BATTLEFIELD UTTAR PRADESH

It's a bare all, dare all in the fourth phase of electioneering in Uttar Pradesh. Standards of civility and public correctness has been thrown to the winds in gay abandon. In a rush to grab the headlines the thrusts and parries of politicians across the party line has touched a new meanness.

On Monday suddenly the donkey epithet was sprung on the unsuspecting populace, who just grinned and beared. The suspense lingered till the last as to who the special personage was on whom the venerable title was conferred.

While Akhilesh played on with the donkey turn of phrase, others generously let loose their verbal quiver on their opponents.
Mayawati took a leaf out of Modi's book and coined a acronym for the Prime Minister.
Manohar Damodar Das Modi to her meant  'Mr Negative Dalit Man.'

Modi played his game well again and christened the Bahujan Samaj Party as 'Behenji Sampatti Party.'

The new found creativity of political leaders is writ large with desperation. With the third round of polling safely in the box, almost a third of the game is out of the hand of political parties.

As the polling moves on to the fourth phase politicians are on the edge.

On Sunday, Modi blatantly played the communal card and positioned himself as a well wisher of Muslims and demanding proper electricity supply during Ramzan as well. The pains of Muslims seems  have touched the bosom of Modi in election time. Hope it lingers on well beyond too.

Fourth phase is going to be interesting fight in one more than one sense. 189 crorepatis and 116 candidates with criminal cases are in the fray.

Fourth phase will cover 53 constituencies in 12 districts, including Bundelkhand.

So no wonder that Modi shed tears for the poor state of affairs of the region.Largesse were promised
if voted to power.

AICC President Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency will be covered in this phase.
The other districts going to polls in the fourth phase are Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Banda, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot and Fatehpur.

SALUTE TO ISRO

ISRO has created a record by launching a bunch of 101 satellites in 600 seconds. The total payload of the lauch vehicle is 664 kg. Launched at very high speed of about 27, 000 km/hr or 40 times the speed of an average passenger liner, the launch exercise was a showcase of expertise garnered by Nations's space organization over the years.

In the field of satellite lauch ISRO has broken the world record set by Russia. In 2014 Russia had launched in space 37 space satellites in one go. Now,  in the current spectacular feat by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV,  India has managed to lauch 101 foreign satellites and one indigenous satellite

Space technology development is a pet idea of Prime Minister Narender Modi. In the recent budget an hike of 23 percent was accorded to the Space Department. The Prime Minister had been inteacting with space scientists and applauding them for their achivements.
Now the sights of ISRO is set even higher. It has planned a trip to Mars and Venus.

BATH IN THE RAINCOAT

Prime Minister Narender Modi is past master in the art of political oneupmanship. In a dexterous move he very skilfully deflected the oppostion's attack on demonetization, and changed the script of the political discourse of the day.
In Rajya Sabha when Modi rose to reply to motion of thanks the Congress expected some rivetting verbal fireworks and dribble of caustic comments. Little did they anticipitate a frontal attack on their icon of propriety, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The 'bath with raincoat on' comment which Modi made not only painted Congress and its rule with tar, it also laid the onus of misrule, to an extent, on the erstwhile prime minister.
Known to be the leading light of the economic reforms of 1991, Singh steered the country from a period of 2004 to 2014. He has impeccable credentials as a leading economist of international standing. Along with PV Narasimha Rao he snapped the mesh of  License Raj and ushered economic liberalization.

Economic laissez faire had been the crown of pride of Congress government. The latest buzz word of Modi - minimum government - is a new age term for the same. As with many other concepts, Modi has succeeded in recoining and then cashing on political philosophies of Congress.

It is a war that he has waged against the old order, and against order of things, which are entrenched with a Congress world-view and proprietorship. In an effort to cast the institutions in a new mould Modi has sharply stepped on the toes of die hard votaries of yesteryear glories of the Congress Raj.
It is a clash of political ecosystems, of worldviews. Seen in this light, Congress is again and again bought into the limelight with its policy paralysis malady.

Demonetization had been proposed to Mrs Gandhi who shirked to implement it. The quote was taken out of a memoir and flashed with impunity across the face of Congress. Holding back no punches Modi moved in swiftly and struck  humiliating at Congress.

Much is at stake for Modi. He is under attack for his demonetization move. The present elections are being fought on demonetization agenda, among others. BJP's loss in elections will be seen as a verdict against Mod's demonetization. Hence the need to strike vulnerably at Congress.An attack which would change the pace and mood of political parrying, atleast for some time as necessary. 

PANEERSEVLAM BARES HIS FANGS

The crisis in AIADMK has overnight escalated. Late night in a sharp move Shashikala had removed O Paneersevlam from the post of party treasurer, and had threatened other severe measures against him.

Events moved swiftly after Paneersevlam showed his rebel face and charged Shashikala with pressurising him to tender his resignation and supporting Shahsikala as the chief minister candidate.
High drama unfolded as Paneersevlam paid obeisance at the memorial of Jayalalitha. He meditated there for about 40 minutes and then spoke belligerently about the raw deal meted out to him. The memorial moment was symbolic. The timing well calculated. The bellicose tone well measured. The admixture of hurt and aggression is probably planned to garner supporter from party members.

The crisis has brought to the fore the simmering discontent in the party. It has also cast a shadow on the smooth transfer of power unto the hands of Shashikala.
If followed to the end, the stand off has all the ingredients for a constitutional crisis. It remains to be seen if Paneersevlam can muster enough MLAs if a show of strength is required.

BJP is a wait and watch mode, so is DMK. The case of disproportionate income has cast its its shadow on the swearing in of Shahsikala. Deepa Jaykumar, niece of Shahsikala has opened a front against her aunt.

The situation is fluid. Other political actors can make the scene messy. It remains to be seen if Paneersevlam's  belligerence will create a breakup of AIADMK.

LEARNING DAYS FOR TRUMP

These are learning days for US President Donald Trump. With no prior experience of holding a public office, the highest office of the land has become a sudden hot seat for Trump. Quite early in his tenure Trump has taken a head long course with the Judiciary. An executive ban order on refugee influx has triggered a confrontation with the judiciary which has stayed the presidential decree.
If Trump continues with the present order of things he will continue to ruffle feathers both in the country and aboard. As of now, many allies, friends and neighbours have had a hearburn.

Inadvertently Trump has run into the check and balance mesh that the constitution had erected to ensure fair play and dissuade heavy handedness of administration. The staying of executive order has once again proved the efficacy of constitutional provisions and foresightedness of founding fathers of Nation.

Trump should do well to pause and ponder. It is quite understood that he is in rush and pressure to prove his electoral promises true. But the way things stand portend, opposition to the President's obdurate moves are hardening. The California ruling has set a precedent which other courts are wont to follow. People have taken to street and political opposition will but cash on Trump's discomfort.

Furthermore, legal appointments are going to be viewed with sckepticism. The appointment of Chief Justice of Supreme Court is in the offing. The appointment will be viewed with a filter to check nepotism, or at least signs of a pliable candidate.

Trump has much to prove. He has to grow much as a politician, an responsible and responsive President, who knows when to stay the course and when to yield and change path.