| Published on 15-04-2008 In National |
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| Corridor Whispers - Apr 15 Part - 1 |
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Written by
Insider |
A Maharaja and a "Raja"
The UPA's political masters certainly have a sense of humour. It is amply clear from the recent round of cabinet reshuffle. A maharaja has been put under A Raja. The DMK's youngster does not want to address Jyotiraditya Scindia a "maharaja" but insists upon being called as "Raja" (it is my name, he argues). But young Scindia's trouble does not end here. Raja is a ferocious advocate of his turf too. In other words, all matters of importance (financial or otherwise) will have to be cleared by him. The minister of state has a choice to look after the department of post. Thus, the Gwalior maharaja whose ancestors issued coins will now be selling and releasing stamps. The newly appointed minister of state in IT & Telecom ministry is asked to look after post offices and speed post. Both Raja and Scindia are young and reputed to zealously guard their territory. The PMO however insists that before assigning Scindia junior status, DMK boss M. Karunanidhi was sounded and his consent was taken.
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A New Super Tourist!
Another heavyweight Ambika Soni has been blessed with Kanti Singh, a close associate of RJD chief and Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. Kanti wants to travel and represent India at world forum in all matters relating to tourism and culture. Till now Soni had thought Sonia had given her that mandate. The RJD is in no mood to tolerate Kanti getting secondary status…………..
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Loss of Space for Mani
The reshuffle has left Mani Shankar Aiyar badly bruised. The minister has lost sports and youth affairs and with it, a room too. Aiyar now has two ministries – department of north-eastern states and Panchayati Raj does not know where to sit and discharge his ministerial duties.
Sources in these two ministries say Aiyar loved to operate from Shastri Bhawan, the sports and youth office and given up his room in neighbouring Krishi Bhawan that houses the panchayati raj ministry. Now will Manmohan get him a place to sit please?
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Jairam's "Power" games
Jairam Ramesh shifted into his new ministerial chambers at the power ministry and it was not long before he expressed his wish to install a glass door in his new office as well - a symbol of transparency. He has a glass door in his commerce ministry chambers as well. In Udyog bhavan where he had a turf war with Ashwini Kumar before he got a room, there was no such power play in his new ministry. Glass doors aside, Congressmen fear that Jairam's next move will be to become the biggest votary of a change in guard in faraway Maharashtra. If the rumour mill is right, Vilasrao Deshmukh is tipped to be replaced by Jairam's current boss Sushil Kumar Shinde - and then guess who gets to rule over the power ministry in Delhi!
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More Doscos at the helm
The cabinet expansion has former students of elite Doon School elated. Manmohan's council of ministers has four Doscos – Kamal Nath, Jitin Prasada, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Mani Shankar Aiyar. Little wonder that Kamal was recently heard saying, "the DNA of Doon is Congress."
Rajiv Gandhi too had a Doon school Team but not all were part of his council of ministers. Rajiv had Suman Dubey, Vishwajeet Prithvijeet Singh, Mani Shankar Aiyar in his think tank and Arun Nehru and Arun Singh as ministers.
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