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The downgrading of the credentials of India’s constitutional democracy has been a subject of severe domestic and global critique in recent times. Nevertheless, the Indian diplomatic positions in the global fora continue to emphasise upon its track record as a vital constitutional democracy with sound judicial safeguards to protect human rights. When this contradiction is analysed from a historical perspective, the warning signs for the sustenance of the constitutional democracy are notable.

At a time when the privatization of the central public sector enterprises, is sweeping the Modi Government, a number of PSEs are striving hard to retain their PSE character. Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals ltd (BCPL) is one which has performed a miracle by its turnaround in the last five years.

Poll campaigning is at its peak in two important states—Haryana and Maharashtra. After return of Narendra Modi government in 2019 elections, this is the first test of whether the Prime Minister’s popularity remains intact, or whether the Congress and regional parties have mustered the capability to challenge this. The polls will also determine the direction and state of politics in the days to come.

The October 27 Argentinian election, which will probably unseat current right-wing President Mauricio Macri, will have a big impact on workers and unions, Argentina’s former ambassador to the U.S. told a recent congressional briefing. That’s because the leading presidential candidate, who appears to have wide support and apparently leans towards a pro-worker platform, is Alberto Hernandez, former chief of staff to the late President Nestor Kirchner. Hernandez is the Justicialist Party nominee.

Bolivian President Evo Morales and Vice President Álvaro García Linera are presently campaigning for their fourth term in office. In elections set for October 20, Morales, candidate of the Movement to Socialism Party (MAS), is polling 15 points ahead of ex-President Carlos Mesa of the Citizen Community Party. Seven other presidential candidates are competing. The odds favor a first-round victory for Morales. The voting will also determine the make-up of Bolivia’s Congress.

The Marad flats issue, which has hogged national headlines, has entered the final phase with the actual demolition of the apartment complexes, ordered by the Supreme Court, beginning from Friday.

Mohammad Ahraf Bhat prefers to sit indoors since the ruling dispensation in New Delhi did away with the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and split the state into two UTs — Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh.

A sense of gloom is swallowing up all the glow there is in the Indian economy. The noticeable among them is fall in the consumption pattern. Among the factors leading to such dire miseries is absence of jobs. That, in its turn, has led to fall in the capacity to buy even the essentials. Inability to meet these basics makes the quality of life frustrating.

Many high profile economic offences surfaced during Modi’s rule, and actions were taken mostly against his political opponents, the latest victim being Sharad Pawar of Maharashtra, the state undergoing elections. However, nothing is being done against his political supporters, or the departments that are in neck deep in financial irregularities. It’s certainly a matter of great concern, because it smacks political victimization of critics of the present political establishment ruling the country.

BHOPAL: Using his formidable skills at political management, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, managed to prevent a direct confrontation between the Raj Bhawan and the state government. The state cabinet had cleared an ordinance making drastic changes in the procedure for electing Mayors of municipal corporations and chairpersons of municipal committees and Nagar Panchayats in the state. So far, the chief of urban civic bodies were elected directly by the people. The ordinance proposes indirect election by the corporators. The move was stoutly opposed by the main opposition BJP. A delegation comprising top leaders of the party had met the Governor Lalji Tandon requesting him not to give his assent to the measure.