| Published on 09-01-2008 In National |
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| Corridor Whispers - Jan 09 Part - 2 |
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Written by
Insider |
Cong Waiting for "auspicious" times
The bad blood in the Congress over Gujarat polls is refusing to recede. Insiders say much of the problem was Sonia Gandhi's inability to fix responsibility. While Sonia deliberates upon accountability, Congressmen of various and hue and shades have drawn a long "hit-list" of "culprits." Union textile minister Shankar Singh Vaghela is a unanimously a dubious achiever. The charge against Vaghela is that he was the strongest supporter of the Congress relying on BJP rebels. Union Minister of State for Petroleum Dinsha Patel comes next in the line of fire. Other notables include Renuka Chowdhary who was given charge of Saurashtra region. The Woman and Child Welfare minister reportedly made a "token appearance" in Gujarat. If an AICC general secretary is to be believed, at one occasion Sonia got so annoyed with Renuka and another woman minister when she saw them arriving on last day of campaign. Sonia reported to have commented that these ministers were making "token presence."
The true impact of these claims of Sonia fixing accountability and responsibility will be known in the cabinet expansion and AICC secretariat reshuffle, which informed sources claim is set to take place after January 14.
January 14 is not without significance. The period reportedly marks beginning of "auspicious times."
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Getting a foot-hold!
The Uttar Pradesh Congress unit seems to have found a foothold in Uttar Pradesh. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh and UPCC chief Rita Bahugana Joshi have led a spirited fight to protect 3 lakh dalit shoe makers in Agra. The Congress has launched a morcha against chief minister Mayavati for charging 12.5 per cent VAT to these shoemakers while levying four per cent VAT on machine made shoes. In the battle between man and machine, Diggy raja and Rita are hoping to make a "beginning" in UP with a three lakh strong vote bank in Agra.
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Let Junior Take a front seat
Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy has bought peace with his junior Ajay Maken.
Maken is a young man in a hurry. Apart from being a minister, he is a member of the Congress Working Committee, AICC in charge of several states and a potential successor to Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit. Sensing his clout in power corridors, Reddy has given him "free hand" in all Delhi related matters. Since the bulk of urban development ministry work relates to Delhi (including providing accommodation to Delhi's famed bureaucracy), the senior minister is left with little work. Reddy is utilizing time in catching up with his reading habit and doing some eclectic thinking.
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Another son-rise in MP?
Is Madhya Pradesh going to see another son on the political horizon to match the Scindias? There is considerable speculation in AICC and Madhya Pradesh Congress circles if Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath's son Nakul will be propped up as a possible candidate for Betul Lok Sabha by-elections. The Election in tribal dominated Betul are due following death of BJP MP Vijay Kumar Khandelwal.
While father Kamal Nath is silent about it, MPCC chief Subhash Yadav is reportedly lobbying for Nath junior's candidature. Yadav has a reason to float Nakul's name. Recently, the Congress won Khargone Lok Sabha where his son Arun scored an upset victory over the ruling BJP.
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Waiting for Sonia
In election-bound Tripura, Congress campaign is yet to take off. Senior Congress leaders like Sudhir Burman and Sudhir Ranjan Majumdar are camping in Delhi for over a week but without success. AICC general secretary Prithviraj Chavan has little to offer to them as "leader" Sonia is in hospital. In biting cold, there has been a silver lining for the Congress. The warring leaders have begun meeting each other and worked out some working formula that would be presented before the leadership. |
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