Sharad’s dilemma
Will Sharad Yadav attend Lalu Prasad’s rally in Patna on August 27? If he does, he may stand to lose his Rajya Sabha seat. Nitish has dropped enough hints through K.C.Tyagi that he will not desist from invoking the anti-defection law against the former JD-U chief. As the new Rajya Sabha Chairman, Venkaiah Naidu would have little reason not to oblige Nitish.
JD-U after all has formally joined the NDA, so Sharad joining Lalu’s rally would be ‘anti-party activity’. His Sanjhi Virasat Bachao with 17 opposition leaders could not attract the same clause, it happened before the JD-U’s national executive meet. Tyagi, of course, has an axe to grind. If Sharad Yadav loses his seat, he knows the Bihar chief minister and the BJP may reward him. He did play a key role in pushing Nitish back into the BJP fold. Yadav’s old friends feel, he will get over the dilemma soon and not risk expulsion.
Expanding NDA
The Cabinet reshuffle-cum-expansion would also see the NDA expanding. Nitish Kumar has cleared the decks for his party to join ‘the Modi Sarkar’ in the Centre, the AIADMK is yet to put its act together. The ruling party of Tamil Nadu stands a chance, only if the OPS, EPS factions merge to reclaim the two-leaf AIADMK symbol, sidelining the Mannargudi clan. Without the symbol a tie-up with the AIADMK for the coming panchayat polls or 2019, makes little sense for the BJP.
The other party which is being keenly watched is Sharad Pawar’s NCP. Though its leaders have been fobbing off speculations that they may formally join the NDA, there’s no denying that the NCP, BJP alliance talk, helps the latter keep its old ally Shiv Sena on tenterhooks in Maharashtra. Sena has been taking pots-shots at the PM and the Central Govt.
Cabinet overhaul
There’s palpable tension in Lutyens zone over the impending Cabinet rejig, which would involve the CCS portfolios. It’s billed to be a big overhaul, keeping the 2019 polls in mind. Many ministers, light and heavyweights included, are worried.
The buzz is, Prime Minister will go by performance while giving more representation to under-represented states and castes. Though administrative talent is also a criterion, no one really knows what the PM’s perception is about his ministerial colleague. The suspense is too much, one of the ministers said.
State guest-house
With former and present chief ministers of Assam, Tarun Gogoi and Sarbananda Sonowal, occupying the two state guest-houses, there’s no place where actual guests of the state can be accommodated. So much so, the state government decided to convert Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok into a state guest-house.
Intense criticism followed the move, so Gogoi’s been asked by the Congress high command to vacate the one he’s occupying. Sonowal, however, will continue to be at the Brahmaputra guest-house near the Assam Raj Bhawan. Thousands have meanwhile, lost their homes and hearth in the floods.
Ajmer by-elections
The Congress plan of fielding Sachin Pilot for the Ajmer Lok Sabha by-elections has fallen through. Pilot has gracefully declined citing his pre-occupation with party-work across Rajasthan. The state goes to polls next year. Pilot would prefer to aim for the CM’s post, rather than a truncated LS tenure. On the other side, chief minister Vasudhara Raje is keen to field a family member of deceased MP Sanwar Lal Jat. This would help BJP win the seat on a sympathy vote and also consolidate the Jat votes before the Assembly polls.
Santwana Bhattacharya
The author is Political Editor, TNIE. Email: santwana@newindianexpress.com