Ping pong is a game that requires its practitioners to be quick on their feet and lightning fast with their reflexes.
Perhaps, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy didn’t choose the game randomly at the inauguration of the modified Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium at Kadavanthra ahead of the National Games on Thursday. For, anyone keeping abreast of the political developments in the State would vouch for the fact that those are two traits the consummate politician has in abundance, albeit in the cauldron of politics.
Notwithstanding the barrage of scandals – from solar scam to palmolein case there had been no dearth of them - he had managed to stay in power much to the frustration of his political opponents within and outside the ruling fold. Like a skilful table tennis player, he returned every political smash hurled at him in the form of a scandal with dexterity and managed to remain in the game.
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As he tried his hand at the game, he was perhaps serving a reminder to the onlookers, which included his party colleagues and MLAs Benny Behnan and Hibi Eden, that he is still game for a fight.
The ‘third eye’
A ‘third eye’ may now capture some interesting moments from the usually stormy syndicate meetings at the Cochin University of Science and Technology.
Majority of the syndicate members had opposed the Vice Chancellor’s decision to install a camera to record the syndicate proceedings. But they finally yielded despite making valiant efforts to stall the move to set up a camera at the syndicate hall.
Those supporting the decision to set up a camera hope that its presence may force the syndicate members to behave properly and ensure decorum during the meetings. They also feel that the presence of a camera would ensure a drastic fall in the use of indecent words by certain members.
Many would recall a complaint lodged by a syndicate member before the Human Rights Commission that another member had called her a mentally challenged person during a syndicate meet held in October. But doubts still remain whether the members could ask for removing a particular footage.
M.P. Praveen and
G. Krishnakumar
Eom/gkk