From the Urdu Press: ‘Do Pawar remarks hint at a churn in Oppn politics?’, ‘Modi-Rahul debate would boost democracy’

Referring to NCP founder Sharad Pawar’s statement, made in an interview with The Indian Express, that in the next few years several regional parties will move closer to, or even merge with, the Congress, the New Delhi edition of Inquilab, in its editorial on May 11, writes that a churn in Opposition politics has begun in the country. In their campaign for the INDIA bloc’s joint candidates in the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress leaders and workers are canvassing along with their counterparts in the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) in Mumbai while doing the same with those from the AAP in Delhi, the editorial says. “This is a paradigm shift in Opposition politics that mirrors the 1977 model. This should have happened a long time ago in the larger interest of our country and people, but better late than never.”

The daily states that Pawar’s words about regional parties gravitating to the Congress in the coming months outlines the shape of new politics. “Pawar is a seasoned political heavyweight. His statements cannot be taken lightly,” it says. There had been some talks earlier about the NCP’s merger with the Congress, but Pawar was then himself not keen about it, it notes. “Now, his statement appears to signal a shift in his position. The question is, will the possible cycle of regional parties’ merger with the Congress start with the NCP (Sharad Pawar)?”

The editorial says Pawar’s statement makes it clear that he is anticipating a revival of the Congress — the Maratha stalwart’s parent party that he left in 1999 to float the NCP. He might also be looking to secure his daughter Supriya Sule’s political future. “One of the key reasons for the Congress’s decline has been its splintering and the rise of regional parties over the decades. The Congress would thus be strengthened if some of them return to its fold,” the edit says. “Pawar is the first leader to have signalled about the possibility of such a scenario developing after the 2024 polls. However, several questions arise. Why did some of the regional players break away from the Congress in the first place? And, would they get their desired space in the grand old party upon their return?”

SIASAT

Commenting on the invitation extended by two former judges and a senior journalist to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for a public debate on the Lok Sabha polls, the Hyderabad-based Siasat, in its editorial on May 10, writes that while every poll season is marked with no-holds-barred rhetoric and trading of allegations and counter-allegations, in previous polls this used to mainly involve second-rung or local leadership of the parties in the fray. “In the current general elections, however, the top leadership of the parties are breaching ethical principles. This is negative politics fuelled by a large section of the media to mislead the public and vitiate the atmosphere,” it states.

The daily says that it is incumbent on the media to get the leading faces of the elections to debate key public issues at open forums. In this context, the initiative taken by two ex-judges and a journalist to invite PM Modi and Rahul is “commendable”. Former editor of The Hindu, N Ram, ex-Supreme Court judge Madan Lokur and former Delhi High Court chief justice A P Shah urged the two leaders to participate in a public debate on a non-commercial and non-partisan platform. “Their letter invites the leaders for the debate, pointing out that the people have heard only allegations and challenges from either side, and not heard any meaningful responses,” the edit notes.

“However, it is not likely that their invite would be accepted. PM Modi has not addressed any press conference in the last 10 years. He does not take questions on public issues,” the daily writes. “Such a debate would be ideal for the public to understand the respective positions of the two leading political players on multiple issues and help them make an informed choice.”

URDU TIMES

Highlighting the release of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal from Tihar Jail on interim bail granted by the Supreme Court, the Mumbai-based Urdu Times, in its leader on May 11, points out that Kejriwal’s conditional freedom after nearly 50 days of incarceration in the Delhi excise policy case has come as a shot in the arm for the INDIA alliance in general, and in particular for his party in the middle of the elections. “All the INDIA bloc leaders have hailed the development. It has galvanised the AAP which needed him to spearhead its campaign in 7 seats of Delhi, bound for polls on May 25, and 13 seats of Punjab, scheduled for polls on June 1,” the editorial says, adding that despite the prosecution’s objections, the apex court granted Kejriwal the freedom to campaign until the last phase of polls on June 1.

“A jailed Kejriwal out on bail can prove to be a more formidable campaigner than what he was earlier,” the daily says. The Centre tried to block his release, but could not succeed, it adds. Just on the eve of the hearing by the top court, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena recommended a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe against Kejriwal for allegedly receiving political funding for the AAP from a banned Sikh outfit.

“Kejriwal’s release is a setback for the BJP, especially in Delhi, where it had swept all the seats in the 2019 polls when the AAP and the Congress had fought separately. This time, under a seat-sharing pact, the AAP is contesting four seats and the Congress three,” the edit says, adding that the Kejriwal government’s welfare schemes such as those related to education and electricity have been “popular” among the people. “The BJP could not split the AAP through its ‘operation lotus’, although its several senior leaders have been sent to jail in various cases. It is to be seen how the battle between Kejriwal and the BJP plays out in the coming days.”