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.
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Rohit identifies Arshdeep, Hardik as key to India's chances in T20 World Cup
New Delhi (PTI): T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma reckons all-rounder Hardik Pandya and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh will hold the key to India's prospects in the upcoming edition of the tournament.
Defending champions India will enter the T20 showpiece as one of the overwhelming favourites due to their massive depth and quality.
Rohit highlighted Arshdeep's effectiveness with the new ball and at the death.
"It is a big positive to have both Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh together because they always attack for wickets. Arshdeep's biggest strength is swinging the new ball and taking early wickets. He mainly bowls with the new ball and at the death. Starting and finishing are the most important phases, and he is strong in both," Rohit told JioHotstar.
"With the new ball, he swings it to get left-handers caught in the slips and targets the pads of right-handers. He has also started taking the ball away from right-handers. These skills are key for a new-ball bowler. He always tries to take wickets, which is why he bowls the first over."
Rohit added, "In the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, he did a great job. I still remember he dismissed Quinton de Kock when he was set and batting well. In the 19th over, he gave away just two or three runs, which built pressure on the South Africans.
"That is his game, bowling with the new ball and at the death, and he will play a key role for India in the 2026 T20 World Cup."
India won the last edition of the tournament in the Americas under Rohit's captaincy, after which the dashing opener retired from the T20 format internationally.
Rohit also spoke about how Hardik's dual role as a finisher and multi-phase bowler provides crucial balance to the Indian team.
"Whenever Hardik Pandya is in the team, his role is huge. He bats and bowls very consistently. His batting is crucial when the team is stuck. If we have a score of 160 on the board in 15-16 overs and Hardik is batting, then he's the one who can help the team reach 210-220 from there or if we are 50 for 4, he has to build the innings.
"Batting in the middle order at 5, 6, or 7 is very tough. That is why Hardik's role is critical in any format. We know his bowling. He bowls in key phases, with the new ball, in the middle and in the death as well. His role is very important because he gives the team balance, letting us play six bowlers and keep our batting deep."
Rohit said accommodating both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy together in the playing XI is going to be a big challenge for the Indian team management.
"The biggest challenge for captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir will be how to play both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy together. If you want that combination, you can only do it if you play with two seamers, which is a big challenge.
"But honestly, I would be tempted to play both Varun and Kuldeep because they are wicket-takers and batters struggle to read them. I would surely pick them."
The former India skipper added, "Looking at the conditions in India, like in this New Zealand series, there is a lot of dew. In February and March, dew will be heavy across most parts as winter ends.
"Even in Mumbai, which doesn't get cold, there's still dew. I'd say 90-95 percent of grounds in India have dew. That's the challenge. What do the coach and captain think? Are they comfortable with three spinners? Then they can play spin, but there's no fixed rule. It depends on the team leaders' thinking."
Rohit also urged Kuldeep to stop appealing on every ball and to rely on the wicketkeeper's judgment for reviews.
"My one simple advice to Kuldeep is to just bowl quietly and go back to his mark. You can't appeal on every ball. This is basic. I keep saying it, but it still happens often. Even after telling him many times, he appeals at every chance. You have to use your head. Just because it touches the pad, it doesn't mean it's out every time. This isn't gully cricket.
"I get he is enthusiastic, but think of the team first. Each team only gets two DRS reviews. If I was the keeper, I could see where the ball pitched and if it was hitting, I could tell the bowler.
"But from covers or slip, you don't know the angle. You have to listen to what the keeper and bowler say. That's why when there's a review off Kuldeep's bowling, I don't look at him, I look at the keeper to decide."
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in venues across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
