Tamil Nadu Elections -2016

The Election commission has deferred polls to Arvakurichi constituency in Tamil Nadu on charges that the candidates and political parties have bribed the voters. This is the first time in the history of independent India; the EC has postponed election to a constituency on the grounds of bribery. It sounds funny that The EC has chosen to defer polls only in one constituency. If this yardstick is used, I feel the EC should postpone polls in all the constituencies of the state. I don't think it would be possible to name a single constituency in TN where money is not paid as a bribe to the voters by one party or the other. The two Dravidian parties have contributed to this downfall and degradation of electoral politics in Tamil Nadu. One party started this dangerous and cancerous trend and the other party mastered the craft with innovative techniques to hoodwink the EC in bribing the voters. EC deferring polls to Arvankurichi does not serve any purpose. After a week, poll will be held in this constituency with the same candidates in fray. Will the candidates become holy men in a week's time? EC should disqualify these candidates and order fresh nominations for this constituency and debar the two candidates who were responsible for deferring the poll in this constituency. It will also serve as an eye opener to the political parties, at least in future elections.

TN has the dubious distinction in many firsts in electoral politics. The freebie culture was first introduced in TN by one Dravidian party. The gullible voter was easily deceived by the freebie offers of the political party. Seeing the sway the freebies had on voters, the other Dravidian party offered more enticing freebie offers to stay in the contest. The poor voter has to choose a party that offers more freebies. How can political parties lavishly offer freebies from public exchequer? No one is bothered  about this. As usual this time also the two Dravidian parties have offered freebies .First time in the history of India, the EC has send show cause notices to two political party bosses to explain why their party should not be disqualified for "non-compliance of the guidelines of the Commission and also reflect the rationale for the promises made in your manifesto and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirement for the same". The EC has also said that if they don't respond with in the stipulated time EC "would take appropriate further action" . I am sure nothing concrete is going to happen. These parties know how to make EC say "we are satisfied with the responses from these political parties" 

 At a time when EC reported the cash seized by the flying squads have exceeded 100 crore, comes the shocking news of 3 container loads of cash amounting to 570 crores being seized by the flying squad .Though reports say the cash belongs to SBI ,there are very many missing links and raises many questions and most of them remain unanswered . Is it a routine practice for SBI to transfer cash in containers to other branches? What is the official guidelines and checks for carrying out such huge cash transfer? Why they were not followed? When money taken to ATM is accompanied with armed guards, how come container loads of cash goes without any proper security? Do banks transfer cash without proper documents? Which bank has strong rooms to store container loads of cash? Why the lorry did chose a route that is not a highway? Why did they not stop and sped past the flying squad, despite they were asked to stop . All these questions become all the more important in the wake of complaints by political parties few weeks ago about container loads of money being stashed in safe locations for distribution on the polling day .Why should the cash be moved a day before the polls ? In the wake of flying squads of the EC making huge recovery of cash during their raids from the house of close friends of many political heavy weights it assumes mysterious proportions. Our politicians talk about schemes .But when it comes to implementation, they say we lack funds. This is called politicians economics .It has nothing to do with politics or economics. But is it not surprising to see that they get enough money, when it comes to defeating some body in elections? 

 How aware is the common man who casts his vote tomorrow? I feel there should be a bridle to curb and rein in political parties and political bosses from committing corrupt practices and indulge in unholy nexus with nefarious elements against the interests of the state and its people. We need a government to govern us. We get a government we deserve .If we vote for looters, we would be looted again and flooded with yet another freebie offer during the next elections. A political combine would serve as a bridle to one another and a watchdog .I know it is a wishful thinking. Because such combines in the past at the center were disastrous. Yet at the present moment the need of the hour is to try another viable alternative. 

A government that does not squander public money, a government that conserves our natural resources and strives hard to improve them, a government that GOVERNS in the literal sense, an open transparent government with no corruption at all levels, and a political leadership that is MODEST with a STRONG WILL to act decisively, when it comes to the question of the interests of the state and the nation,is the need of the hour. Let us hope for the best. Remember the political process does not end with the Election Day. Elect a leader who is accountable and answerable to all he and his government does for the next five years.

Congress party in Tamil Nadu

The congress party in Tamil Nadu is isolated and sidelined by all the other major parties in forging an alliance for the 2014 elections which is hardly a month away. DMK its former ally does not want congress as an ally . AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha says 'Oust congress to make India strong '. Until recently congress had a piggyback ride of  these two Dravidian parties alternatively ,ever since the 1969 historical split in congress . It is worth mentioning  even before the split in 1965 elections ,congress in Tamil Nadu lost power to DMK , due to price rice, anti Hindi  agitations and  strong anti incumbency factors. 

Since then congress could not stage a come back in the state .The state was alternatively ruled by the two  Dravidian giants . But  until 1975 ,the congress in Tami Nadu had hopes of staging a strong come back. With the  demise of the tall Tamil Nadu congress leader K.Kamaraj in 1975 ,the downward slide started for Tamil Nadu  Congress .

