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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Will the CPI(M) and the Left Democratic Front led by it fall into the politico-legal trap laid by the ruling United Democratic Front Government in Kerala?

There is no option for the PDP in Kashmir but to again form the government with the BJP. Howsoever Mehbooba Mufti may dither, at the moment, there is no other way for her than to revive the coalition. The BJP, on its part, is keen to continue alliance with the PDP. Mehbooba’s worry, however, is that the people in the valley are opposed to the BJP; they were also against the saffron party when the late Mufti Mohamed Sayeed, in a bold decision, formed the coalition with the BJP. Mufti could manage it because of his strong personality but it is not so with his daughter. Mehbooba’s concern in again going with the BJP is understandable as her base is in the valley and in the next election, it may prove difficult to get peoples’ vote. But, at present, there is no option for her but to maintain the status quo. One does not know how long the coalition will continue?

Shanghai stock market, like inevitable weather changes, has crashed once again on January 15. It has affected the entire Asian financial markets once again and Indian market is also down. The latest fall has come hard on the heels of another precipitous drop immediately after the markets re-opened in the New Year.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin who till a year back was the most hated leader and was in fact treated like an outcast amongst the global fraternity is today the most sought after leader for restoring peace in the strife torn middle and west Asia. It is worth recalling that Putin had left last year’s G20 meeting in Brisbane early in a huff, tired of being chided by world leaders over Ukraine. Just a year after the world fraternity and especially the G20 has found Putin as the partner for peace and recognized that the road to peace in Syria runs through Moscow.

LUCKNOW: BJP is looking for a new credible face for Uttar Pradesh who can ensure victory for party in 2017 assembly polls. The setback in Bihar assembly polls has forced the party high command to look for new leaders and not just depend on Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Rajnath Singh for campaigning.

NEW DELHI: People of Andaman and Nicobar Islands at last will get a 4,200MW solar roof-top model of electricity by 2019-20: a positive step toward quality governance.

Last February, the three-year-old Aam Aadmi Party with almost no experience came to power with an overwhelming majority. A year later, its report card shows that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has not been able to meet the huge expectations. He has four more years to prove his credentials. He himself has said that it would not be bad if his government fulfill about half the campaign promises in five years.

Why did Saudi Arab execute the cleric Sheikh Nimr since it was already aware that the consequences would be deadly? Certainly it was not the outcome of a decision taken in haste or without applying mind. The only logical explanation is that it was part of a well designed strategy to whip up sectarian tension and help the ruling family to consolidate its support amongst the Sunni regimes. History is replete with such instances when rulers take to sectarian stand to overcome the economic and political crises.

With India’s energy security based on fossil fuels like oil or coal to generate electricity under stress for the former and under scanner for the latter, the path to green growth in the post-Paris climate change agreement crafted by 192 nations including India is also not presenting an easy option. Given the uncertainty of renewable energy and the high initial cost in generating them from the elements like air, water or biomass, the road ahead is equally rocky and bumpy if there is no forward plan or proper spadework to get the schemes/programmes going sans snags and snafus.

India’s time-tested friend Russia has come forward to be a partner in the ambitious Make-in-India initiative in sectors like defence manufacturing, nuclear power, solar energy, heavy engineering and railways. Defence is a critical sector for cooperation between the two countries. Moscow still remains as a major supplier of defence platforms and equipment even though India has made a conscious effort to diversify its import basket for new technology transfer and has inched towards US. Druzhba-Dosti has placed the relationship between the two countries on a firm footing, particularly in matters relating to defence and security despite resentments in the country on account of Russia supplying fighter jet engines to Pakistan.