| Published on 15-09-2008 In General |
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Written by
Insider |
No showers, Please
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Mayawati is known to have strong likes and dislikes. Each time the Uttar Pradesh chief minister visits Delhi and holds a press conference, she picks some top of the line five-star hotel as a venue. As per arrangements, the chief minister is given a suite. The must provide instructions from the chief minister's office include a bucket and a mug in the bathroom as the BSP supremo is said to have a dislike for fancy showers.
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Cabinet Sufferings
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The union cabinet meeting to discuss Orissa violence saw Manmohan Singh's cabinet colleagues going off the tangent. Home minister Shivraj Patil's discourse was too drab. So when minorities affairs minister A.R.Antulay cut him short, there was a sense of relief all around. But Antulay went on and on recalling and recollecting how he used to tackle communal 'virus' when he was chief minister of Maharashtra during Indira era. Some ministers began to consider Patil's discourse as a sweet music. Antulay was ticked off by fellow lawyer Kabil Sibal. Another lawyer and another session….. at the end of the meeting, ministers were heard whispering the good doctor's
patience and tolerance to suffer silently.
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Protecting son's interest?
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Why was Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh so lukewarm to the idea of taking a tough line against Raj Thackeray following his outburst against Jaya Bachchan and the police commissioner of Mumbai?
Deshmukh's critics in Delhi's Raisina Hills say the reason for Deshmukh's diffident approach was his actor son Reteish. Raj Thackeray is reported to have threatened to block Reteish's films too. The chief minister's son has few b-grade films and a ban on them would have reflected badly on the young actor's career.
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CM? yes, Contest? No
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Election-bound Madhya Pradesh is witnessing a piquant situation where the main opposition, the Congress has too many 'Generals' aspiring to be projected as next chief minister but not willing to contest November assembly polls.
AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, who served as Madhya Pradesh chief minister for ten long years, has declared that he will not be contesting polls. The MLA from Raghaogarh claims after 2003 MP polls defeat, he took a vow not to contest or hold office for ten years. According to Diggy raja, his current status as a powerful AICC general secretary is exempted from the promise as it is not an administrative post.
Union commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath is keen to lead the party in Madhya Pradesh but Chhindwara MP has no plans to enter the fray either. Sources close him insist Nath does not need to. In the event of Congress winning elections, his associates from Chhindwara will vacate an assembly seat for him.
Another union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia too is taking active interest in state politics but the young former Yuvaraj of Gwalior is unwilling to contest unless Sonia Gandhi signals to him. His followers in Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) say given Scindia's stature, nothing short of projection as next chief minister would prompt him to contest assembly polls.
MPCC chief Suresh Pachauri too is lukewarm to the idea of contesting assembly polls. Pachauri points at an informal Congress convention that discourages the state unit chief from contesting assembly polls. The rationale is that in such an eventuality, the incumbent tends to get bogged down in a particular constituency instead of supervising the state-wide electioneering.
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Cong-Chini, no bhai bhai!
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The Congress and UPA may be right in denying that Sonia Gandhi turned away the visiting Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi but the party insiders admit that there is a sense of disappointment with the Communist Party of China over its role during the passage of the nuclear deal at the NSG.
Sonia and Rahul had personally made two visits to strengthen Sino-Indian ties. During their interaction Sonia-Rahul had insisted that India intends to cooperate rather than compete with China. The Chinese establishment had reciprocated the gesture and viewed the young Gandhi as 'princeling' who is tipped to take up future leadership position. Rahul had even signed a MoU with the ruling party to enhance party-to-party ties.
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Joshi back on track?
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BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi has bounced back. There is a considerable interest in the party on how Joshi, who was once seen as a challenger to L.K. Advani would give shape to the party manifesto that he has been asked to prepare. If the BJP-NDA is voted to power in the next round of general elections, Joshi's words will have to be implemented by L.K. Advani.
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Cong. Scribes' woes
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Correspondents covering the Congress beat are envious of their counterparts reporting on the BJP. The principal opposition party has a tradition of holding its key party meetings outside Delhi. So after every six months or so, the BJP's national executive meets in north, south, east or western part of the country. In contrast, the ruling Congress party seemingly hates to step out of the city. The BJP national executive recently met at Bengalaru while a extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet took place at parliament house annexe in New Delhi.
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Gandhis-Bachchans---Moving closer?
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The verbal spat between Bachchans and Thackerays may have ended amicably but a section of the Congress feels the real winner is Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh. According to this school of thought, the Congress and Sonia Gandhi ended up backing Jaya Bachchan while the Samajwadi Party MP basked in temporary round of spotlight. Amar can now take the credit of bringing Bachchans and Gandhis closer, they argue. Any takers?
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Dacoit's love for Mobiles
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Dreaded dacoit Thokia who was recently gunned down by Uttar Pradesh's Special Task Force used to love mobile phones. The police have recovered 24 mobile phone chips from Ambika Prasad alias 'Thokia' literally meaning the one who shoots. The question that union home ministry is now seeking from Mayawati regime is how the bandit managed to secure so many mobile phone connections when there are stringent guidelines to ascertain identity and prevent any misuse.
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SMS-less agonies in the Valley
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Violence in Kashmir valley is not the sole thing bothering the young. The government's move to slap a ban on sending or receiving SMSs is hurting too badly. In the long spell of peace and happiness which saw the annual inflow of over two million visitors to paradise on earth, the ban on SMS is hurting most. It has robbed the lovers of sending the most private message in the most secured manner. The jokes have become a casualty too which used to do brisk rounds among Kashmiris. Will Shivraj Patil and N.N. Vohra make the pain less agonizing please?
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Royal affair losing steam?
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A prominent member of royalty turned politician is having a rough phase in marriage. The young couple first tried to resolve differences but now there are signals of parting ways. |
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