By PRABEER SIKDAR
DEHRADUN, 17.05.2009:
The Shakespearean quote – What’s in a name? – though a cliché, will never lose its relevance. A case in point: I subscribe to two ‘national’ dailies – XX and XY – both having ‘India’ sitting stylishly on their mastheads, but then, so what?
I claim, with utter disdain, that these so called ‘national dailies’ have woefully failed short of their mandate given their high flying titles. Otherwise, what then explains the neglect of Andhra Pradesh (the state where Congress won 33/42 seats, higher than any states in India) in LS poll coverage and analysis.
For me, as a journalist based in Uttarakhand, and not as one who is rooted in Andhra Pradesh, one of the possible headlines for a short 150-200 worded story would have been: YSR (YS Rajasekhar Reddy) adds 33 seats to Cong Kitty. But, alas, there was neither a news story nor a poll analysis about the ruling party’s grand win in AP.
Some journalists, down South, have all along believed (which now supposedly gets confirmed after the 15th General Elections) that the fortune of the Congress at the Centre, is dependent on how the Congress Party fares in the LS poll in Andhra Pradesh. In the 14th General Election (2004), the state Congress Party led by YSR, secured 29/42 seats (then the highest for Congress in any state), and again in the 15th General Election, YSR helped the party bag 33/42 seats, again the highest in any state, successfully keeping the anti-incumbency factor at bay.
As against this, what hit the headlines prominently in these so called major dailies was how Cong fared in UP (20/80), BJP in HP (3/4), Cong in Rajasthan (20/25), Cong in Uttarakhand (5/5), BJP in Chhattisgarh (10/11)…
This is again, against the rule in cricketing tradition, where one always writes about the top scorer and the reasons for his success thereof. But it was not to be.
One major repercussions of the Cong’s solo win (it bagged 156/294) in AP Vidhan Sabha (both elections held simultaneously) is that unlike Uttarakhand, now, there are no chances for the creation of a separate Telangana State. (The statehood movement started in 1969, more than 400 people i.e. Telangana martyrs sacrificed lives, so far.) In the next five years, there is no hope, as the Congress there stands for a united Andhra Pradesh (a la Mulayam, who was against the creation of Uttarakhand).
There goes my dream. The longstanding demand had led to the creation of pro-Telangana (there are 10 Districts in all here in this region) parties like TRS (similar to UKD, here, but like it, it also got routed there).
However, the lack of post-poll analysis on AP did not surprise me after I glanced at a news item in that same ‘national daily’ about how an AP man was responsible for bringing Swine Flu to India… The point was: the story was datelined in Delhi.
Being a Hyderabadi, I always thought the Nawabi City was hailed as an IT hub. But, now, living in Uttarakhand, I wonder if my native city is facing a broadband crisis.
My fair criticism about the mainstream print media is not unfounded, for I believe and see media as a service provider, a vehicle of change and information. Ultimately, they should stand for what they claim to be, i.e., Pan Indian.
Elsewhere, like any other loyal Hyderabadi, I rejoiced at cricketer-turned-politician Azhar’s win from Moradabad. A comparative news story headline, which I envisage, from my present home in Tehri constituency is: Azhar hits bulls eye, Rana knocked for six! (I really wonder why the EC is not partial towards this Hyderabadi, who despite being in Uttarakhand, could not cast vote, while Azhar was allowed to contest from Moradabad! Surely, a violation of my fundamental right under Article 14.)
Moral: Cricket and cricketers win. So, another two General Elections down the line, if BJP decides to change its pro-Hindutva rhetoric, it would not surprise if it chooses to field the Pathan brothers from Muslim dominated constituencies and register wins.
And, lastly, coming to Rahul Gandhi, 39, I would have liked him to address a Press Conference in Doon for there was one question I would have liked the Congress Yuvraj to answer: When are you getting married?
Post his victory from the Congress’ dynastic UP bastion, it would really throw up a surprise, if the most eligible bachelor ties the knot during the current LS term.
One possible choice, according to me, is Rani (Mukherjee), as she has a good fan following in India especially in West Bengal, where Congress is in a poor state of health. Moreover, if they get married, Congress would get another high-profile star campaigner!
What say?
PS: All things said, the failure of NDA in the 15th General Election, is a personal loss to me as I desired to be IT exempted for an annual income of Rs 3 lakh. I hope, UPA hijacks this promise from BJP’s manifesto.
(With inputs from my Dad, in Andhra Pradesh).
http://www.garhwalpost.com/index.php?mod=article&cat=GupShup&article=1034
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