SOME right-wing political commentators may be gleefully celebrating the untimely demise of the MVA government in Maharashtra, calling it an ‘unlikely alliance’.However, it was Uddhav Thackeray, as the chief of a regional party, who had growingly witnessed how the so-called natural alliance between the BJP and Shiv Sena was gradually getting untenable to continue for long.

The farmers along the Satluj river have been protesting for the last 60 days outside the office of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited(SJVNL) in Luhri in the Shimla district. The kisans are on a continuous dharna. These kisans are affected by the ongoing work of the Luhri hydropower project which is being constructed by the SJVNL. The Himachal Kisan Sabha is leading this movement. On July 1, there was a big demonstration outside the office of SJVNL.These kisans are from 14 panchayats on both banks of the river.

EMPLOYMENT in the armed forces has been one of the most desired careers for a large section of early entrants in the job market in India. Primarily because of the prestige such jobs carry and also because governments provide salaries, allowances and retirement benefits that are unmatched by any other jobs with similar eligibility. Since jobs in these segments involve life risks and often demand ultimate sacrifice in protecting the normalcy of civilian life, every government considers these jobs as extremely important and crucial for building long-term military capacity.

WIDE spread protests were observed on July 4-5 against privatisation of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) and demanding Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh and to resolve many pending issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state on July 4 in connection with the 125th Birth Anniversary of Alluri Sitarama Raju, who championed the cause of tribal people and fought against the British rule during the 1920s. He unveiled the statue of the freedom fighter and addressed a public meeting at Bhimavaram in West Godavari district.

SENIOR CPI(M) leader and former minister, Comrade T Sivadasa Menon passed away on June 28. He was 90 years old and was undergoing treatment in a hospital near Kozhikode for pneumonia. He served as a member of the CPI(M) state committee and state secretariat and secretary of the Palakkad district committee. He also served as minister of electricity and rural development in the E K Nayanar-led ministry, during 1987- 1991. He was minister for finance in the Nayanar ministry during 1996- 2001. He won twice from the Malampuzha assembly constituency.