Congress should give three top portfolios to Muslims
After forming the JDS-Congress coalition government amidst political high drama, now it is time for the coalition to confront another round of political strategies from different communities seeking representation to their communities while constituting the Cabinet. It is natural in a democratic set up. It is a social justice to ensure equal representation to each community based on its population in the administration and development. So, every community has the right to ask its share of portfolios while forming the cabinet.
Now, Lingayat and Vokkaliga (DK Shivakumar) communities have been attracting the attention in the state because of their demand of deputy chief minister post. In fact, the Lingayat leaders and community have been lobbying for this post in a big level. But the most surprising thing is there seems to be no strong demand or debate for the representation for Muslim community. A few Muslim MLAs have been demanding the positions. Apart from this, as a community, the Muslims have not placed their demand for the posts in a strong voice and it has not become a news either.
Though the Congress has no majority, it has formed the government. It is high time for the Congress high command on how to ensure justice to the Muslim community which has supported the party wholeheartedly. Even after recommending the Centre to consider Lingayat community as a separate religion in the state, Siddaramaiah did not get expected votes from that community. But the Vokkaliga community has supported the JDS in its strong bastion and in some parts, it has supported BJP. The interesting factor in this election is, the Congress has ‘lost’ the Ahinda votes from its basket. Despite a number of good programmes for the Dalits and Backward Classes and Siddaramaiah government was branded as ‘Ahinda government’, the result and voting share itself shows that the Congress has not got the votes from these two communities as it expected. But the Muslims have supported the Siddaramaiah government. Going by the result analysis and vote sharing, it is confirmed that more than 80 per cent Muslims have endorsed the government programmes and voted the Congress. This means, Muslims have played a pivotal role in Congress getting 78 seats. The Congress leadership should not forget this fact. The Congress leaders should think about ensuring natural justice to the community which supported them.
Now the Congress has seven Muslim MLAs. But both BJP and JDS have no Muslim MLAs this time. in recent years, this time the Muslim community has less number of MLAs. At this time, the Congress should not give excuses and cheat the Muslim community. Out of 22 portfolios, the Congress should give at least three posts to the community and while considering them, top portfolios like revenue, industry, health, education and others should be given. Those who were elected from Congress have all abilities to handle any portfolios. Considering the experience, previous achievements, the votes they have taken, regional representation, service to the party and opinion among people, the Congress should give cabinet ranks to minimum three members out of seven MLAs. Other minorities like Jains, Christians and others should also get their share. Social justice should not remain as a slogan, but it should be implemented effectively.
If the Muslims were cheated without doing this, the Congress will have to face the opposition from the community. Those who are against giving portfolios to Muslim community saying that Hindus would detach from the Congress, should clarify about how many Hindu houses they have reached, how many programmes of the Siddaramaiah government they have taken to the houses of Hindus? Just making loud speeches on the stages would not help as such speeches would not convert into votes. They have to work hard to get votes. But some Congress leaders have forgotten this very simple mantra. Such leaders have raised their objection on giving more seats to Muslims.
No community should be given more seats than it deserves. But it should get the seats it deserved as a social justice. Then only, we could ensure social justice. If it is forgotten, then Muslims may think of cornering the Congress in future.
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
