On MMS and Rahul Gandhi

A post after two months! Well, this was prompted by Manmohan Singh's latest press conference and an editorial in the The Hindu. 

MMS has confirmed he will not be running for any more terms in office. Let us analyze a few things.

1. He is 81 years old (though he looks much younger)

2. The image of MMS and his government are possibly at the lowest level since he came to power. Possibly even die-hard INC supporters are extremely pessimistic of UPA 3 materializing.

3. There has long been a clamour in the INC to make Rahul Gandhi the PM candidate

So does this declaration raise any eyebrows? I think not. Moving beyond this revelatory or prophetic declaration, MMS has also said it would be a disaster for the country if Narendra Modi becomes the PM. He also believes Rahul Gandhi has excellent credentials, and one asks what are they? This person has not held a single position of responsibility in the government till date. His interactions with the public and corporate India, time and again, reveal his immaturity. This is the person who the current PM thinks has excellent credentials? A person with zero experience? This, my dear readers, I believe will be disastrous for the country, Rahul Gandhi, God forbid, becoming the PM.

Also this press conference like the one earlier seemed to be all about exculpating himself. The UPA government is accused of serious levels of corruption. As was the case the last time the PM once again mentioned political compulsions. He seems to be saying, I am clean, I cannot manage the system around me!

Also do our politicians have no regard for the judicial process? Narendra Modi has recently been cleared of all charges of complicity in the Gujarat riots, still the Congress persists in blaming him for the riots. Whatever the truth, this is a person who has has ample political experience. He has also been the Chief Minister of a state since 2001, hence he has ample political and administrative experience. Between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi I don't think anyone should have any illusions as to who would make a better PM!

If I am not mistaken MMS is a Parliament member from Assam. The present Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi wants to change the time zone to take advantage of different sunrise and sunset times there. The Hindu pointed out that this would add another dimension to the way in which the north east is already held to be different and instead proposes that IST be changed to be 6 hours ahead of UTC in place of 5h 30m like it is now. My question - is it not simpler to change the working hours? Office hours in summer and winter would be different!