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When first-time MP Narendra Modi arrived in New Delhi to be sworn in as India’s Prime Minister, he flew in a private aircraft belonging to the Adani Group, although he could have taken a commercial flight or hired a chartered plane. On landing, Mr Modi was greeted raucously with the slogan Har Har Modi, patterned on communal-military lines.

The nonagenarian yet undaunted DMK leader Mr Karunanidhi, no matter his own cup of woes to the brim, desperately looks to the Supreme Court to undo the acquittal of his formidable rival, AIADMK Chief Ms. Jayalalithaa, in the Disproportionate Assets case thus enabling her to resume the stewardship of the State of Tamil Nadu on May 23.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The spat between the CPI(M) leadership in Kerala and party stalwart, V. S. Achuthanandan has taken a sharper edge with the veteran giving back as much as he got in the latest round.

Notwithstanding the blitzkrieg of interactions with the media and invited audiences by the BJP ministers, the first anniversary of the Narendra Modi government hasn’t been an occasion for celebrations with bands playing and sweets being distributed. In fact, the frenetic ministerial initiatives show that the government feels that a lot of explaining has to be done about its performance – or the lack of it.

The make in India campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the ramparts of Red Fort on Independence day last year, will remain only on paper without government making concerted effort to improve the ease of doing business and justifiably this has received top priority of the NDA government during the last one year. India, which is among the bottom in World Bank’s index of ease of doing business has dropped down two places to stand at 142nd out of 189 in World Bank’s latest ranking, underscoring the tough task that lies ahead of government. The NDA government, which wants to make India a business-friendly country, has therefore initiated several steps in the last several months to put Indian economy back on rails.

LUCKNOW: Is BJP returning to the Hindutva agenda after one year in office with the celebration rally by PM Narendra Modi in Mathura on May 25?

Who is right: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal or Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung? Kejriwal insists that, as he heads a democratically elected government, he has right to pick up officers of his choice. But the fact remains that Delhi is not yet a full-fledged state, so the chief minister does not have same powers as enjoyed by his counterparts in other states. Former solicitor general Mohan Parasaran argues that L-G is vested with overriding powers and that he can use his discretion on appointment of officers as long as his decisions are proved “bona fide”.

The upper caste people in Bihar practise and perpetuate the feudal ethos and tenets and also claim to manifest the class aspirations, but in reality their socio economic condition is not better than the backward castes, which have been the victims of the feudal repressions.

BHOPAL: It is interesting to evaluate gains made and losses sustained by Madhya Pradesh during the one year of Narendra Modi regime. First let us count the gains. The state continued to be stable in the political administration term. After spectacular victories in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the BJP captured overwhelming number of local bodies. In the local bodies elections held recently, the BJP captured all the 14 corporations of the state.

One year may be a short period in the life of a nation. For a democratic government in a country like India, it means almost a quarter of its life. Government normally avoids hard economic decisions in election year. The performance report card of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government’s first full-year in the centre has been a talking point not only in India but also outside the country for two key reasons.