, whatsoever, except an ardent efforts of coming to power by any means.As a personality she's nothing extraordinary to gravitate foreign press either.Perhaps what interests American press is her possibility of being an instrumental in fall of extraordinarily long lasting anti American Left Front govt in Bengal(if it at all so happens).It's natural for anti-American stance LF is an eyesore to American press and for exactly the opposite reason,that's for anti Left stance, Mamata Banerjee stands out as favourite to them.So NY Times heaves praise on Mamata Banerjee for her enormous zeal and doggedness to oust Left forces from the seat of power, though her party is ideologically a bankrupt one.

Eve teasing

There's sudden spurt of eve teasing at different parts of the state.The tragic incident at Barasat, as it were, has opened the can of worms.In fact, incidents of teasing women are taking place everyday and almost everywhere. They go unnoticed as the victims feel shy of making it public or reporting it to police.In most cases they suffer in silence or have taken this social evil in their stride.Many think it's part of their life or they're destined to be treated this way by their male counter part.These ugly incidents come to light only when the offenders blatantly cross the limit or the victim is courageous enough to register protest against the display of the bestial instinct of man.In work place too women are more often than not subjected to sexual harassment.It's also a form of eve teasing.Pathetically in our male dominated society women often fail to receive the respect they deserve.

Eve teasers are obviously a perverted lot.Many of them are hardened criminals too.They react vehemently when they're challenged.Like the Barasat boy there're instances of being brutally assaulted and killed by the eve teasers when one ventured to protest against their wrong doings.So when a helpless woman fall prey to eve teasers' lewd comments or even an attempt to harass her physically hardly people dare stand by her.In such cases police too normally remain mere on lookers.Eve teasers even didn't spare the police surgeon Bapi Sen and mercilessly beat him to death. But would we allow the nasty practice of eve teasing continue unabated and unopposed?Would we allow some people with mental aberration and perversion hold sway in our society?Definitely not.We would collectively protest against eve teasing and mount pressure on the administration to act properly and take appropriate action against the act of outraging the modesty of women by the eve teasers.

Now Jadavpore Sisters!

In the wake of eve teasing incident of Barasat where Rajib fell prey to eve teasers and was brutally murdered while he was escorting his sister home from Barasat rly station at midnight another incident of eve teasing took place at Jadavpore where the culprits not only misbehaved with two sisters but also went on rampage at their residence and roughed up the inmates of the house.Police arrested the miscreants, though very reluctantly, and much to every body's surprise they were released on bail almost immediately after arrest.In fact police framed the case in such a manner court could not but grant them bail without delay.Offence perpetrated by the culprits should have constituted a non-bailable case but police presented it under bailable section of law for reasons best known to them.It's likely there must be some foul play some where in the present case,which warrants attention of the appropriate authority so that victims get natural justice.

Barasat Boy

It's no wonder that political parties fell over board like vultures on the dead body of the Barasat boy killed by drunken ruffians while escorting his elder sister home from railway station at mid night for petty political gain.It's also no wonder some political leaders of the opposition claimed they came to the boy's home much earlier than the Chief minister and also claimed the slain boy was their party comrade who gave his life to save the modesty of his sister only inspired by the ideals of TMC supremo.Such histrionics or calculated hysteria of the political parties might serve as a comic relief even in such gruesome and tragic circumstances.Thanks to people of Barasat, they have called the bluff and unswayed by crocodile tears shed by political personalities refused to entertain them in special way and did the last rites themselves.