THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- October 17, 2016- Topic 1
If there is one thing that
the ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala cannot afford, it is tolerance of
corruption and nepotism. The resignation of E.P. Jayarajan as Industries
Minister, following charges of nepotism, brought to a quick end what could have
turned out to be a major political embarrassment for Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan. After having come to power attacking the Congress-led United Democratic
Front over a string of scandals, Mr. Vijayan could not allow himself to be seen
as endorsing acts of indiscretion by his Minister — especially since Mr.
Jayarajan is from Kannur, the same district as Mr. Vijayan, and is considered a
loyalist. Once it became clear that Mr. Jayarajan had favoured his relatives in
appointments to State public sector undertakings, he stood politically isolated
within the party. Indeed, it was not only the national leadership of the
CPI(M), but Mr. Vijayan as well who was keen on containing the controversy in
its nascence. Even before the meeting of the State Secretariat of the party
discussed the issue, the Chief Minister said, in a post on his Facebook page,
that the Chief Secretary had been asked to probe allegations of nepotism. Also,
the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau decided to initiate a ‘quick
verification’ of the charges. Mr. Jayarajan’s defence was more in the nature of
an explanation: that he was being targeted for acting against corruption in the
industries department. Letting the issue to fester would have resulted in
criticism from within the CPI(M) as well as the opposition. The party’s
decision to ask Mr. Jayarajan to quit eventually seemed no more than a
formality.
The CPI(M) would like to
contrast the quick, quiet exit of Mr. Jayarajan with the reluctance of UDF
ministers to step down in the face of inquiries instituted against them. That
it had to deal with one of its own ministers, and not a member of an allied
party, helped in the speedy resolution of the issue. In the bar bribery case,
in which Kerala Congress (M) leader K.M. Mani was involved, the UDF could not
act without risking the stability of the coalition. Mr. Jayarajan’s exit is no
serious loss to the administration. If anything, he had been an embarrassment
on at least two previous occasions. First, in a faux pas, when asked to give
his comments on the death of Muhammad Ali, he described the boxing icon as a
Kerala sportsman. On another occasion, he took on long jumper Anju Bobby
George, who was then heading the Kerala Sports Council, questioning the
concessions extended to her by the previous government. Ms. George accused him
of insulting her, and resigned. In asking Mr. Jayarajan to go, the CPI (M) had
nothing to lose, and a lot to hold on to.
Vocabulary
Afford: have enough money to pay for.
Example: The best that I could afford was a first-floor room
Synonyms: pay for, bear the expense of, have the money for
Tolerance: the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the
existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.
Example: The tolerance of corruption
Synonyms: acceptance, toleration, open-mindedness, broad-mindedness, forbearance
Nepotism: the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or
friends, especially by giving them jobs.
Example: Reregistration is necessary to avoid corruption, collusion or nepotism
among civil servants.
Synonyms: favoritism, preferential treatment, the old boy network, looking
after one's own
Embarrassment: a feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness.
Example: I turned red with embarrassment
Synonyms: mortification, humiliation, shame, shamefacedness, chagrin, awkwardness
Endorsing: declare one's public approval or support of.
Example: The report was endorsed by the college
Synonyms: countersign, sign, autograph, authenticate, chirographate
Loyalist: a person who remains loyal to the established ruler or government,
especially in the face of a revolt.
Example: But he blamed such strikes on terrorists and loyalists from the defunct
regime
Fester: of a wound or sore) become septic; suppurate.
Example: I developed a tropical sore that festered badly
Synonyms: suppurate, become septic, become infected, form pus, weep
Contrast: differ strikingly.
Example: His friend's success contrasted with his own failure
Synonyms: differ from, be at variance with, be contrary to, conflict
with, go against
Faux: made in imitation; artificial.
Example: A string of faux pearls