by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Is the Centre's LPG subsidy linked to election years!

Subsidy fluctuated between Rs 1811 cr. To Rs 41565 cr.

The Prices of Domestic LPG cylinders almost doubled in three years even as the subsidy to consumers fell to as low as Rs 1811 crores in 2021-22.  The price of Domestic LPG as on July 1, 2020 was Rs 594 which shot up to Rs 1103 on July 1, 2023 i.e. within a span of three years.

The subsidy on LPG has been seeing wide variations after setting a record of Rs 41565 crores in 2012-13 during the UPA era to Rs 3971 crores in 2014-15 under the NDA rule. When the elections drew near, the LPG subsidy bill again rose to Rs 37209 crores in 2018-19 only to see a major fall next year to Rs 24172 crores and further dwindled to Rs 11896 crores in 2020-21.

Strangely, these subsidies included the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package as well. With the elections drawing near in 2022-23, the subsidy bill rose to Rs 6965 crores and additional Rs 22000 crores to oil marketing companies as one-time compensation. According to official figures made available by the Petroleum and Natural Gas ministry, the government provides subsidies as it deems fit while the oil marketing companies are free to charge prices for commercial consumption.

However, there was no explanation as to why there is wide variation in the amount of domestic LPG subsidiaries. A senior official said the dwindling amount of subsidy is a clear indication that the poor are not buying LPG cylinders due to high prices. With the elections in 2023-2024 drawing to a close, the amount of domestic LPG is being enhanced. The government had initiated a targeted subsidy of Rs 200 per 14.2 kg cylinder under Pradhanmantri Ujjawala Yogna (PMUY) w.e.f. from May 21, 2022 for up to 12 cylinders for 2022-23 and 2023-24.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the Wall 

Sena Hosting INDIA

Officially, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is hosting the 26-Opposition parties' alliance in Mumbai, most likely this month. There are reports that it may be extended to September considering the uncertainty of weather. But for all practical purposes, it's the Shiv Sena (UBT) that will be doing the groundwork and hosting the conclave. If Patna's first conclave was hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Congress hosted the second show of strength in Bengaluru. Now it's the turn of Shiv Sena (UBT) to do the legwork. The Congress leadership is lending its full support to INDIA's constituents and keen that the Common Minimum Program (CMP) is formulated as early as possible. The seat-sharing formula for the 2024 Lok Sabha is not on the table as yet. The seat-sharing will be the most difficult task for 26 parties. Secondly, the BJP is vigorously working to lure leaders of the Opposition parties in Bihar, Maharashtra, UP, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The “open door policy” of the BJP has rather intensified lately causing uneasiness in the Congress, Samajwadi Party and JD (U). It is in this context that the Congress wants Lok Sabha seat-sharing talks delayed until the Assembly polls in five states. Therefore, the Congress is keen that the CMP be decided on a priority basis and then the seat-sharing formula be worked out statewise on the basis of ground reality and winnability of the candidate or the party's own strength. Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena (UBT) has a tough task in hand relating to NCP supremo Sharad Pawar who is known for making unexpected moves. Pawar's recent decision to attend the Lokmanya Tilak National Award ceremony where PM Modi was the chief guest caused avoidable confusion in the Opposition camp. But Pawar remains unruffled. Will he stay with the MVA? How long? No one knows.

Tricky Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister and JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar is another unpredictable character in the INDIA alliance. After the Bengaluru conclave, he has suddenly gone quiet. Recently, his comments baffled political observers when he was asked by reporters his opinion about the Manipur violence and the no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He had a huge opportunity in hand to put the BJP on the mat. But he did nothing of the sort and made no caustic remarks. His cryptic remarks were limited to saying that Modi should have given a statement in Parliament. 

A senior leader close to Nitish revealed that the latter did this to return a favour to the saffron party. About a month ago, the Union home minister, Amit Shah, was attending a public rally in Bihar where he had attacked Lalu Prasad, his children, and the Congress, but had spared Nitish. Secondly, Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav have not been seen together in public or at government programmes of late. Observers say that Nitish is unhappy as he was expecting to be anointed at least the convenor of the alliance, if not the chairperson. He had worked hard to form INDIA. There are also moves to set up an 11-member coordination committee for the alliance. If this happens, it will surely undermine the role of the convenor. Nitish is also worried that the BJP is making all kinds of efforts to lure JD (U), Congress & RJD MLAs. 

Bhupesh Baghel in huge trouble

After establishing the NDA government in Maharashtra by winning over Ajit Pawar and hoping to retain its 23 Lok Sabha seats in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is now focusing in Chhattisgarh where Assembly polls are due in November-December. The BJP's big worry is that its own state unit is in shambles and Bhupesh Baghel looks firm in the saddle. The saffron party is banking on the “coal & liquor scams” surfaced a couple of months ago. The scams led to the arrest of several senior officers including IAS, businessmen, politicians and middlemen close to Baghel. The ED calls it “a massive scam in which an illegal levy of ₹25 was being extorted for every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh by a cartel involving the caucus. There are reports that the agency is working hard to convert an accused approver and likely to succeed soon. But the big battle is taking place between the Baghel government and ED in the Supreme Court where all top lawyers like Mukul Rohtagi, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Harish Salve are appearing for accused languishing in jail and seeking bail.

