The trust vote

Indian politics has been in an unusual state of flux during the last three years or so. Political realignments occur, from time to time, in a mind-bogglingly erratic manner. There have been quite a few political marriages, honeymoons and divorces. Certain marriages of convenience have lasted longer than expected, but the partners concerned have been far from faithful to each other.

Moving a no-faith vote against the PM was an act of pure political adventurism on the part of some Opposition members who got cocky following their recent impressive electoral win.

But, it has taken a dramatic turn on its own, which nobody bargained for.

Whatever the outcome of the no-confidence motion is, the Opposition will have to contend with a cat-and-dog life in the NDA coalition. There is also the possibility of another realignment of political forces. Nothing is so certain as the unexpected in politics, especially in this country.

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Bengaluru

With reference to “Modi govt to face its first no-trust motion on Friday” (July 19), despite knowing that the numbers are against it, the Opposition is still going ahead to showcase its coming together to fight BJP-led NDA government in the 2019 Parliament election. Given the BJP’s own strength is 273 and the NDA total strength of 314, the outcome of the rust vote is a foregone conclusion. With the BJD and the TRS, having 20 and 11 MPs respectively, not likely to support the motion, the Opposition is set to face another embarrassment.

Bengaluru

Two major factors that led to the downfall of public sector banks can be added to “Lessons learnt from bank nationalisation” (July 19). Banks were nationalised with the objective of improving their performance and public service.

However, no care was taken to shield them from the prevailing culture of complacence and inefficiency that other public sector undertakings were suffering from. Though commercial in their nature of business, they functioned like any bureaucratic set-up.

Secondly, they became victims of political interference.

What went in the name of social lending and continues even now is a euphemism for political patronage of vote bank groups. If they are freed from these shackles, PSBs can be rejuvenated again.

Pune

With reference to “PIL on daily change in fuel price: Delhi HC asks Centre to treat it as representation” (July 19), notwithstanding the fact that the two-member bench of the Delhi High Court having asked the Centre to treat as a “representation” a plea claiming that petrol and diesel are essential commodities while seeking directions to the government to fix a “fair price” for their sale, the final outcome thereof could all but be a “foregone” conclusion. This view gains more prominence as the PIL (under reference) since filed by Delhi-based designer Pooja Mahajan raises several highly “inconvenient” questions for the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the inside story of which it would never want to reveal. Incidentally, it may be recalled that after successfully implementing the dynamic auto fuel pricing mechanism in five select cities from May 1, the public sector oil marketing companies thought it wise to extend the system across the country from June 16 last year. And, as we all know, such an innovative idea has eventually proved to be a “gold mine” for them as well as the government with their coffers “overflowing”.

But, despite all this, the government has all along been taking a “convenient” shelter behind some “technical” alibis so that the benefits of any drop in the crude oil prices globally are not passed on to consumers. It’s a different matter that the “stage-managed” marginal cuts in the auto fuel prices in the recent past are once again witnessing a “U-turn”. All of us would be hoping against hope if we expect auto fuels (being the life-line of any economy) to be brought under the GST regime by this revenue savvy government.

New Delhi

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