Challenges Before the New Chief Minister
By selecting Basavaraj Bommai as the new Karnataka Chief Minister, the BJP Central leaders have taken a smart decision. The Sangh Parivar-backed group within the BJP which planned to snatch power from the Lingayats in the State has beaten a retreat at least for the time being. At the same time, however, it has succeeded only partially in its first attempt. Having realized the strength of the outgoing Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and the Lingayat lobby which backed him to the hilt, the Sangh-Parivar group had to make amends to its original plan. The developments in Karnataka are thus seen as the BJP’s central leadership giving in to Yediyurappa by choosing one of his close confidantes for the hot seat. The RSS and the Central leadership will now keep a close watch on the new dispensation and will keep experimenting their agenda and push it ahead wherever possible during the two years before the next Assembly elections.
Compared to the known faces in BJP, the selection of Basavaraj Bommai is an excellent choice both for the state and for the BJP. The Central leadership’s selection was unexpected for the Hindutva hardliners in the BJP. By choosing Bommai, who has a history of working with Siddaramaiah, who is not identified prominently with the RSS and most importantly, is a confidante of Yediyurappa, the BJP leaders saved the state from the rule of a Hindutva hardliner. His choice must have come as a surprise to Bommai himself. His father S.R.Bommai became the Chief Minister in similar unexpected circumstances in 1988 and was in the post only for eight months. Power that comes unexpectedly can be lost as unexpectedly. If Basavaraja Bommai has internalized this lesson from his father’s experience, he will know how to moderate his own expectations from the post, given the current situation in the BJP.
Given the track record of the institutionalized corruption during Yediyurappa’s rule, it will be futile to expect the state’s administration to be back on the rails with a mere change of Chief Minister. If the Centre continues its step-motherly treatment of the state in providing funds, the new Chief Minister will also become helpless. When Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister, the Centre did not release the full share of GST to the state and repeatedly turned down the state’s request for adequate compensation during droughts and floods. The Central leadership did not back Yediyurappa politically either. He was not allowed to expand his cabinet for months after he was sworn in as Chief Minister in 2019. If only his cabinet colleagues had cooperated with him fully, Yediyurappa would have been able to give a much better administration. As he was making futile trips to Delhi to convince the Centre to release more funds, the State’s contingent of 25 MPs from his party did not come to his help. Instead they sided with the Centre and issued open statements that the State had adequate funds. That was at a time when Yediyurappa was staring at an empty treasury. The new Chief Minister can do any good to the state only if all these change in the coming days.
It is foolish to assume that the selection of Basavaraj Bommai will end dissidence in the BJP. Those who were personally dissatisfied with Yeddiyurappa might have found solace with his replacement but the source of their grouse was not addressed. Senior leader Jagadish Shettar has stated already that he will not join the new cabinet. Another senior leader Eshwarappa has demanded the post of the deputy Chief Minister. A group of seers from his Kuruba caste have voiced this demand on his behalf. Other prominent leaders such as Yatnal and Umesh Katti are sharpening their knives. Legislators in the pro-Yediyurappa group are obviously hurt. The new cabinet will have to accommodate the opposition turncoats whose support is crucial for the government to survive. In addition to all this, the silence of RSS leaders can also be analyzed in different ways. The new Chief Minister has said that he will take Yediyurappa’s guidance for administration. However, if Yediyurappa starts interfering in the administration, it will give rise to fresh problems. Similarly, if Bommai keeps Yediyurappa and his son at a distance, the father and son duo will start groupism within the party and may even lead a breakaway faction. Yediyurappa’s son has allegedly amassed such wealth during the two years of his father’s rule.
Most importantly, RSS which has not been able to implement its game plan fully can continue to sponsor groupism within the party to push for the kind of change that it wants to see in the government. It will obviously want to back leaders such as Prahlad Joshi, B L Santhosh, or Tejaswi Surya as Chief Ministers as they are the main torch bearers of its ideology.
If Bommai is able to provide good administration despite such challenges lined up before him, it would truly be his achievement. It is the duty of the Central leaders and RSS leaders therefore to cooperate with Bommai to provide good administration to the state that is reeling under Coronavirus, lockdown, and floods. Karnataka does not have the strength or the patience to witness yet another change in Chief Ministers before the next elections due in early 2022.