Priyanka- Sharmila te-te

If Rahul Gandhi is busy fixing nuts & bolts to strengthen the 26-parties alliance named INDIA, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is busy helping him politically as well. Priyanka spoke to YSR Telangana Party Chief YS Sharmila Reddy who is set to contest for the Assembly polls in 2023. She is the estranged sister of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and had conducted padyatra of the entire state to take on the BRS leader and Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. The Congress has been desperately looking for a foothold in Telangana and a tie-up with Sharmila may help both to take on the BRS and BJP. After all, her father YS Rajshekhar Reddy was installed as Chief Minister by the Congress Party also. After his death, the son fell out and formed his own regional party. Priyanka was given the charge of connecting with Sharmila. Rahul Gandhi had taken a break of 10 days to go for the Ayurveda treatment for his knee pain which erupted during his Bharat-Jodo-Yatra. He is reported to have explained to the doctors there that at one point his knee pain became so unbearable that there was uncertainty whether to continue with his 4000 km Bharat-Jodo-Yatra which was completed in 136 days across 75 districts and 14 states.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Mumbai Conclave of INDIA postponed, Likely in September

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Aug 2

The 26 Opposition parties' INDIA conclave to be held in Mumbai on August 25-26 has been postponed. The new dates are being finalized in consultation with leaders again. The dates were deferred due to prior commitments of some of the leaders.

When contacted, Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena (UBT) told Lokmat that the conclave meeting scheduled to be held in Mumbai has not been deferred. “The new dates are being

finalized and most likely the conclave will be held in the first week of September.” The Mumbai conclave is considered very important as it will decide about the Common Minimum Program and seat-sharing arrangements for the Lok Sabha polls in 2024..

At the Bengaluru meet, the Opposition parties announced that its coalition will be called 'I.N.D.I.A' (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance). The Congress party had asserted that the next general election will be a face-off between I.N.D.I.A and Prime Minster Narendra Modi.

One of the prominent highlights of the Bengaluru meet was that the Congress party, which is the largest party in the alliance with a pan-India presence, said that it was not interested in the PM's post if they won the election.

Notably, during the Bengaluru meet, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also held a meeting of 38 parties in Delhi on July 18, which was chaired by PM Modi.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Modi government acts tough

No question of reverting to Old Pension Scheme fir retired employees 

The Modi government is not buckling under the popular pressure to bring back the 'Old Pension Scheme” for retired government employees. The expenditure on central government pensioners stood at over Rs 2.54 lakh crores in 2021-22 which rose to more than three lakh crores in 2022-23. The new pension scheme was made compulsory by the Vajpayee government in 2004 which has continued since then.

However, many state governments have resorted to popular pressure and reverted to old pension schemes and are facing acute financial crises. Lakhs of retired central government employees have been demanding that the Centre should also revert to the Old Pension Scheme.

But the Union Government emphatically denied today that there is no question of reverting to the Old Pension Scheme(OPS). The OPS had provided for employees to give pension of 40 to 45 per cent of the last drawn salary replacing the existing market linked pension.

The Government was asked in the Rajya Sabha today whether the Committee constituted by Government to review existing new pension schemes for the Government employees has given its report; and if so, the findings thereof. But the government made it clear that no such proposal is under consideration and there is no question of any such proposal to be considered. Earlier, Union Personnel Minister Jitendra Singh had said that the number of pensioners on the rolls of Central government is about 77 lakh, than active service personnel, which is about 50-60 lakh.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Mumbai Bullet Train project going heywire; Rs 45k crores spent 

The Mumbai- Ahmedabad Bullet train project may be delayed further. The Centre blamed the Maharashtra government for delay in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) “Bullet Train” Project for failure in land acquisition. Consequently, it also led to the delay in awarding in finalization of contracts that have impacted the project implementation.

Of the seven Bullet trains projects, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project is the only sanctioned High Speed Rail project in the country. Out of total land requirement of approx. 1389.5 hectare about 1381.9 ha. land has been acquired. As many as 1612 out of 1651 utilities have been shifted to pave the way for the project. All the civil contracts of the project have been awarded. But of the 28 contract packages, 23 packages have been awarded.

The project cost of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Corridor was estimated at Rs. 1,08,000 Crore and completion period was indicated as 8 years in 2015.An expenditure of Rs 45,621.17 Crore have been incurred.  However, the timeline of the project is also dependent on availability of land and site. The Ministry of Railways has assigned the work for preparation of Survey/Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the seven High Speed Rail (HSR) Corridor/Project to National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). These seven routes are; (i) Delhi – Varanasi, (ii) Delhi -Ahmedabad, (iii) Mumbai-Nagpur, (iv) Mumbai -Hyderabad; (v) Chennai – Mysore; (vi) Delhi - Amritsar and Varanasi-Howrah. This was stated by the government in the Rajya Sabha the other day.