• It is likely that the truce between the Reddy brothers and Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is momentary. It is probable that a similar condition exists within the new Maharashtra government where despite a clear mandate for the Congress-NCP alliance, tussles have been noted over the number of cabinet births and distribution of portfolios between the two constituents of the alliance.

— M.C. Joshi

Lucknow

The nitty-gritty

• The Congress-NCP alliance has been given an opportunity to rule Maharashtra for the next five years without a political threat. The chief minister and his team would do well if they bury the past and start afresh. Instead of touting the state’s so-called prime position in the country, they should diligently begin work on major problems in a systematic manner. These include ensuring adequate power supply, clean drinking water, irrigation facilities and a vigilant police force. The degradation of the state over the past decade is devastating; thus the need of the hour is to rebuild Maharashtra.

— Ashok R. Shinde

Mumbai

It’s the procedure

• This refers to ‘Walk the Talk’ with Wajahat Habibullah. I too feel that the position of the chief information commissioner should not be subjected to a celebrity campaign. How do we decide that these opinion leaders represent all of us? What is the eligibility criterion for candidates and when does such a list end? Has the present system of appointing the CIC created doubts over the calibre of the chosen person? It is one thing to suggest structural changes in the constitution of the selection committee or selection parameters and quite another to micro-manage the system by spelling out specific choices.

... contd.