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Resentment against hike in bus fare mounting in Bhopal

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NK SINGH Though a Govt. directive has frustrated the earlier efforts of the MPSRTC to increase the city bus fares by as much as 300 per cent, the public resent even the 25 per cent hike. It is "totally unjust, uncalled for and arbitrary", this is the consensus that has emerged from an opinion conducted by "Commoner" among a cross-section of politicians, public men, trade union leaders, and last but not least, the common bus travelling public. However, a section of the people held, that an average passenger would not grudge a slight pinche in his pocket provided the MPSRTC toned up its services. But far from being satisfactory, the MPSRTC-run city bus service in the capital is an endless tale of woe. Hours of long waiting, over-crowding people clinging to window panes frequent breakdowns, age-old fleet of buses, unimaginative routes and the attitude of passengers one can be patient only when he is sure to get into the next bus are some of the ills plaguing the city b...
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No smooth sailing for new SVD Government in Bihar

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Karpoori Thakur 

NK SINGH

 Radical, 30 January 1971

The Samyukta Vidhayak Dal Government in Bihar is the first SSP-led Government in the country.

It has been formed on the pattern of U.P. with the support of the SSP, the Congress (O), the Jana Sangh, the Swatantra Party, the Janta Party, the BKD, the Shoshit Dal, the Jharkhand, the rebel PSP, the Justin Richard faction of the Hul Jharkhand and an eight-members independent group, besides some independent and Ruling Congress defectors.

The total strength of the SVD constituents is 171 in a 318-Members house, five having no voting rights.

There is no doubt that Chief Minister Mr. Karpoori Thakur is eager to provide a stable Government.

On Dec 22, the day he was sworn in, he had the solid support of 171 members of the Assembly. But in politics, particularly in Bihar politics, figure do not make unalterable facts. The figures here represent human beings, who change according to the exigencies of developing situations.

The expansion of the Ministry is yet to take place.

The major parties are in favour of a comparatively small Ministry while the smaller parties want it to be large-sized so that they can get more representation.

When the Ministry expansion takes place, one may start hearing discordant voices.

The SVD-Government is not going to have a smooth sailing. The SSP is keen on the acceptance of a common programme for the SVD. But the Jana Sangh does not want any compromise on its own programme.

Even in the selection of Ministers from his own party, Mr. Karpoori Thakur is facing difficulties. Raj Narain, the SSP boss, wants his representative in Bihar, Bhola Prasad Singh, to be included in the Government. Mr. Thakur does not want to include him.

The Janta Party expects the Chief Minister to settle Ramgarh family affairs on its terms but this will not be acceptable to other constituents of the SVD.

The Jana Sangh and the Syndicate Congress will not accept the SSP's land policy.

Thus, it is a combination where partners are uncomfortable with each other.

The question on everybody lips is: How much long a ministry -- with a bare majority of ten can last when its coalition partners have already started threatening?

The General impression is that: as soon as Indra Gandhi returns to Parliament with majority, she will immediately topple it.

Radical 30 January 1971



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