Patch-up best way out EC should defer Budget

With reference to Amit Agnihotri’s report, “Congress hints at SP alliance as Akhilesh-Mulayam feud continues” (January 5), going by the statement of Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Congress incharge of affairs in Lucknow, the party seems keen to forge a pre-poll alliance with the Akhilesh Yadav faction of the fractured Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. Perhaps, the Congress hopes to sail through the turbulent political waters in the state by riding on the shoulders of the chief minister.

But Azad parroted the same old story when he said that “there was also a need for secular forces to come together to defeat the ‘communal’ Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)”. Is the Congress some holy cow? Why does he not talk about the Congress’ real intention behind seeking an alliance with Yadav despite being aware of the mess in the SP family? Azad had earlier ruled out a tie-up with the SP.

This apart, what did the Congress’ UP chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit mean when she said, “I am prepared to withdraw my candidature if an alliance happens with the SP”? Has the Congress realised it is already out of the reckoning?

If the Akhilesh Yadav camp still joins hands with the Congress, it may suffer because the latter is a sinking ship under the immature leadership of party VicePresident Rahul Gandhi.

In fact, Akhilesh Yadav should look at the writing on the wall and quickly patch up with his father and party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. That would not only quash the confusion among the party’s vote bank but also enable the party to put up a strong fight in the polls.

S Kumar New Delhi between Tata Sons and its ousted chairman, Cyrus Mistry, shows.

When an organisation demands autonomy to the extent of differing with the owners, the selection of the new incumbent is a greater challenge. Viewed in this light, the government has exhibited courage in appointing the young, US-based Viral Acharya (pictured) to the key post of deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India. While his reputation as a champion of the independence of banks makes him suitable for the autonomous culture at the RBI, his critical views on public sector banks and the rule-by-centralisation style of the present government may bring him into conflict with the latter. Such a conflict is an inherent part of the job. He will also have to assuage the feelings of those within the RBI, who were eyeing the post.

The experience that former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan had with the government should be a reminder to both parties that mutual understanding along with the freedom to dissent brings more fruitful results than conformity.

Y G Chouksey Pune The presentation of the Union Budget days before the start of Assembly elections in five states will make a mockery of the model code of conduct that all parties must abide by.

A level playing field accords sanctity to the poll process and makes it acceptable to all parties and the electorate. The Narendra Modi government’s refusal to defer the Budget does no service to the cause of democracy. Its attempt to take advantage of being the party in power cannot be rationalised. It is telling that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has to rely on the Budget, in addition to the prime minister’s spell, to sway voters to its side. The BJP’s insistence on the Budget date exposes its lack of confidence.

The Election Commission should not be awed by the seeming invincibility of the ruling party and the prime minister; it should defer the Budget until the Assembly elections are over.

G David Milton Maruthancode