View Articles

With its impressive performance in the Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has clearly reconfirmed its status, established by the Lok Sabha elections, as the principal pole or central point of reference in Indian politics. Behind its latest success, and not least its marginalisation of established regional parties in the two states, lie medium- and long-term factors which are likely to influence Indian politics for some time to come.

The writing is on the wall. To save itself, the Congress has no option but to bid farewell to the Nehru-Gandhi family. Therefore, the 100-odd supporters of the party who recently clamoured for the elevation of Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra to senior party positions are mistaken. If the 129-year-old party is to have a future, it has to make a new beginning under a new leadership. The continuance of the dynasty at the helm will be like a millstone round the party’s neck.

Relations between India and Bangladesh are on the upswing if recent Dhaka-based media reports are any indication.

It is very heartening that the government has, for the first time, equipped itself with a clear and comprehensive policy to ensure the growth and competitiveness of India’s less-cared micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector. MSMEs are regarded as backbone of development even in highly industrialized countries, including Germany, Japan, France, the US and China. They are incubators of ideas and homes of many good innovations. They operate like spokes that hold and support the wheels of industry and development. The Narendra Modi government’s very special focus to the creation of a global centre of MSMEs in India is in sync with its ‘Make-in-India’ policy that aims to convert the country into a global manufacturing and could mean a defining moment for Indian enterprises. But, to be strong and effective, the MSME baby should be allowed to grow without crutches. Forced quota-purchase of MSME products by a particular sector of industry may weaken the quality and price focus of MSME products, which is extremely essential to enhance their competitive strength to survive locally as well as globally and grow.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An unfortunate war of words and articles has erupted between the CPI and the CPI(M), which can only cause immense damage to the communist movement in the country.

Will Congress fade away? Will the 128-year old party, whose leaders fought for independence, a party having deep roots, just wither away? Judging by its performance in the Lok Sabha elections in May this year and, its dismal performance in the state assembly elections, latest being Maharashtra and Haryana, the future of the Congress looks gloomy. But it is not as gloomy as prophets of gloom predict. The Party may have lost touch with the people but it will be a gross exaggeration to say that the Congress will fade away. Survival of the Congress is necessary for survival of democracy in India. It should remain a viable alternative to the fast growing BJP. Congress leaders became autocratic and corrupt as there was no viable opposition for years. As the opposition became stronger, the Congress party started becoming weak.

Thanks to an improved relationship among neighbouring countries in the Indian sub continent, goods transport and power connectivity is gradually getting better.

The BJP is jubilant after its spectacular success in Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly polls this week. Coming as it does on the heels of the recent impressive Lok Sabha victory, the BJP can claim that the momentum as well as the Modi magic is intact. The Congress on the other hand is demoralized further after its humiliating defeat in both the states. There is already discussion and debate about the future of the 128-year-old Congress party as it is shrinking. Well wishers feel that the Congress has to overcome the leadership crisis and come back with resurgence for after all, in politics, there are always ups and down.

The upcoming G-20 Heads of State meeting in Brisbane, Australia in mid-November is being convened when urgent policy actions from major economies, advanced and emerging, call for coordinated and focused approach to get the world economy out of the anemic recovery. Latest economic data from global financial institutions such as the World Bank, the IMF, OECD and the WTO do not inspire hope that economic growth can pick up pace and verve to allay the jittery nerves of policymakers, planners and political leaders who have a lot of stake in the faster and decisive recovery of the global economy. There is a distinct lack of sustained demand to drive growth the world over that dodges every economy, though massive amounts of countercyclical steps in the form of injection of liquidity through monetary easing with attendant ultra low interest rates in rich countries and fiscal stimulus in emerging economies and tax concessions to stoke demand continue unabated for quite a long time since 2008 when the global financial crisis struck like a tsunami.

What is behind Modi magic BJP sweeping the polls in Haryana and emerging as the single largest party in Maharashtra? Some point to the record voter turnout of 76 per cent in Haryana and high turnout of 64 per cent in Maharashtra as the cause of BJP’s success. It is true that high voter turnout has always favoured the BJP.