Understanding Indian politics is not simple.
Left front (CPI, CPM and other communist parties) constitutes a significant chunk of the ruling UPA alliance governing the centre. Right wing BJP led NDA is the main opposition party. The role of the opposition party is to keep the policies of the ruling government in check and question 
the basis of all decision making. At the same time, the opposition raises a stand on various issues and debates with the government before the parliament agrees on a proposal. A weak opposition will result in irresponsible governance. Parliamentary democracy gives importance to both – the ruling and the opposition.
Of late the Left parties have taken over the role as the main opposition. BJP is tied up trying to cope up with the mess in its own house. It does launch token protests, but they are out of sync and don’t reflect a firm stand of the party on any issue. Latest example is the issue raised by NDA over the proposed disinvestments in NALCO. While in power, it was the NDA government who proposed offloading equity from this profit making PSU. Now it’s the same NDA, which is opposing the proposal bitterly. Another example was the meek protests few weeks back over fuel price hike. 
I remember the previous NDA government defending the price rise when it raised the fuel prices.
The Left on the other hand has been consistent with its policies; I’m not judging right or wrong (that will be another post). They are against liberalization and disinvestments in profit-making PSU’s. They are against passing the rising oil import costs to the consumer. They oppose FDI in retail and want to stick to protectionist labor laws of the 60’s. It’s a different story that the Leftist government in West Bengal under Buddhadeb Bhattacharya is running with a capitalist agenda.
Yet, the stand taken by the communists is steady, while the BJP is in a state of complete disarray. Remember Indira Gandhi’s gesture of sending Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the leader of opposition to UN back in 1971, which has become a shining example of Indian democratic setup and role played by a responsible opposition?
Part of the government itself is playing the opposition today, which was anyways inevitable, because the Congress is more similar to BJP than Leftists! Where is the real opposition today?
[tag]Mahuli[/tag] is the highest peak of [tag]Sahyadri[/tag] ranges in Thane district. Yesterday I went trekking there with a large group ot 75. Mahuli can be reached from Assangaon (Central railway of Mumbai suburban) and can be easily completed in a day
→ Details of Mahuli
→ Photo Gallery
Sample images:
Jet Airways – Air Sahara and Congress – Samajwadi party
News is officially out that the Jet – Sahara deal is off the shelf. Many reasons have been cited for the breakdown of takeover by Jet airways, including political ones. While the economic considerations could be valid reason for scrapping deal, the political games that are played behind the scenes will definitely hamper growth stories, such as this.
Air Sahara owned by Sahara group is known for its proximity to the Samajwadi party. Samajwai party – another one among the pool of political parties with lost objectives – has publicly declared its stand against the Congress party in the state of UP, although it currently supports Congress led UPA at the center. The merger is seen to have been beneficial to the Lucknow based Sahara group, therefore to the Samajwadi party too. With elections in UP drawing close, the rabid race to grab power in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state (and also illiterate, backward etc.) is growing bitter. Yesterday’s friends are pitted against each other and they are leaving no stones unturned to ensure the defeat of the enemy – by direct or indirect method. It is therefore speculated that the Jet Airways – Air Sahara merger deal was scuttled under the pretext of ‘security clearance’ by the central government on the directive issued by the ruling congress party. Why? So that Samajwadi party is not benefited.
If this story is really true, it speaks volumes about the shortsightedness and selfish motives of Indian politicians, whom I consider the filthiest creatures on earth. It is noteworthy that despite the politicians, India Inc continues to grow and is set to strengthen brand India.
It has started raining in Mumbai. The Meteorological department says these are pre-Monsoon showers. Ah…! The free creatures (such as me) living on mother earth are least concerned about the technical crap. I get delighted seeing the rain: it gives me very elementary joyous feeling and I feel my soul celebrating.
Joining the party from nowhere are other insects – snails, earthworms, frogs and so on. Frogs are quicker than the cocks (the ones that go cock-a-doodle-doo) and their screeching croaks start very early, most of the times disturbing my lovely dreams. I happened to go to the Bhagshala maidan for a pre-dawn stroll one day and from a long distance I could hear hundreds of frogs croaking distinctly, in unision. It was sortof scary! I hate frogs.
Ever since I was a little boy, I was always attracted to earthworms. I may not find puppies and cats ‘cute’ but I do think earthworms are (You should stop gauging me by conventional benchmarks). I remember grabbing them from everywhere – 
under big rocks, on old brick walls or simply while wriggling across – and collecting them. I saw the first earthworm of this season in mom’s garden and I was thrilled (so was he, i think!)
Speaking of mom’s plants, they will soon be vulnerable to attacks from the mighty snails determined to gulp down every bit of greenery. I don’t love or hate snails, but I find them rather funny, with huge shells on their backs and crawling at – should we say – ‘snail’s pace’. However, they eat a lot and shit a lot, which is messy.
Welcome little friends 
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