One has to admit that the Members of the legislative Assembly (MlAs) are no doubt elected with the support of voters though, as widely perceived, many votes are bought or gained by other dubious means. The electors, however, don’t want their representatives would grab fabulous amounts of taxpayers’ money as it is within their reach because of their position. So, whatever arguments of market conditions forcing them to go in for periodic hikes, albeit hefty, of their salary and allowances do not convince the public. The latest instance of the MlAs’ pay and allowance increase aggregating to a whopping Rs 1 lakh per month has raised eyebrows among the innocent people, who have only to bear with it having no ways of immediate protest.
The MlAs, cutting across party lines, met the Chief Minister and only a few days later the State Cabinet had a meeting and conceded to the demand of pay hike. And in a hurried few days, the Assembly, that is the MlAs, passed a Bill for the purpose in almost no time! As is believed by many, the Government’s bounty for the MlAs virtually silenced them over the grave issue of the collapse of a Bhubaneswar flyover as they, thereafter, forgot to highlight it in the legislature.
A bigger point is that such apparently selfish acts of the “people’s representatives” are adding to the general sense of disaffection, if not hatred, towards politicians. Is it not true that many MlAs earn fat amounts of money from Government officials and others to show them favour or intimidate themIJ Besides, is it not a fact that many MlAs misuse their local Area Development (lAD) funds, which are also being hiked from time to timeIJ If “elected representatives” indulge in such practices, the public perception about politicians would be of dishonesty of very high proportions that may strike at the very system of democracy and elections.
Congress is for self destruction
The Congress high command is singularly responsible for the party’s pitiable situation in Odisha as in many other States. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has called Odisha leaders to Delhi from time to time to end the intraparty squabbles but has never arrived at a solution. The latest parley Gandhi had with these leaders was about two weeks ago. Incumbent PCC president Prasad Harichandan is already a lame duck functionary, but his successor is yet to be decided. The Congress is the least-prepared party to face the coming Bijepur Assembly by-election though its popular MlA Subal Sahu’s death has necessitated the by-poll. Meanwhile, the BJD is trying to rope in Sahu’s widow for the by-election to deprive the Congress of the sympathy vote and gain it for itself. When an overdue new PCC head is absent, who is to think and plan for the poll battleIJ The party is sure for self destruction.
Stop campus elections for heaven’s sake!
Why are these Students’ Union elections being held in colleges and universities; to turn the educational institutions into breeding grounds of violence and to spoil their academic ambienceIJ Wherefrom are the candidates geeing lakhs of rupees to spend on campaigning in open defiance of the lyngdoh Commission’s guidelinesIJ Is it not corrupting student leadersIJ And is it to prepare student leaders to be despicable politicians in futureIJ Those advocating “democracy” in campuses should go deep into the issue. The Ravenshaw University authorities have devised a much-cherished formula for indirect elections to students’ bodies which should be emulated by other institutions so that studies take priority over politics. For its similar step, the Khallikote University also deserves kudos. Regrettably, the Utkal University bosses lack the courage to halt the polls despite the campus witnessing a series of violent incidents. The BJB College authorities are relatively courageous in calling off the elections and declaring the institution sine die in the wake of continuing campus violence.
It is high time thinking heads united and began a campaign against this so-called democratic exercise.