| Published on 15-04-2008 In National |
| Viewed 1397 times |
| Corridor Whispers - Apr 15 Part - 2 |
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Written by
Insider |
Jitin means business
The new Minister of state for Steel Jitin Prasada brings a schoolboy charm to his ministerial chambers. Three days into his portfolio, the 34-year old Jitin Prasada had a stream of visitors and as is usually the case, the appointments began to overlap. He was meeting a group of journalists when he was told that the next appointment had arrived. Since this was the chairman of SAIL, someone suggested that the minister could make him wait while he finished with the journos. But Prasada immediately called in his appointment, explaining to the media that he could not make an older man wait outside while he sipped his tea. Of course one wonders how long it will be before the system takes over. Until then, the new work-style has its own brand appeal.
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Is Rahul setting an example?
Are Prithviraj Chavan, Shakeel Ahmed, Ajay Maken, Jairam Ramesh, Oscar Fernandes, Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, Saifuddin Soz, V. Narayanaswamy and Jitin Prasada bigger leaders than Rahul Gandhi? Congressmen are forced to wonder at this rather blasphemous thought in the wake of Sonia Gandhi's rationale of why young Gandhi said 'no' to joining the Manmohan government. Sonia had said Rahul wanted to focus on organizational matters and "do justice" with himself. The question being asked in Congress circles is whether the group from Prithviraj to Prasada who are holding both organizational and ministerial berths, are more competent to "do justice" with both assignments? The clamour for enforcement of 'one-man, one-post' norm is likely to become shriller.
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Jayanthi's woes
Nothing seems to be going right for Jayanti Natarajan.
The Congress spokesperson was hoping for a ministerial berth but her 'seniority' in the Congress and 'loyalty' to the family were ignored. Next she got a snub of sorts from her country cousin P. Chidambaram who she used to fondly address as "Chiddu." Natarajan suspects union finance minister of playing foul that prevented her from sharing dais with Sonia Gandhi and him at Karaikudi in home state Tamil Nadu. Chidambaram denies the charge but Natarajan is fretting and threatening to take the matter to Sonia's court. The lawyer in Chidambaram has reportedly filed a caveat at 10, Janpath about the incident.
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Pranab in VK Mould?
Why does Indian foreign policy end up supporting anti-democratic forces? Critics of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee see a pattern in India's support to regimes in Myanmar, Bangladesh and China. A further research has shown that it dates back to 1969 in Midnapore where Pranab had made his political debut of sorts. Pranab was appointed as translator to Krishna Menon who had contested as a nominee of Bangla Congress. Has the translator transformed himself in Krishna Menon mould including V.K's formidable sense of scholarship? Incidentally, V.K. was a true Indian as far as his electoral successes were concerned. He had won the 1957 election from Bombay North, the 1962 election from Bombay North East, won a by-election from Midnapore in West Bengal in 1969 and the 1971 election from Trivandrum in his native Kerala.
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