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“The PM and ministers are busy in Karnataka polls and can’t approve the scheme for releasing water to Tamil Nadu, as directed”, the Centre told the Supreme Court. The apex court had asked the Centre to come to it with a draft scheme by February 8. The Court didn’t spare Karnataka either. It told Karnataka “be ready to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu or face the consequences.” Karnataka has been asked to release four TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water to Tamil Nadu for May. The Centre asked for 10 more days till the next hearing. But, the court rebuked it. The judges suggested that the Centre was acting in guile with their statement that “the Centre knows what the scheme means.”

The top court also rebuked the centre for asking for more time to act on Cauvery river sharing on grounds that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ministers were busy with the May 12 Karnataka polls. “You are supposed to frame the scheme,” Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra told the center’s lawyer KK Venugopal sternly. The Attorney General replied that the draft for the scheme was “pending with the cabinet” as the “PM and ministers are in Karnataka.” Interestingly he also told the court that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, wanted ministers to be involved in the scheme instead of experts. “We are not bothered about the polls. The scheme should have been framed by now. States have no role in this,” replied the Chief Justice. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu accused the center of “politicizing the issue” and worrying more about the elections in Karnataka. “Centre doesn’t want to frame the scheme now. This is the end of cooperative federal politics. What do we tell the people of Tamil Nadu?” said the state.

Governance a casualty?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his third round of rallies in poll-bound Karnataka on Thursday, May 3. On Saturday, he is slated to visit Shivamogga and Mangaluru. The BJP has also lined up a galaxy of leaders, including Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, to address public meetings in the next few days, BJP sources told PTI according to the Times of India. PM Modi has focussed his attacks on Rahul Gandhi, his family and the Congress Party rather than the incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who seems to have got the better of the PM on Twitter. The Prime Minister is slated to address another 12 rallies over the next few days before Karnataka goes to poll on May 12.

Firebrand Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath campaigned in Karnataka on May 3 and 4 but had to rush back on the 5th to quell criticism about him neglecting his state in the wake of deaths caused by the massive dust storm and heavy rain in which 73 people lost their lives in his state. It’s a tragedy that the ballot is more important than lives of the people. 124 people have died and 300 injured across five states this week. On arrival in the capital he said, “storm destroyed lives, I have come to express my condolences. As soon I got the information, I told officers and ministers to reach affected parts of UP… We can’t bring back those who passed away… Relief has been provided to the affected. Kin of those who died have been given Rs 4 lakhs as ex-gratia and the injured are given free treatment in hospitals.” Home minister Rajnath Singh too has been drafted into the campaign team and will address election rallies at Alanda, Afzalpur, Chittapur and Chincholi. BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra has also been roped-in for the election battle. He will hold a press conference tomorrow, sources told the TOI.

Elections Vs Governance… what’s the solution?

Like the Cauvery water, governance at the Centre and some of the states is at a stand still, while the BJP goes all out to wrest Karnataka and pave the way for its entry into the south. Stalling critical national schemes and other policies from going through just to avoid an effect on the outcome of a particular state’s election is risky business. Is simultaenous elections the answer or is a ban on campaigning on those holding public office in states other than the one going to the polls the answer?

Perhaps we should give more thought to why Union Ministers and ministers of other states, coming to Karnataka to campaign on behalf of their southern counterparts. Do they not have faith in the local leaders? Or, is this their way of showing that they care?

You decide…