Stasis is what politicians fear the most. That may partly explain why Delhi is watching nervously as two otherwise well-entrenched chief ministers look for formulas to extend their dominions beyond their states

Dilligiri: Betting big

Modi is once again envisioning a greater role in the BJP's campaign in Bihar, even if coalition partner and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is less than enthused with Modi and his shenanigans.

Mayawati declared at a recent BSP rally in Bihar that the party would contest all seats in the assembly poll. Lines are being drawn and alliances retuned, but it's early days yet. Will the calculus of votebank politics work in their favour? Dilli is keen to discover.

Dark ages
The death toll is mounting but Dilli is smirking because it now discovers the infamous khap panchayats are not confined to northern states. Apparently South India too has its version of kangaroo courtsu00a0-- the katta panchayatsu00a0-- flourishing in rural Tamil Nadu. These issue directives and award punishments as their counterparts in Haryana or Rajasthan. They too thrive as caste courts dispensing justice that finds no place in the book of statutes.

In recent weeks, the Tamil Nadu High Court has come down heavily on these panchayats, and directed the state government to curb their activities, but few believe that it will act. So long as our politics continues to provide legitimacy to feudal and retrograde social practices, and treats the khap or katta brand of justice as a social phenomenon, this barbaric phenomenon will endure. Will the Centre hold? Or will a new law, outlaw these village brigands?

"Image Guru", Dilip Cherian is a part-time spin doc and full-time analystu00a0-- of issues, food, cities. He awaits your tweet @DILIPtheCHERIAN.

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