Driving to a Governor's rule

Efforts are on to revive the Karnataka state assembly but dozens of drivers in Bangalore secretariat are dreading another round of political uncertainty. This tribe is feeling relieved under governor's rule. Almost all of them, who were working under erstwhile BJP or JD (S) ministers, had a punishing round the clock schedule throughout the
lengthy spell of political uncertainty. They had to ferry ministers at short notices without weekly off or even lunch-dinner breaks. Now they have regular work schedule.

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 Malayali Machinations

The 'leader' is in Delhi doing rounds. K. Karunakaran, rebel Congress leader is looking for "home-coming." In last few days, he has called on senior Congress leaders. The request for an audience with Sonia Gandhi is however pending.

The leader has come prepared. According to him, Red star is set to be doomed in Kerala as voters are ruing their decision to throw out the Congress. With A.K. Antony holding nation's defence, Karunakaran says he is prepared to spend time in state politics.

 However, Antony is not sitting idle. One man accompanying Karunakaran to all-important destinations in New Delhi is one Tommy Thomas. Thomas was part of Congress media team during Rajiv Gandhi era and considered
as a die-hard Antony loyalist. His presence with Karunakaran shows that Mr. Clean A.K. Antony is not alien to art of politicking.

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Just Friends!

Suchitra Krishnamurthy seems to have recovered from trauma of separating with hubby Shekhar Kapoor. She is in a confrontationist mode and even named a leading Bollywood pretty face as a home breaker.

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Moily's Woes in AP

Veerappa Moily had a difficult time facing Andhra Pradesh Congressmen. Moily, Congress in charge of Andhra, made his first visit to gauge mood and within minutes of landing at airport got a good taste of it. Three rival factions of local Congressmen led by supporters of P. Janaradhan Reddy, D. Narendra and K. Keshav Rao raised slogans in support of their leaders. When lungpower failed to establish supremacy, fist fight followed. AP police had difficult time resisting its temptation to "use force" as chief minister Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy had issued a strong advisory against it.

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Bengali Heritage?

US treasury secretary Henry Paulson Jr. was in Calcutta to discuss infrastructure development. Being a high-ranking Bush administration official, Paulson was aware of the sharp ideological divide particularly in the wake of n-deal. But he had come prepared. Each time, Paulson interacted with top Bengal leaders, he made sure to make a reference to royal Bengal tiger and Tagore. The strategy worked. By the time Paulson reached to Dumdum airport, he had a copy of Tagore's work and an invite to Sunderbans which houses the rare Bengal tiger by none other than Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.