THE Election Commission of India (ECI) has done well to explain to the people that its decision to deploy Central Police Forces in poll-bound West Bengal is a routine exercise -- which is carried out in all States that go to polls. This explanation has its own importance against the background of the complaint from the ruling Trinamool Congress that the Centre was trying to brow-beat the electoral process through deployment of Central Police Forces. It is unfortunate that Trinamool Congress and its supremo Ms. Mamata Banerjee have often indulged in lodging illogical complaints against the Centre. They also have made every effort to keep various centrally-launched benefit schemes from reaching the common voters of the State. Their effort is play the ‘victim’ card, trying to pose as victims of the Centre’s high-handedness. The complaint about deployment of Central Police Forces, too, came out of that gameplan to paint themselves as victims of bad politics. The EC’s explanation of, therefore, comes in at a right time to erase any doubts that TC complaints may leave in people’s minds about the Centre’s intentions and actions.

 

TO BECOME only the second fast bowler after the legendary Kapil Dev to have figured in as many as a hundred Test matches is, by itself, shows the element of endurance Ishant Sharma brings to cricket. To survive in the Test format for fifteen years and play in as many as 100 Tests is no mean an achievement. It is only natural that a comparison between Ishant Sharma and Kapil Dev creeps into thinking at this stage. But Ishant Sharma is modest enough to say that he would rather think of one game at a time rather than thinking about crossing Kapil Dev’s 131 Tests. It is this modest thinking that seems to have helped Ishant Sharma survive so long -- working for as many as five Captains. And the secret is to understanding what the Captains wanted out of him. That lent Ishant a barometer by which to adjust his position in the squad. This is a mark of high professionalism -- that also brought him good enough wickets and respect from fellow players on both sides of the divide. At 32 years of age, however, Ishant appears to have started planning for the years ahead from fitness and skills points of view. This is another of his professional qualities. It explains his longevity as well.