Good luck, Uddhav

The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi and its common minimum programme are in place, but the real action begins now.

 

The Shiv Sena has always advocated an aggressive brand of politics. Uddhav Thackeray will have to exercise a lot of restraint to keep the coalition together (‘Lights, camera, factions!’, December 8).

Kamna Chhabra,

Gurugram, Haryana.

 

In your cover story there is a brief mention about Sharad Pawar’s wife, Pratibha tai. Upon reading it I could imagine what an important role she would have played in bringing Ajit Pawar back into the fold.

 

Perhaps, when THE WEEK decides to come up with stories on strong women of India, a line or two should be written on Pratibha tai.

 

Gurjas Chahal,

On email.

 

Uddhav does not even know which portfolios he will be handling. Then how are these people going to handle issues that affect the common man?

 

All senior politicians should have gracefully sought fresh mandate from voters instead of forming such an alliance, after the results were declared.

 

Mukund Satpute,

On email.

 

The political brinkmanship displayed by Uddhav to capture power at any cost may have a detrimental effect on the Shiv Sena. Having a pre-poll alliance with the BJP and then backtracking reduces the Shiv Sena to a power-hungry regional party.

 

As he is at the mercy of Sharad Pawar and Sonia Gandhi, only time will tell how decisive Uddhav is going to be as the chief minister.

 

K.M.G. Vivekanandam,

On email.

 

The Shiv Sena has made the biggest blunder by side-stepping their core hindutva ideology for power. The big gainers in the long run are the BJP and the NCP. With Uddhav and his MLAs having limited legislative experience, Pawar is going to make the most of the opportunity.

 

Mahesh Karinje,

On email.

 

I fully agree with Abhishek Singhvi that governors should be unconnected to political parties. Also, one should remove the condition that government approval is required to prosecute or arrest any high-ranking official involved in corruption or any crime. If this clause is removed, top officials will think twice before getting involved in wrong activities.

 

Thomas M. Peedikayil,

On email.

 

Singhvi has expressed his wish that it is time to appoint persons completely unconnected to political parties as governors, like Nobel prize winners, eminent academics or scientists. I second his views.

 

The institution of governor, if kept neutral, will not only help in avoiding a Maharashtra-like debacle from happening again, but also ensure that the sanctity attached with the post of governor is maintained as envisaged by the makers of the Constitution.

 

Iqbal Singh,

On email.

 

Thank you, Swara

I appreciate Swara Bhasker for understanding her mother, Prof Ira Bhaskar, professor of JNU, so well (‘Bitter Chocolate’, December 8). Together they have shown their solidarity towards the students of JNU. Let our homes become a home of charity for others, especially for those in need.

 

Kiran Joseph S.J.,

On email.

 

Swara not only gives the real picture of the fracas at JNU and the hidden agenda of the divisive politics, but also reaffirms our faith that there are people, though not many, like her mother who still inspire many to keep up with the struggle. Ira, as a professor, has been a true mentor for so many students. May her tribe grow and may sanity prevail everywhere.

 

Suman Anand,

On email.

 

Why strike?

Your report on the situation in JNU was a balanced one (‘Hues, and cries’, December 8). However, I feel the strike by the students of JNU is totally unwarranted. While I fully agree that nobody should be denied education for want of money, I strongly disagree with the idea of subsidising education at all levels for the sake of providing education.

 

While basic education, say up to high school, can be made free, I am of the opinion that higher education at graduate, postgraduate and research level should be available to only those who actually deserve it. If a bright student is not able to pursue higher education for want of money, government can consider offering financial assistance, based on academic merit and the financial position of the student.

 

B.C. Unnikrishnan Nair,

On email.

 

JNU is going through exceptionally troubled times. The hike in the hostel fees has been so exorbitant and the protests so intense that the university has been forced to revise it twice already. It is now trying to suppress all forms of protests. Most of those criticising JNU are ignorant about the ethos of the university and they criticise its functioning without even bothering to step inside the campus. This should change.

 

It is upon all of us to fight on behalf of this great university and stop the government’s attempts to destroy it.

 

Sushil Pandey,

Bengaluru.

 

Ego problem

It is odd that a magazine like THE WEEK devoted two pages to the late T.N. Seshan, former chief election commissioner (‘Clean sweep commissioner’, November 24). A concentrated egoist and sadist, he failed to grasp the IAS culture and was always rude and crude.

 

I had a couple of occasions to interact with Seshan after his retirement, and found him to be always abusing institutions and personalities.

 

Parur S. Ganesan,

Mumbai.