Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The statewide BJP bandh against the grim power situation and the resignation of Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (MPSEB) chairman P.K. Dasgupta is giving the Congress government sweaty nights even as Congress chief Sonia Gandhi arrived in Gwalior today for her two-day trip.
The resentment could be gauged from the level of hooting, which CM Digvijay Singh received when he got up to speak at a rally in Dabra today.
The bandh, though peaceful, witnessed some violence in Sagar where BJP MLA Narottam Mishra was arrested last night. Mishra was arrested to ensure Sonia’s rally was not disturbed. The BJP has announced they will hold a bandh in Katni, where she is due to speak tomorrow.
Meanwhile, with the government’s announcement that Dasgupta’s resignation has been accepted and Chief Secretary A.V. Singh given charge of the Board, the curtain came down on another drama which saw Singh gain in a minor fashion.
Dasgupta was seen as AICC general secretary Kamal Nath’s nominee and Sonia’s presence has been just the right occasion for Singh to oust him. A few days ago in Dewas, Kamal Nath had said the CM in the state will be decided by elected MLAs. This was seen as a move to cut Singh down to size. Dasgupta’s sacking in part is seen as a comeback by Singh.
Curiously reports of Dasgupta being forced to resign were being fed by the state to the media over the past two days, but was confirmed today.
But under current circumstances, the sniping within the Congress or the strange ways of the Digvijay administration are clearly of secondary importance in view of the rising ire over the power situation.
Over the past week, with the urban areas facing an additional two-hours of power cuts, the resentment against the government has become far more visible. And for once the BJP seems to taken advantage of the CM’s predicament.
