• Coomi Kapoor’s analysis of the recent defeat of the Congress in Karnataka could as well be extended to the state of overall governance under the UPA regime. The subject of ‘command and control,’ which includes division of responsibilities, is given much emphasis both in military staff colleges and management institutions. As per India’s Constitution, the President holds command responsibility of the Union only in name as per Article 53, which is to be exercised by the prime minister via “cabinet control” as laid down in Article 74. Thereafter the PM ensures execution through his cabinet ministers and state chief ministers, but this in today’s scenario is hardly the case. As Kapoor points out, much of the command and control today is in the hands of an unaccountable “high command in Delhi — a euphemism for 10 Janpath”. The nation is hobbling along towards the 2009 elections. In the event of critical foreign policy decisions or grave emergency, such command and control could be disastrous. Today, national interests vs political expediency is on test like never before. We have to look no further than the nuclear deal hanging fire.— Ranjit B. Rai New Delhi• One is tempted to say that the “high command” has learnt its bitter lesson from the Karnataka Assembly elections, for having joined (and soiled its) hands with the wily Deve Gowda. Let us hope, the senior Gowda’s innings is finally over. Now that the BJP is opening its account in Karnataka, and the first in the South, it should provide quality governance from an accountable, corruption-free administration.— M. Ramakrishna & M.N. SaudaminiDelhiBallot as chastener • The BJP should use the opportunity given by people of Karnataka by concentrating on good governance and the issues and problems of the people instead of furthering their party’s interest. Neither the BJP should be euphoric over its victory in Karna- taka nor Congress and others despondent. Karnataka is a good lesson to all our politicians, who must act with responsibility in the future.— V.S. Ganeshan BangaloreAfter the ball • In a cricket crazy world when a senior citizen like me rushed from Faridabad to Kolkata to watch world’s best goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn’s farewell match against world’s second oldest club and India’s national pride, Mohun Bagan, then you can understand that football has not lost its charm in India. I feel proud and lucky as a keen football lover to watch 1977 Cosmos match, where the attraction of the Cosmos team was the legendary Pele. And now Oliver Kahn’s farewell match. The two matches are memorable moments in my life. — Bidyut K. ChatterjeeFaridabad
