Will Chamling be the next PM? Famous economist Swaminathan Aiyar explores the possibility of Chaming becoming a consensus PM candidate for the Third Front in 2014 in his TOI Column today. Writes that Chamling should be near the top of any list of dark horses in 2014. Excerpt: Sikkim has flourished economically and socially under Chamling. Its GDP growth in 2007-12 averaged 9% annually, well above the national average. It has achieved 100% rural electrification and 100% household sanitation (it claims to be the only state with no public defecation). Its economic boom has been based on tourism, ample hydro-electricity, and success in attracting industries like pharmaceuticals. Because of these achievements, Chamling is sometimes called the Narendra Modi of the Himalayan belt (it is not known whether he likes that title). He won the Diamond Prize for best small state in 2012, beating formidable and better-known rivals like Goa and Uttarakhand. Like many small regional parties of the northeast, his Sikkim Democratic Front tends to support whichever big party is in power in New Delhi. Thus he was with the NDA under Vajpayee, and with the UPA under Manmohan Singh. He is acceptable to both the BJP and Congress, and not seen as a threat by either. This combination of non-threatening acceptability, good performance and honest reputation will not be easy to beat. This is no guarantee that he will get the top job. It is not even known if he wants to come to New Delhi to head what will probably be a short-lived coalition, going by the 1996-98 experience. But he should be near the top of any list of dark horses in 2014. Read full article here: blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes/Swaminomics/entry/will-chamling-become-the-deve-gowda-of-2014
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 04:03:19 +0000
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