from our political correspondent reporting from Moodbidri (MB)
with inputs from Shekar Ajekar and pics from Yathiraj Moodbidri

Mangalore / Moodbidri, Aug 7: When there are several problems afflicting this temple town, famed as 'Dakshina Kashi' because of its reputation as a pilgrimage centre with a cluster of Jain basadis, the citizens, during the past few days, have been witnessing an agonizing political drama enacted by the politicians. It was not just the theatre of the absurd but to some extent height of childish and peevish behaviour on the part of a few actors involved.

The inauguration of the new premises of the Town Municipal Council took place on Sunday amidst unprecedented security arrangements. If the popularity of our politicians is gauged by the security provided to them, then it only shows where our country is headed for.

Congress has been accused by the Janata Dal (S) leaders of making the whole show a party affair. Sitting MLA Abhayachandra Jain had made it a matter of personal prestige that as long as he would be MLA, there was no question of inviting Amaranath Shetty Kodman, who was not only some years earlier chairman of the municipal council, but elected MLA thrice, becoming a minister on two occasions. For Abhayachandra to have vowed not to invite a well-respected leader like Shetty only smacked of half peevish and half vindictive attitude, say the local Janata Dal (S) workers.

At a press conference a few days ago, Abhayachandra fumed again at Shetty and also accused the mediapersons of siding with him. The scribes protested, even going to the extent of threatening a boycott.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's local unit and the district-level bigwigs were in fact in a dilemma over this issue. They did not know how to handle the controversy. On the one hand, they had to settle a score with the Congressmen, esp. Rajya Sabha member Janardhan Poojary, who was to inaugurate the new premises. On the other hand, they did not want to annoy the JD(S), with which party they have been sharing power at the state level.

So they chose a safer way out, by boycotting the function, citing an excuse, which has been very handy in the BJP vocabulary nowadays. And that is the pretext that the BJP leaders were not given their due importance in the invitation etc.

So the inauguration took place on Sunday morning at the hands of Poojary, who, as the BJP points, is a representative not directly elected by the people. The inaugural plaque, ironically, bears the names of state minister B Nagaraj Shetty and Udupi MP Manorama Madhwaraj. And they were conspicuous by their absence. Reports said that all of them were present together in the district office.

DK deputy commissioner Maheshwar Rao's name also is prominently seen on the plaque. But he is away in the Himalayan region on special duty.

By staying away, the BJP leaders killed a few birds with the same stone. They avoided the embarrassment of coming face to face with Poojary and other Congressmen, with whom they have a verbal spat day in and day out. Secondly, if the security situation were to take an ugly turn, they would be undecided what stand to take. Thirdly, they will also have sent a clear message that they cannot be taken for granted and they should be given proper respect and importance in the political set-up.

The battle-lines between Congress and JD(S) had been drawn over the last few days. While the Congressmen insisted that in no circumstances Shetty would be invited, JD(S) threatened that its party workers would gather in large numbers and offer a satyagraha at the site of inauguration, should Shetty be sidelined. Apprehending a law and order problem, the police had requisitioned additional forces from elsewhere. About 80-100 policemen and two special forces were pressed into service.

With two recent cases of cane-charging last week - one at Maroli-Kaikamba and another on striking rickshaw drivers near RTO office, both in Mangalore - still fresh  in people's minds, another round was very much expected. A senior police personnel mentioned to this correspondent personally that if driven to such a situation, the cops were ready for action, adding that the earlier two cases appeared to be working as a deterrent against mischief thereafter.

So, with so much security in place,  the venue of the inauguration was a virtual fortress. Poojary inaugurated the premises, in the presence of the sitting MLA and a former MLA Somappa Suvarna. Portraits of the first panchayat chairman of the town, Venkataramana Mallya, and the first chairman of the municipal council after its upgradation, Muniraj Ajri, were unveiled. Freedom-fighter Janardhan Prabhu, TMC chairman Sundar and Suresh Kotian were among other prominent persons present.

JD(S) workers, about 1,500 in number, held a demonstration a distance away. Amaranath Shetty addressed them. It was being said that many workers from other taluks like Karkala, Mangalore and Beltangady had joined in the protest. An effigy of the sitting MLA was also burnt.

It is a sad irony that the stately new premises of the TMC will be standing as a lasting monument to a murky drama that had been unfolding over the last few days. The citizens of Moodbidri will remember with bitterness that slogans of protest were heard together with the opening invocation song at the inaugural function. Personally, even Poojary himself may not have been happy about Shetty's being left out of the function, said a Congressman to this correspondent.

At the bottom of it all, there is a common belief that all this was part of the preparations for a mid-term poll to the assembly, with coalition at the state level going through rough weather. If that is to happen, Moodbidri will see another round of the battle of the 2 A's - 'Abhayanna' and 'Amaranna'.