THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary - May 31, 2018 - Topic 1

Berth pangs: on the Karnataka coalition impasse

Quick and bold decisions are more often made during moments of crises than during periods of relative calm and quiet. After sealing a deal on a post-poll coalition in Karnataka even before the counting of votes drew to a close, the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) are unable to reach an understanding on Cabinet berths and portfolios almost a week after the coalition proved its majority on the floor of the Assembly. Other than on having H.D. Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) as the Chief Minister and G. Parameshwara of the Congress as the Deputy Chief Minister, the two parties have been unable to agree on the contours of the coalition government. 

The Congress, which was hurried into conceding considerable ground to the JD(S) by a fast-moving opponent in the Bharatiya Janata Party, is now driving a hard bargain on the strength of its own numbers. The reasoning is that the party, with twice as many members as the JD(S) in the Assembly, should have its choice of ministries such as finance, home, public works and energy as the bigger partner that had stepped back from the race for the chief ministership. Otherwise, this would leave the JD(S) as the recognisable face of the government, leaving little for the Congress. The JD(S) appears willing to concede more berths to the Congress, but would like to have some of the key portfolios, especially finance, for itself.

In the post-GST regime the finance portfolio in a State is shorn of substantial tax-levying powers, but the presentation of the budget in the Assembly is still the occasion for announcing schemes and major policy initiatives. The home portfolio is important for the control of the police force, and its intelligence wing. Indeed, the first major decision that B.S. Yeddyurappa took after being sworn in Chief Minister was to make appointments to the intelligence wing of the police. Public works, another sought-after portfolio, allows the minister in charge control over construction of government buildings and road works with huge outlays. Public works contractors constitute the middle rungs in most political parties, and ministers need to distribute patronage, favours and contracts to keep up their own network of power and influence. The more protracted the tussle for berths and portfolios, the harder it will be for the new government to infuse confidence in the public mind about the post-poll coalition. After having thwarted the BJP by offering unconditional support to the JD(S), the Congress cannot afford to get into an unseemly scramble for portfolios now. But neither can it allow the JD(S) to run the government as its own show. Tact is everything in reaching a compromise.

Vocabulary

Often: frequently; many times.

Example: He often goes for long walks by himself

Coalition: an alliance for combined action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties forming a government or of states.

Example: A coalition of conservatives and disaffected Democrats

Synonyms: alliance, union, partnership, bloc, caucus, federation, league

Contour: an outline, especially one representing or bounding the shape or form of something.

Example: She traced the contours of his face with her finger

Synonyms: outline, shape, form, lines, curves, figure, silhouette, profile

Bargain: an agreement between two or more parties as to what each party will do for the other.

Example: The extraconstitutional bargain between the northern elite and the southern planters

Synonyms: agreement, arrangement, understanding, deal, contract, pact

Recognisable: able to be recognized or identified from previous encounters or knowledge.

Example: Get rid of flags and you deprive people of the most instantly recognisable symbol of national identity.

Synonyms: identifiable, noticeable, perceptible, discernible, detectable

Concede: admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it.

Example: I had to concede that I'd overreacted

Synonyms: admit, acknowledge, accept, allow, grant, recognize, own

Occasion: a particular time or instance of an event.

Example: On one occasion I stayed up until two in the morning

Synonyms: time, instance, moment, juncture, point, event, occurrence

Huge: extremely large; enormous.

Example: A huge area

Synonyms: enormous, vast, immense, large, big, great, massive

Influence: the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.

Example: The influence of television violence

Synonyms: effect, impact, control, sway, hold, power, authority, mastery, domination

Patronage: the power to control appointments to office or the right to privileges.

Example: Recruits are selected on merit, not through political patronage

Synonyms: power of appointment, favoritism, nepotism, preferential treatment

Thwart: prevent someone from accomplishing something.

Example: He never did anything to thwart his father

Scramble: a difficult or hurried clamber up or over something.

Example: An undignified scramble over the wall

Synonyms: clamber, climb, trek