BJP's strategy

BJP's strategy
The BJP's efforts to cobble up the necessary number of 272 plus required to dethrone the UPA government at the centre is nothing but an exercise in futility.

Even if they succeed in their attempts, and assuming a remote possibility of the saffron combine being returned to power in Delhi, what is the NDA conglomerate going to inherit?

An economy battered on all the fronts; below normal crop yield due to deficient monsoons; rapid spread of the Naxalite menace in different parts of the country; undeclared war being waged by various terrorist outfits; an oil crisis fuelled by sky-rocketing crude prices; darkening situation on the power generation front.

It won't be a cake walk for the disparate elements in the NDA. The governing capabilities of the Hindutva brigade will thus be put to the test. And it is doubtful whether, given the deteriorating situation all around, they would have the guts to take harsh, unpopular measures to stem the rot.

Let wiser counsel prevail upon them, so that they can watch the unfolding drama from the sidelines and enjoy the scenario only as a neutral observer. Some discretion on their part now will send the proper signal to the electorate and will go a long way serving their ultimate purpose.
—Arun Malankar, Mumbai

Cynical disdain
It defies logic that a nation which 61 years ago broke free from the shackles of foreign rule through a strategy of non-violence, is today, when poised as a global player, left twiddling its thumbs in resignation over its exposed politicians.

Is cynical disdain all that concerned Indians can show in the light of the ongoing 'now clear' politics — played without conscience, integrity or intelligence, purely for personal agendas — taking centre-stage in the corridors of power?

These confabulations around the nuclear deal are a clear sign for the lettered population — a signal to seize all wayward political bulls by their devils' horns and give them the boot in the next elections.

No longer should we remain helpless, mute bystanders left watching our unscrupulous netas barter their votes for filthy lucre. In all our intricate  political analyses, it is easy to forget that candidates have been chosen by the electorate for safeguarding local/regional/national interest, and not to enhance their individual clout, assets and pecuniary status while in office.

Shamefully, for a majority of them, it is only to the latter that their time and energies are devoted to. Cobbling numbers for and against a trust vote in a battle for survival can and should be fought in a transparent manner.
—Mickie Sorabjee, via email

Give more news  
It is great that DNA's Navi Mumbai supplement is published every day except on Mondays. Of late, it appears that this supplement is being used only for generating revenue through advertisements.

Actually, Navi-mumbaikars expect that useful information regarding the events going on in the area will be available in the supplement, but in vain. For instance, in the issue of July 19, barely one third of the total area of four pages was devoted to news, save for the routine column. Loyal readers of DNA hope that there will be some improvement in this regard soon.
—RM Deshpande, Navi Mumbai

The trust vote
Apropos, 'Rebels try to make most of mistrust' (DNA, July 19), to reach the magic figure in the trust vote, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh have to work hard to win over the undecided MPs.

If it survives by a slender margin, it may float like a bubble during the next nine months. If it loses, God will save India from making the most expensive deal for a meagre 20,000 MW that will come to us by 2020, and that too at the cost of the country's sovereignty. 
—Achyut Railkar Mumbai