The ‘full term’ decision of the coalition government
We all are well aware of the fact that state has a coalition government. It would be partial truth to say this government came to this agreement because they wanted to keep BJP out of power. Some people wanted to keep Siddaramaiah out of the power circles too. The results were conducive for that. If this coalition didn’t happen, would the JD(S) still maintain a distance from BJP? This question has no easy answer. Though Devegowda had said they would stay far from BJP, Kumaraswamy hadn’t bolstered it with his statement. He followed the wait and watch method. Even if JD(S) maintained a distance, the party feared that BJP would split their party and come to power. Congress stretched the hand of coalition having realized BJP would take the same route to form the government.
The desperation on this was so much that when Cong accepted HD Kumaraswamy as CM of the coalition government, the party didn’t have clarity on the aspect of whether he’d be the full term CM or for some particular time frame in the five years tenure they have. It has just been days since the coalition government has come into existence, the discussion on whether HDK is a full term CM is coming to the forefront. If this question has not been dealt with right now, this would definitely end the coalition government rather unceremoniously.
Was it imperative for Cong to join hands with JD(S) is the primary question. Even if JD(S) and BJP had formed the government, they would have never offered CM’s seat to HDK is the biggest truth. While accepting the ‘terms and conditions’; Cong should have negotiated clarity on whether it would be partial time by both parties in the CM’s chair. Both parties should have known keeping BJP out of power is important for both. But the results pushed DK Shivakumar and Parameshwar to be inevitable candidates. Siddu’s grip loosened on Cong and DKS held the reins. If JD(S) stretches hand of coalition with BJP, DKS and Parameshwar would have lost the opportunity. Hence, it was important to form the government immediately. And the ‘term’ discussion is in the forefront only now. While Parameshwar has said no decision has been taken on ‘full term CM’, HDK has been stating he would be the CM for the entire term. Siddu also reiterated Parameshwar’s words after discussion with high command of his party and said full term CM is something that wasn’t discussed earlier. That may mean HDK would have to vacate the seat after half a term. But Kumaraswamy has gone silent over the matter now. The silence is rather strategic too.
In less than 3 days of being in power, HDK has already spoken about ‘resignation’ because he feels he is at the beck and call of Cong High command and not that of the people of the state. ‘Loan waiver cannot be done in 24 hours. Farmers need to give me more time. If not, I’d waive off the loans,’ he says. Indirectly, he has indicated Cong is against loan waiver decision. ‘Beck and call’ words are against the spirit of democracy. Hence CM HDK has taken the voters and put them in the witness box. He says he does not need to be indebted to them because they didn’t give him majority seats. That he cannot waive off the loans in 24 hours is a fact.
HDK must have known he’d never get the majority to waive off loans, hence this promise was probably made in overconfidence. Today HDK sits in the CM’s chair owing to his own reputation, and not as a Cong man. If people wished for it, they could have given a massive blow to HDK by rejecting him and giving majority to BJP too. Hence HDK should know he is to be accountable to people of the state, and not Cong high command. To seek time to execute loan waiver is what a seasoned politician would do. The new CM has also threatened them with ‘resignation’ demon. Should the coalition government collapse tomorrow, HDK has already prepared his own pitch. This is an indirect warning to Cong too.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Modi should leverage his ties with world leaders to de-escalate war in West Asia: Omar Abdullah
Jammu (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said India can play a meaningful role in de-escalation in West Asia, given Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong relations with the warring countries and their neighbours.
He said Pakistan was leveraging ties with Iran and the United States, and that any effort towards ending the war should be welcomed.
"As I said in the House (Assembly), we would like the war to end as soon as possible. The role that the prime minister can play may not be possible for anyone else because of his good relations with all these countries," Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
He, however, said any escalation would not be easy to manage.
"Any such move by US President Donald Trump, despite the long history of Iran resisting external domination, would not be easy," the chief minister said.
Asked about Pakistan mediating in the war, he said, "I will simply say that if any country can play a role in preventing this war, no one should have any objection to it."
He added, "I will repeat what I said … our prime minister has good and close relations with all countries — whether it is Israel, the United States, Iran, or the countries around Iran. If those relationships can be used to make some progress and help ease the situation, it would be a good thing."
Abdullah said attacks by terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in India, as suggested by a report from the United States, are not unlikely.
Meanwhile, he asserted that any efforts to end the war, be it from Pakistan, must not be resisted.
"Pakistan is using its good relations with Iran and the United States to its advantage, and it has done so. How can we object to that? If that angle helps in stopping the war, would you want them not to act and let the war continue? We want the war to stop. If any country can play a role in that, it should. And if we can play an even better role, then we should do so," he said.
On unemployment in J-K, the chief minister said the issue cannot be resolved overnight, and government jobs alone are not the solution.
He stressed the need to explore alternative avenues, highlighting the importance of Mission Yuva in promoting entrepreneurship.
"Mission Yuva provides not just funding but also support in preparing DPRs and post-startup assistance, such as marketing. In just nine months, distributing Rs 1,000 crore and approving numerous schemes is a significant achievement," he said.
Abdullah credited the coordination between the government and Jammu and Kashmir Bank for the scheme's progress.
