Nashik Diary

During a recent visit to Nashik, Governor Dr P C Alexander said at a public meeting that he had been scouting around for a good interpreter to transalte his speeches into Marathi for the local audience. After trying out about a dozen interpreters, some of whom were dropped mid-speech, the governor chanced upon Joshi. And, ever since then, Joshi has been accompanying Dr Alexander on his visits to the Marathi hinterland. The governor was all praise for Joshi, insisting that he accompany him, the latter8217;s retirement notwithstanding. 8220;I am going to drag you out,8221; the governor told Joshi, 8220;and you may consider it a penalty for good work.8221;

Sena8217;s Demolition

When Suryakant Mahadik was north Maharashtra president of the Shiv Sena, he went on spree,creating new posts in the party at the district and block levels with amazing alacrity 8211; organising secretary, treasurer, and district rural chief, were some of them. While the intention remains a matter of speculation it could either increase your following among party cadres or infuse democracy into the party it made little difference to the party8217;s image or performance in the recent held Lok Sabha election. So, after the Sena8217;s poor showing in the polls, the new deputy leader of the Sena, Arvind Sawant, realised the futility of having a top-heavy party at the local level and announced last week that the posts were unconstitutional. He said as per the Sena8217;s constitution, only posts like shakha pramukh, city chief and taluka chief would stay and in one fell swoop, he demolished the others. The action has left a whole band of local leaders8217; shattered. Now, it remains to be seen what party chief Bal Thackeray has to say8230; via remote control, of course.

Crop Failure?

Can anything really deterthe determined, if unpredictable, Indian politician given the wily ways of this persuasive species? Surely not even the whimsical South-West monsoon?

The country8217;s oldest political party, whose June 20 jail bharo8217; agitation was almost a no-show, clarified in retrospect that the agitation was called off at the eleventh hour as farmers were busy preparing for the kharif season. But that is just so much hogwash.

The Congress had announced in May that processions would be taken out on May 20 and a jail bharo8217; would be staged on June 10, the objective being to highlight the anti-farmer8217; policies of the Manohar Joshi government.

Congress leader Sharad Pawar also said the party would keep an eagle eye out for persons who were reluctant to participate. Even so, the May 20 agitation flopped, as both farmers, party activists and leaders stayed away.

Fearing that the jail bharo8217; appeal would go the same way, the jail bharo8217; agitation was postponed by 10 days, to June 20. To encourage8217; participation,orders were issued to compulsorily court arrest and observers were appointed in each block to monitor attendance.

However, the party choked on its call at the last moment, saying the onset of the monsoon and preparations for the kharif season are keeping farmers busy. Nice way to say we give up8217;, huh?

Divided As Ever

Even though the jail bharo8217; agitation at the district level bit the dust, Congress leaders in Malegaon went ahead and courted arrest on Saturday, led by former minister Dr Baliram Hirey and his son Prasad.

But, even at the taluka level, leaders reveal that they were divided as ever. Former minister and Sharad Pawar protege, Pushpa Hirey, stayed away from the agitation. The bickering between the two Hirey families and between Pushpa and Prashant, who has joined hands with the Shiv Sena are well known. The party8217;s interests will never be served if petty personal quarrels take precedence. Will they?