The stage is now set for a free-for-all in the electoral arena in Maharashtra. With the rival alliances broken, the outcome in the October 15 poll for the State Assembly may have become further uncertain, though the BJP might still emerge as the single largest party. No purpose will be served by apportioning blame for the unravelling of the Sena-BJP and the Congress-NCP coalitions, though each party is bound to hold the other responsible for the break-up. There is little doubt that the Sena-BJP alliance floundered on the mulish stubbornness of Uddhav Thackeray in not accommodating an ascendant BJP. Given that the strike rate of the BJP was better in the last election despite the BJP contesting far fewer seats, Thackeray was unwilling to grant parity in seat-sharing, fearing that a failure to win more seats than the BJP would scupper his chief ministerial ambitions. This was the sole cause of the break-up. The Sena-BJP break spurred the NCP to snap its ties with the Congress.
Sharad Pawar would like to keep all his options open,
including a chance to tie up with the NDA at the central level as well. Indeed, the splintering of the alliances might have provided a second wind to Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navanirman Sena. Suddenly, he might find himself in demand from one or the other breakaway party.
Of course, the Congress’s options are limited and it cannot do business with either of the rival Senas. But Pawar has no such compunctions, though an adjustment with the BJP might still be his best option, especially when it can pave the way for him to be part of the ruling alliance at the Centre. The situation on the eve of the poll is so fluid that there is no knowing who will sup with whom for the sake of power. It is remarkable that the glue of saffron ideology failed to keep the Sena and BJP together, such being the lure of naked power. In the case of the NCP-Congress break, there is no denying that the NCP was keen to distance itself from its partner of over fifteen years in the mistaken belief that this would help it avoid the curse of anti-incumbency. Incidentally, it is not just in Maharashtra that the alliances have splintered. In Haryana too, there is a free-for-all among all aspirants for power in the October 15 poll. The BJP, following its stupendous success in the parliamentary poll, has sought to play a dominant role in the alliances, be it in Maharashtra or in Haryana. It refused to accommodate Kuldip Bishnoi’s demand for more seats, thus snapping ties with it. Om Prakash Chautala’s Lok Dal too was spurned by the BJP. Thus, both Haryana and Maharashtra will see multi-cornered contests, though how far the Modi magic would work to win it for the BJP remains to be seen.
Yes, make in India
Expectedly, the launch of the ambitious `Make in India’ programme on Thursday was a grand affair. If Prime Minister Modi’s vision of an industrialised India is to bear fruit then everyone, including the galaxy of industrialists present at the launch event in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, must be on board. Of course, the Government must do its considerable bit to create conducive conditions for the expansion of the manufacturing sector, but the corporate sector too needs to change its mindset. Instead of looking up to the government for cheap land, power, natural resources, private industries must show initiative in improving manufacturing practices, going for new technologies and innovations, and generally adopting healthy practices. The government can help by removing legal roadblocks, an arbitrary regulatory regime, easing the inspector raj, etc. Private businesses can reciprocate by adhering to a code of conduct, by resisting the temptation to make profits by hook or by crook and by generally inducing trust and confidence in its practices. Lest `Make in India’ ends up as a mere slogan, both the government and the private sector have to act in tandem, as partners imbued with a sense of common purpose to realise our full potential as an economic power. It is a tough task, but it is not unattainable.
