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A Refresher for J. Jayalalithaa on Good Governance

The expected change is here.

Dibyangshu Sarkar/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa waves to her party supporters from residence on Friday.

All signs point to victory for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance led by J. Jayalalithaa in the Tamil Nadu assembly polls, for which results were announced Friday. The incumbent chief minister K. Karunanidhi is expected to lose by a huge margin.
The question, though, is: How much of a change is it really?
Ms. Jayalalithaa, no stranger to allegations of corruption and embezzlement, promises to clean up the southern Indian state that has a former cabinet minister of the DMK party in Tihar jail on allegations of corruption.
Her party spokesman says this will be a “corruption-free” rule.
Still, we thought Ms. Jayalalithaa could do with a refresher to help the next state government live up to that promise.
1.     If there’s a wedding in the family, give invitations to friends and family like the rest of us do. There really is no need for huge cutouts of the chief minister or the couple at every street corner.
2.     Roads and streets belong to everybody. If the chief minister is going somewhere, it doesn’t mean everyone else has to stay at home. We understand that other speeding vehicles are a concern, but a smallish convoy should suffice, don’t you think?
3.     Everyone needs more money, no doubt. But when you have a beautiful house and all this power, it’s worth taking a leaf out of the books of other chief ministers like Nitish Kumar and choosing a simpler way of life.
4.     Speaking of which, it’s been good to see Ms. Jayalalithaa sport a spartan look these days sans jewelry or adornments, a la Mamata Banerjee. We are not against wearing them, but shudder at the thought of gawdy displays of stacked gold chains and thick gold waist belts.
5.     Some people have all the luck in the world and actually get to choose their family – an adopted son and, an adopted sister. Our word on this: Choose wisely and well.
6.     Listen, listen and then listen some more. Not just to those who pander and heap praises and call you “amma,” listen, also, to criticism and take suggestions on board.
7.     Some of us like to think of ourselves as divas and goddesses. Psst, the truth is we are not. Don’t have men and women humiliate you by falling at your feet constantly.
8.     Arrogance is a cruel word, but it’s a charge that can be fixed. The Congress, for once, may be on the right track with its pursuit of the aam aadmi’s interests, and accommodating their allies. Adopt that strategy, as it may help secure you a second consecutive term.
9.     The chief minister needs to fix roads, power supply issues, and keep the state open for business. Ms. Jayalithaa said she plans to do this. We hope she does.
10.     Well, I’m not one to say no to freebies, so bring on the mixers and grinders. We’ll take them this time, but make sure you don’t need this crutch the next time round, because – I will let you in on another secret – it’s not free. The “free” television sets that the DMK regime handed out after its re-election last time have cost taxpayers $773 million, so far, according to the Electronics Corp. of Tamil Nadu Ltd.
Congratulations, and we hope change is in the offing for us and for you, Ms. Chief Minister.

Fuente: India Real Time

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