Numbers dont count for everything

Whenever confronted with the inevitable question about his prime ministerial ambitions these days...

Whenever confronted with the inevitable question about his prime ministerial ambitions these days ,NCP chief Sharad Pawar always says that since his party does not have the required number in the Lok Sabha there is no question of his winning the top job. Nonetheless,he continues to allow NCP leaders to project him as its prime ministerial candidate,thereby ensuring that his name remains in circulation,just in case of a fragmented mandate. This is despite the fact that the President is a Maharashtrian therefore making it unlikely for a prime minister from the same state being acceptable; and the tally of the NCP and the Shiv Sena which reiterates its plan of supporting a Maharashtrian for the PMs post numbers in the Lok Sabha being just 25.

No cross-connection,after all

The pre-poll pacts signed by the Congress and the NCP as well as the Shiv Sena and the BJP for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls has laid to rest speculation about cross-connections stirring up the political scene here. The secular and the saffron partners remain firmly within their ideological realms. In the run-up to the polls,the NCP and Sena leaders hobnobbed with one another,triggering speculation that the two parties may work out an alliance and ditch their traditional partners. As expected,this turned out to be little other than a bit of pre-poll posturing.

Hate speech makes Bal fall in love

Even as leaders across the country cluck their tongues disapprovingly at Varun Gandhis now-infamous diatribe against Muslims,the BJPs national executive member has found one vocal supporter. While even the BJP initially dissociated itself from the controversial Pilibhit speech,Bal Thackeray,through the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna,welcomed Varuns remarks,saying,This Gandhi is acceptable to us. We have fallen in love with this Gandhi he is Sanjay Gandhi reborn he has spoken the truth. As it has done in the past,the BJP followed the Sena,with party president Rajnath Singh announcing that Varuns candidature would not be cancelled at any cost. The BJP had reacted similarly after the Babri Masjid demolition when Thackeray was the first to own up responsibility and had said that he was proud of Shiv Sainiks for demolishing the historic structure. Meanwhile,a grateful Varun called up to thank Bal Thackeray for his effusive endorsement.

Writer bows down in culture clash

While politicians continue to be obsessed with the kursi in the run-up to the general elections,one important chair in the cultural arena of the state remained unoccupied this year. The chairperson of the annual Marathi literary conference,

Anand Yadav,resigned before the cultural fete began,when the Varkari sect devotees of Lord Vitthala threatened to stall the conference. Yadav has written a novel based on the life of Sant Tukaram,Santasurya Tukaram,which,according to the Varkaris,has derogatory references to the saint.

Yadav had already withdrawn the book,but they were not satisfied and wanted him to give up his chair. It was the first time that the All India Marathi Sahitya Sammelan was held without a chairperson. Instead,playback singer Asha Bhonsle inaugurated the event.