After the 1969 split in Congress ,Kamaraj was on the side of the Congress identified as Congress (o) ,O indicated  organisation . The other congress led by Indira Gandhi was known as Congress (I), I indiated Indira . The Indira  congress was swept to power in 1971 with a massive two thirds majority at the national level .At the same election, DMK led by Karunanidhi almost routed Congress (o) in Tamil Nadu led by Kamaraj ,despite a strong alliance . 

The congress high command started ignoring and neglecting the Tamil Nadu unit of the party from 1969 ,since the state unit was controlled by Congress (o) after the split in party and Congress (I) had no significant base in Tamil Nadu at that time .Neither was the high command interested in developing a strong base at the grass root level. It was also evident that as long as Kamaraj headed the congress (o) in Tamil Nadu ,it would be difficult for Congress (I) to make  a headway in the state . The aversion for the Tamil Nadu state unit by Congress high command started from that  point . All disgruntled elements in congress (o) of the Tamil Nadu unit were in congress (I). There was no leader worth mentioning or some one who could match the stature of Kamaraj . 

Indira realised this and started a dialogue with Kamaraj before his death ,to bring all congressmen in Tamil Nadu together under her . Unfortunately before this could happen Kamaraj died . After Kamaraj the two factions of  congress in Tamil Nadu merged . But had the merger took place when Kamaraj was alive ,it would have been different.But factionalism surfaced in Tamil Nadu congress and  the in fighting was at its  best . There was a void in Tamil Nadu congress after the death of Kamaraj .There was no powerful leader with grass root support . Leaders like C.Subramanyam ,O.V.Alagesan  and others who were central ministers in Indira's cabinet lacked cadre support . The biggest mistake by congress was its failure to nurture a local leader with mass base . 

The congress was heading the central government. The high command thought as long as they head the government at centre ,it does not matter who heads the local government in Tamil Nadu .The maximum they sought from  Tamil Nadu was the support of 39 MP's ,no matter to which party they belong . They could get this by piggyback  riding the Dravidian parties .   Thus they started coaxing the regional parties at the expense of their own party to get the support of 39 MP's . This was utilised in the best possible way by wily politicians like Karunanidhi.

There was again a brief period of ascendency for the congress men in Tamil Nadu in 1996 ,when Moopanar broke away from Congress to float his own party called TMC (Tamil Manila Congress).In fact a young Moopanar was hand picked and  groomed by Kamaraj to revamp Thanjavur congess in his days . Moopanar had differences with the then Prime Minister P.V.Nrasimha Rao over poll alliance with AIADMK .He then left congress and started his own party . During this  period  the TMC had a semblance to the congress (0) led by Kamaraj at the time of the split . 

Unfortunately after Moopanar's demise ,TMC headed by his son G.K.Vasan decided to merge his party with the congress  and became a Sonia loyalist .Since then the faction ridden Tamil Nadu congress is on the slope down and never  made any serious attempt to build the party in the state .Neither did the high command allow any one from Tamil Nadu  congress to grow in stature .

I believe the biggest mistake TMC and Vasan did was to merge his party with the National congress . Congress in TN had no identity after the death of Kamaraj. Whatever identity it had as TMC was lost with the merger. For all practical purposes the people of TN  considered TMC  as state congress  party.  But by merging the party with  the Indian National congress ,the congressmen in TN lost whatever little say ,they had in national politics. 

Just an year after Moopanar floated TMC ,Mamta Bannerji who was also a member of P.V. Narasimha Rao cabinet  dissatisfied with congress functioning in West Bengal ,left congress and floated her own party Trinamul Congress  also known as TMC now. She maintained her identity and refused to merge with congress . One can see  how powerful a leader she is now . She started her party as an alternative to the West Bengal Congress unit  because she claimed the WB unit is a stooge to CPI-M and wanted to clean WB congress . She meant business and today she has replaced the CPI-M government at WB. 

Had TMC led by G.K.Vasan refused to merge with congress ,the erstwhile TMC would have been as powerful as Mamta's party and perhaps would have brought back congress rule in TN and replaced the Dravidian parties . The congress  high command nurtured both Dravidian parties than their own party . It is a grave mistake committed by the congress. Also congress high command never wanted any powerful  local  leaders. They all the time tried to stymie the growth of any leader at local level . Wherever the party had powerful  local  leaders,the party had fared well . Congress has  in a systemic way stalled the growth of a local leader . They fail to understand it is a question of local pride . Why Mamta is popular ? .It is a local pride . Perhaps the dynastic rule in congress give them a scare when a powerful  leader surfaces . 

