Congress slips on cultural high ground

As far as maintaining a high cultural quotient goes, the Congress is usually on the ball. For instance, in Maharashtra, seasoned Congress leaders are known to have a penchant for lavni. But that passion has also sparked off a bitter controversy. The decision to allow lavni rehearsals at the famous Congress House in Pune has not been well-received. The outrage is also on account of the controversial theme of the dance — titled, Bawan gadicha tamasha — which is perceived as derogatory. Congress spokesperson Ananth Gadgil said, “I cannot fathom how the historic Congress House which had visitors like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru could be let out for a lavni performance.”

The son of well-known Congress leader, the late Vithalrao Gadgil, is terribly upset as he feels his family had a lot to contribute towards the building of the Congress House. He says that nobody is against the dance form, but every institute has its own sanctity which needs to be preserved; the rehearsals could take place in city auditoriums. Senior Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi, who is the brain behind the event, gave it a national profile. But now, Kalmadi, who is shrouded in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) controversy, also finds this baby in trouble.

Ganeshotsav, an image-building exercise
With his office flooded with hundreds of requests, chief minister Ashok Chavan is trying to strike a balance between his administrative duties and pandal-hopping. The CM has listed out his preferences beginning with a visit to Lalbaugcha Raja; Chavan is careful not to miss his date with the famous pandal. The next day, his rival, revenue minister Narayan Rane, paid a visit to the same deity. Even state Congress chief Manikrao Thakre and Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh accompanied Chavan to Lalbaugcha Raja. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders too have made a beeline to the pandals. Deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal admits that they cannot disappoint the organisers. This pandal-hopping trend is not restricted to Congress and NCP politicians. Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray are engaged in the same exercise. The netas also use the opportunity to take potshots at each other. And nobody really minds. As, at the end, all of them are heard saying, ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’.

Tree for tree: CM gives it back
At a function held in Delhi to celebrate Ganeshotsav, Chavan was in full form with his one-liners against political rivals. When somebody asked him about the status of the Ashoka tree, he replied: “It is growing taller and greener. And if it is allowed to grow unhindered it will soon be able to give shelter to others too.” A few days ago, water resources minister Ajit Pawar had equated Chhagan to the Ashok tree, urging people not to plant it as it does not bear fruit nor provides shelter. At the same function, he spotted Ulhas Pawar, a close associate of Vilasrao Deshmukh, trying to get his attention. Pawar has parked himself in Delhi to lobby for the MPCC president post. Sensing the purpose of the meeting, Chavan said, “I am sorry but it is already late,” implying the decision about MPCC chief is already taken.