Inside track

Electric shock for MPsIn most MPs' homes, people seldom bother to switch off lights or even air-conditioners. Those living in the servant...

Electric shock for MPs

In most MPs8217; homes, people seldom bother to switch off lights or even air-conditioners. Those living in the servant quarters and outhouses also behave as if electricity is free. Actually, an MP is entitled to only 22,000 units of free electricity per month, but few pay the bills for the excess amount of power they consume. Since 1994, the outstanding electricity bills from this lot is a whopping Rs 5.3 crore and the New Delhi Municipal Council NDMC has had to bear this burden. Recovery of outstanding dues from the honourable members is almost impossible since more than half of them drop out of sight after the elections and even those who return to the Capital conveniently forget to settle their old dues.

Now a PIL has been filed questioning the NDMC for handling MPs with kid gloves. Last week the Delhi High Court asked the NDMC to explain why it did not disconnect the electricity supply of MPs for non-payment of dues as it does for ordinary citizens. It remains to be seenwhether the NDMC will resort to the necessary shock treatment to bring its VIP customers in line.

Protesting too much

Former prime ministers V.P. Singh and H.D. Deve Gowda have objected to their elaborate Special Protection Guard SPG security cover and claim piously to the press that they would like it withdrawn. It is doubtful, however, whether they expect their protestations to be taken very seriously. The ex-prime ministers, while asking for the removal of their security guards, have at the same time placed the responsibility for any repercussions of that withdrawal on the Government. Gowda has written to the Home Ministry to say that he does not require his security guards, provided the Home Ministry feels there is no threat to him. At the same time, a friend of the former prime minister has written to the Home Minister asking him to ignore Deve Gowda8217;s request as there remains a very real threat to his life.

Pawar equations

Fifteen years ago Sharad Pawar8217;s detractors claimed thatthe Maratha politician, hesitant in English and shy with journalists outside his home state, was basically a provincial leader. But the country bumpkin has diligently followed the advice of his well-wishers 8212; including his bright Officer on Special Duty 8212; and transformed himself into a media savvy, articulate and urbane politician. He has also learnt the important lesson of not appearing to be in too much of a hurry.

During Sonia Gandhi8217;s failed attempt at government formation, Pawar deliberately kept a low profile and has consequently emerged stronger. Sonia approached Pawar only belatedly to bring his good friend Mulayam Singh Yadav around. But Pawar can hardly be faulted, for many others also tried and failed. The difference is Pawar cannot be unhappy at Mulayam8217;s obstinacy. The power equation after all is that a weak Sonia means a strong Pawar and vice-versa.

Last week Pawar held a glittering party for leading Indian and foreign journalists where he was the suave host. When someone congratulated himon the wine, he conceded it was from his own vineyards, adding with a deadpan expression that he had had the forethought of tying up with an Italian collaborator for wine making two decades ago.

Casteing a shadow

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The big three in the BJP 8212; Vajpayee, Advani and Thackeray 8212; are unanimous that to remove Kalyan Singh as chief minister of UP at this point would be suicidal. But the BJP dissidents in the state refuse to back down since they are being quietly encouraged by Murli Manohar Joshi and Ashok Singhal of the VHP.

The fight is not really about Kalyan8217;s dictatorial ways or corporator Kusum Rai8217;s special clout with the chief minister; such allegations could be leveled against half a dozen others in the party. It is simply a struggle for power between the OBCs and the Upper Castes of UP. BJP dissidents would not have minded a token OBC leader in charge, but Kalyan refuses to offer even a face-saving gesture and has at the same time effectively snatched from the Brahmins their traditional powersto dispense patronage. The 90-odd ministers appointed by Kalyan have been allotted status symbols like cars with flashing red lights, ministerial offices and bungalows, but they have little say in actual governance.

The dissident camp of Rajnath Singh, Kalraj Mishra, Balram Tandon and Kesrinath Tripathi warns that because of disenchantment with Kalyan, the state8217;s Upper Caste voters, accounting for 15 per cent of the population, may revert to the Congress. But UP8217;s Brahmin voters face a Hobson8217;s choice. If they vent their anger against Kalyan and vote against the BJP, they will deprive a UP Brahmin 8212; Vajpayee 8212; of prime ministership. On the other hand, changing Kalyan mid-stream would totally alienate his non-Yadav OBC vote bank, which accounts for around 20 per cent of the electorate and is the decisive factor in some 37 Lok Sabha constituencies in UP.

Still in a pickle

Why doesn8217;t Air-India serve pickle with Indian food unlike other airlines? It seems the pickles were temporarily taken offthe menu during the scare over the adulteration of mustard oil early last year and have never been brought back!