Another blunder by congress is distancing itself from local sensitive issues . I am sure congress parties stand  would have  been different if they had a stake in the state on many sensitive issues . They care a hoot about local sensitive issues because it is not going to affect their party ,since they have no presence in the state. This is very evident on the stand of Karnataka congress on Cauvery row. The congress high command does not want to antagonise the Karnataka unit of congress ,because they have a stake in Karnataka.

If congress continues to treat state units this way ,soon congress will be wiped out in many states . The best part  is despite severe drubbing in TN congress has not learnt any lessons . Congress in TN is literally in a quandary.Now  it is very clear all parties in TN shun congress .Many electorates will also shun congress in TN .With regional  parties becoming stronger all over the country , the only way congress can make a come back in state is through the Moopanar or Mamata way . As long as the party high command ignores local leaders and local sentiments ,Congress in states would soon vanish .Another recent example is the plight of congress in Andhra Pradesh . The only solace is Rahul Gandhi wants to strengthen party base in TN. But will he succeed ? 

Cauvery water row

The Cauvery water sharing between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka has eluded resolution for a very long time.The dispute is over the water sharing formula agreed between the erstwhile Madras Presidency and the Mysore Princely State.The sharing formula was arrived at based on the Cauvery basin area in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.The river originates in Karnataka but the river basin area covered by Cauvery in Tamil Nadu is more than Karnataka.Cauvery is the source for irrigation in both the states.Karnataka uses Cauvery water for irrigation ,drinking water and hydel power  generation.The failure of monsoon in catchment areas frequently  resulted in lowering of the reservoir levels and Karnataka  was reluctant to release water to Tamil Nadu as per the agreement.Negotiations between states were not fruitful  and GOI set up a tribunal in 1990 to resolve the ticklish issue.The tribunal delivered a final judgement after 17  long years in 2007.The annual allocation for TN by the tribunal was 419 billion cubic  feet and  270 billion cubic feet for Karnataka.Kerala and Pondichery also have a small share of Cauvery water.All the parties to the dispute filed review petitions .In the meantime there were interim awards by the tribunal and when Karnataka honoured the award there were protests in Karnataka.Politicians on both sides played to the gallery and passions ran high.Karnataka felt the interim award was not equitable and there was no distress sharing formula.In 1997 GOI formed the Cauvery River Authority with powers for implementing interim orders.But  Karnataka opposed vesting these powers to the CRA .Hence the GOI constituted two bodies.CRA with  four  chief minister's(AP,TN,Kerala and Karnataka) as ex-officio members and PM as ex-officio Chairman..The Cauvery monitoring committee consisting of experts to analyse and review ground realities.The current situation is Karnataka is reluctant to release water as stipulated by PM/ CRA/ Supreme court.More over,politicians have made it a political issue  keeping the vote bank in mind.

Both sides should see reason and come to a negotiated settlement and should be  prepared for some reconcilation from their rigid stands.Politicians should stop playing to the gallery and incite passion among gullible public.However as a permanent solution to the irrigation needs,both karnataka and TN should give impetus to watershed management in delta areas and revive tank irrigation systems.In olden times a significant area was irrigated by tank water bodies.There has been a steady decline in water bodies in TN .Laxity by authorities over the years have resulted in many tanks becoming dry .In olden days Kings sponsored tank construction efforts with a vision and purpose . Our governments don't have a long term vision and are not pro active .Tanks were the important irrigation source in the past.TN has become vulnerable to drought because of the neglect in mainataining tank water bodies.There was a steady decline in tank irrigated areas in TN.It is not very expensive to build and maintain tank water bodies.It will also improve ground water recharging.All tanks are rain fed .Wells and pumps gradually replaced tank irrigation .Added to it most tanks were encroached.Not strengthening embankments and no silting also contributed to decline of tank water bodies.All temples in TN had tanks .Now most temple tanks are dry. These temple tanks were used for rain water harvestng by kings those days.In fact there is an old adage in Tamil 'Don't live in a place where there is no temple ' (கோவில் இல்லா ஊரில் குடியிருக்காதே) .The implied moral was that a place with a temple will have no water scarcity . Temple tanks were constructed in areas with rich water resource.

We have more recent examples in Ralegan Siddhi and Hiware Bazaar.Ralegan Siddhi, a tiny village near Pune was affected by severe drought .Today water is abundant in this village and agriculture flourishes.It is a model village today.The success story behind Ralegan sidhdhi is watershed management initiated by Social activist Anna Hazare.Hiware Bazaar was another drought prone village not long ago.Many villagers left the village as there was no water to raise any crop .Like Anna Hazare Popatrao Pawar transformed the village .Today Hiware Bazaar is the village with the highest GDP in the country.Hiware Bazar Gram Sabha instituted a watershed development programme.The village has successfully fought drought and drinking water problems. This village is known for its water conservation systems.This village conducts an annual water audit today.When two committed individuals can change the fortunes of two drought prone villages ,why our governments with so many technocrats and experts at their disposal are not able to address to the issues and resolve them.