…and one closer home

The Left is gradually beginning to see what it means to lose influence with the Government. The first was in the case of the National Maritime University, which the Left was keen to have in West Bengal while the DMK wanted it in Tamil Nadu. It was hoped that the Government would give a firm commitment for such a university in West Bengal while giving the go-ahead to the first such university in Chennai. But as political realities changed, the Cabinet settled the matter in favour of the DMK without any commitment whatsoever on the Left’s demand. The second is the case of the Kolkata airport, which got the Cabinet green signal two weeks ago, but the announcement was held back. The reason: DMK chief M Karunanidhi had written to the PM that the Chennai airport be expedited. So, Kolkata is on hold and the Chennai airport is being fast-tracked so that it can be brought to the Cabinet soon and both announced together.