I find it uncomfortable that the court gets involved in deciding some of these policy issues, but extremely useful for the court to at the very least put questions to the Centre and have them put policies on record, since they aren't otherwise explaining to citizens.
How will manufacturers decide equity between states and the private sector?
It's been more than 10 days since the governments new "liberalised and accelerated phase 3 strategy of Covid-19 vaccination" was unveiled, and we still have no inkling. scroll.in/article/992921…
So! Finally some explanation of the government's thinking behind the new vaccine policy, in its submissions to the Supreme Court – which has say the pricing bits may be subject to a constitutional challenge:
Question from the SC: What were you guys originally planning in terms of vaccine procurement? Why don't we know already?
"Whether any studies and figures were relied upon to conclude that decentralized procurement would spur competitive markets to incentivize production and eventually drive down the prices of the vaccine in a pandemic?"
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People will take help from where they can get it right now.
(And it has seemed evident that, with thousands taking to Twitter for help, almost no one thinks tagging the PM or his Cabinet ministers will lead to real help. There may be many explanations, but no getting around it)
For example, @ShoaibDaniyal gave us deep insights into what was actually going on in West Bengal, like explaining why the BJP ran a largely non-polarising campaign in West Bengal...
And @psychia90 explained how, after Assam’s small ethnic groups dumped BJP over CAA, the party wooed them back – not just for elections scroll.in/article/990118…
Most charitable reading of the vaccine policy is that the government thinks letting the rich get vaccines through the 50% private channel over next two months will lead to a faster rollout – but doesn't want to say so? Then post-July do the non-rich 18-45?
"Undoubtedly, the private and corporate sector route will empower a large number of people to get themselves quickly vaccinated outside the government route. Those who can afford to get them at the private and corporate sector rates shall go ahead." facebook.com/25262813155268…
"Arguably, what made Ahmed Patel so important in the Congress scheme of things was the fact that he was never ambitious for himself – unlike, say, a Pranab Mukherjee. He revelled in the proverbial backroom." thewire.in/politics/ahmed…
"While Mr. Patel’s stature grew nationally, the Congress in Gujarat shrunk over the years and many blamed his ‘towering presence’ as the reason why no local leader could grow in the State." thehindu.com/news/national/…
"Theatrics were played out at Congress’ 24 Akbar Road headquarters & decisions were formalised at 10 Janpath, but the realpolitik and operations happened at Patel’s 23 Mother Teresa Marg residence, where action and phone calls went on till the wee hours." economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-…
It's a subject we keep coming back to on the newsletter and especially in interviews on the Political Fix Q&A (which you can get in your inbox every week here: thepoliticalfix.substack.com).
Below, a few of the fascinating conversations we've had on the subject.
*India's 'distinctive' but not 'diminshed' form of federalism
*New research indicating an economic reason for centralised federalism
*How the Modi-era has upended conventional wisdom about regionalisation of politics scroll.in/article/978931…