Jharkhandi colors of austerity

Austerity was never so voguish. Like KKR, CSK and DDD during IPL, economy class, cattle class, slipper class are the buzz words for this political season. May be the corruption plank will be passé in ensuing assembly elections and battle will be drawn on the lines of mileage points, air miles, frequent flier memberships and colour of boarding passes. With president rule coming to an end soon and a tested and trusted governor from the old school of congress loyalties in the hot seat, the party will surely try to paint Jharkhand with its united colours of austerity.

A check on the track record of UPA and its allies, sleeping partners, brand ambassadors and ex-members during their raj in Jharkhand will help to follow the score on its blacksheeps and holy cows.

In the last three years of UPA dispensation, the misuse of helicopters incurred loss of Rs50.98 crore -all thanks to 2236 flying hours. Any comment or action by the UPA bosses? Not that we heard of.

Two cabinet ministers went to jail with unaccountable wealth running into crores. PILs are being filed against a few more and TRP triggering marriage bashes by its ministers and vulgar display of muscle power, private jets, collection of designer shoes and political clout still get occasion mentions in media. But, political circles are abuzz that they might get to contest on UPA tickets.

Prof Jean Dreze, member of the Central Employment Guarantee Council, refers to Jharkhand State as “ one of the worst performing states as far as NREGA is concerned” in the country [The Hindu, 19 July 2008]. Monitoring by Rahul Baba or his brigadiers to improve things? The membership drive of his youth force finds more media space. Huh!

An ex-UPA supported Chief Minister’s closest aides got caught with foreign currency at Mumbai airport and one of the leading Hindi daily ran regular headlines with direct allegations on him of amassing unfathomable wealth. Who cares? The BJP own 8 out of 14 and looks to do well in assembly as well. Congress won only one. So, Jharkhand can wait. Right, Mr. Gandhi?
Ex-Governor Mr. Raji’s (ex-congress cadre) OSD- Avinash kumar (ex District Collector of Ranchi during UPA regime) - who was summoned back to Ranchi from his holy trip to Devghar when CBI raided his residences and the findings also led to Kumar’s suspension. Another sidekick of the Mr. Raji and ex-Health Secretary Mr. Pradeep Kumar was also raided by the CBI. These officers had an almost free reign during UPA times and they were the political favorites.

Last but not the least of these counter austerity stories- the Congress in-charge K Keshav Rao was zoomed out of Jamshedpur by a chartered plane (courtesy one of his well wishers who also doubled up as ticket seeker for the next elections). But attempt to find the generous soul? Zero.
The same state has leaders like Kadia Munda –the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha- whose simple living exemplifies the common touch that is so much sought-after to fight this hypocritical sharade. There are many other Jharkhandi MLAs and MPs who are equally austere most of them because they genuinely can't afford anything else.

One retired senior govt. official has a very nice but pragmatic take on austerity by politicians. If Netas start travelling economy class, where will their chelas fit into? The challenge to maintain the balance of power and to accommodate the desires of their cadre class is not child’s play. Did anyone check the boarding passes of Sachin Pilot and Ashok Tanwar during their maiden trips to Ranchi? But will that really help Jharkhand? Hope, the most austere female of congress party who renounced Prime Ministership can use her cost cutting motives to slice down on Jharkhand’s misfortunes by helping form a democratically elected govt.