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Russian President Putin says India, Russia collaboration not directed against anyone
New Delhi (PTI): The India-Russia collaboration is not directed against any country and it is solely aimed at safeguarding the national interests of the two sides, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said against the backdrop of Washington's aggressive approach towards New Delhi and Moscow.
In the context of India's energy ties with Russia, Putin said certain "actors" dislike New Delhi's growing role in international markets in view of its close relations with Moscow and these elements are aiming to constrain India's influence for political reasons by imposing "artificial obstacles".
In an interview to India Today news channel that was released on Thursday evening, the Russian president, referring to Western sanctions against Moscow, said his country's energy cooperation with New Delhi largely "remains unaffected".
Putin landed in New Delhi this evening on a two-day visit to hold summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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His trip comes at a time India-US relations are going through possibly the worst phase in the last two decades after Washington imposed a whopping 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, including 25 per cent levies for New Delhi's procurement of Russian crude oil.
"Neither me nor Prime Minister Modi, despite certain external pressure we face, have never approached our collaboration to work against someone," the Russian president said in response to a question on Washington's aggressive approach.
"President Trump has his own agenda, his own goals, whereas we focus on ours -- not against anyone, but rather aimed at safeguarding our respective interests, India's and Russia's interests," he said.
Rejecting Washington's objection to India procuring crude oil from Russia, Putin said if the US has the right to buy Russian fuel, why "shouldn't India have the same privilege".
"As for India's purchase of energy resources from Russia, I would like to note and have already mentioned this once, the US itself still buys nuclear fuel from us for its own nuclear power plants," Putin said.
The Russian president also responded to a question on India lowering procurement of crude oil from Russia in view of Western sanctions on Moscow.
ALSO READ: Russian president Putin arrives in Delhi on 2-day visit
"Well, there is a certain decline in overall trade turnover during the first nine months of this year. This is just a minor adjustment. Overall, our trade turnover stands almost at the same level as before," he said.
"I can't give you exact monthly figures right now, but trade in petroleum products and crude oil, as well as the production of petroleum products for consumers of oil, Russian oil, is running smoothly in India," he said.
Putin also said that India cannot be treated the way it was several decades back.
"Prime Minister Modi is not someone who succumbs to pressure easily. The Indian people can certainly take pride in their leader. This is absolutely obvious," he said.
"His stance is unwavering and straightforward, without being confrontational. Our goal is not to provoke conflict; rather, we aim to protect our lawful rights. India does the same," he said.
On the Ukraine conflict, Putin said he believed the US is actively seeking a solution to this problem. "I am absolutely certain, with no doubt at all, he (Trump) sincerely aims for a peaceful resolution."
Putin said Trump genuinely wants to end the hostilities and prevent further loss of lives. "But there could also be political interests tied to ending the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, or economic motives too."
On bilateral trade, Putin said over 90 per cent of "our transactions are already conducted in national currencies".
"While some complications arise due to the presence of numerous intermediaries, there are also solutions," he said.
The Russian president also complimented PM Modi's leadership.
"Our collaborative endeavours with Prime Minister Modi carry significant weight because they transcend our mutual ties," he said.
"Given its direct relevance to both nations, ensuring stability in key areas of engagement is crucial, as it helps secure the fulfilment of our objectives. Prime Minister Modi sets very challenging tasks for the country --and for himself in the first place, then for the administration, and eventually for the nation," he said.
The Russian president did not give a direct reply to a question on if India was looking at procuring additional batches of S-400 missile systems.
"India stands out as one of our reliable and privileged partners in this area. We are not merely selling something to India and India isn't merely buying something from us in the sphere of defence and security.
"It is a different level, a different quality of relations we have with India, and we value this. We see how India values this relationship too," he said.
Putin said Russia is not simply selling defence technology to India but it is sharing it with the country.
"It is a very rare thing to see in the sphere of military-technical cooperation. It speaks to the level of trust between the two countries and the level of trust between the two peoples.
"We have a broad portfolio indeed, including naval construction, rocket and missile engineering, and aircraft engineering," he added.
