The days of doing a good deed without expecting one's name splashed all over a bus shelter are all but over. But when the do-gooder is a humble politician, god forbid if publicity is found wanting. Corporate bodies adopting traffic islands and other public utility structures have to remain content with appending their names or insignias to the structures, that too in specified sizes. But when a member of the Legislative Council empties her fund to erect shelters on vital bus routes every commuter must be repeatedly reminded of her largesse.

The benevolent lady in question is Nishigaandha Mogal from Nashik city who has used the discretionary fund at her disposal to paint her name on shelters erected at her behest to provide commuters relief on a hot, sunny day. Using her personal funds is one thing, but spending the money of thousands of nameless and faceless citizens who have involuntarily contributed to Mogal's personal "advertisement", is to take the public exchequer for a roughride indeed.

Locked out

Opposition parties have no choice but to invent unusual means of protest to get their collective voice heard. Unfortunately, they don't always succeed. The Nashik unit of the Janata Dal recently organised a "Tala Thoko" agitation, planning to `lock up' the collectorate. However, when the procession was finally taken out, the leaders found it evoked a tepid response. The police swooped on the protestors when they reached the collectorate, dousing their enthusiasm. Curious passersby, debating whether the agitators would actually lock the collector in his office, were also sorely disappointed. The protest finally shouted slogans and a gate meeting was held before they dispersed. So much for encouraging ingenuity!

Star distraction

Taking your fan following for granted can be disastrous, at least one film star found out, much to her chagrin. "Star Nite", an orchestra group from Mumbai, was recently invited to perform at Manmad. The star attraction was Marathifilm star Rekha Rao, who was also a member of the musical group. To her horror, Rao realised that the small town was more interested in music than in her looks, booing her and interrupting the orchestra. That was not all. When Rao later returned with the orchestra - and her wounded ego - the group discovered that the people had served a notice against them. The show's organisers, the Rotaract Club of Manmad had moved the Nashik District Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum, demanding a refund of Rs 53,400 from the group for failing to satisfy the audience. The star and the group's director, Shobha Patil, were summoned by the forum, but they failed to turn up. That's the last Manmad has heard of them. For the time being, that is.

Building fences

After decades of being a Congress legislator, State Housing Minister Suresh Jain (now a Shiv Sena member) has now discovered the shortcomings of his parent party, it appears. In Nashik to inaugurate a convention of architects recently, Jain handed out atongue-lashing to past state governments (conveniently, without naming the Congress) for failing to introduce technological advances in the construction industry. Then he went on to praise the saffron governments in the state and at the Centre. Clearly an afterthought, eh?

Vying for credit

The state government recently announced some drinking water schemes for the residents of Dindori taluka, triggering off a war of words between the local MLA Ramdas Charoskar and the local MP Kachrubhau Raut. While Charoskar, a Congressman, issued a statement hogging the credit, Raut, a BJP MP, issued counter-statement, saying he was instrumental in evolving the schemes. The schemes are on paper and a part of the masterplan to make villages tanker-free by 2000 but the thirsting Dindori residents couldn't care less who brings relief.