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Showing posts from September, 2011

Office of profit- what is it?

by D.Dhanuraj I never understood the office of profit argument. In recent times, this has been a controversial definition for political hara-kiri. Now, it has taken an alarming proposition that can cause for midterm assembly elections in Kerala. The debate is on ‘whether the chief whip of the ruling front (UDF in this case) enjoys the office of profit or not?’ I am not a legal expert to cite the various judgements and provisions in the law to prove or disprove the argument. Yet as a researcher, it looks so funny to me when the very idea of office of profit and these positions (Chief whip in this case)are interchanged for political vexation .   What do we mean by a political office? From President to local ward member can be included in that long list. What is their duty? In Indian context, to perform and drive for the societal needs and meet the social challenges in truly democratic way. What is the role of Government and who are all responsible for the Government? From PM or CM as

Hartals and Petroleum price hike

by D Dhanuraj Another Hartal day passed in Kerala. It is a ritual all Malayalees are used to for ages. Not many will ask you about what happened post Hartal? did they have any impact on the cause? I dont think anyone did a study on these and made a report on cost benefit analysis of hartals. Sometimes, i wonder hartals add more business to the state economy as beverage corporation outlets have Onam business on the previous day of hartal and of course many tour operators are benefiting from hartals.  Keeping jokes apart, I want to discuss the philosophy of hartals called by left parties to protest the oil price hike. Though I am in favor of declaring the oil price according to the international price market, I do believe that the system is not transparent one. It is still controlled by the party in ruling. When they postpone the price hike due to impending assembly elections, the scheme of things are very clear. There was no explanation for not slashing the price when there was a fal