Maharashtra
Congress MLA from Konkan, Nitesh Rane, was arrested last week for throwing fish at the fisheries commissioner during an agitation to push for demands of traditional fishermen. But he was seen speaking words of wisdom to his party leaders this week after two promotional events for filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar’s film Indu Sarkar were cancelled following protests by party workers. Calling it “hooliganism”, Rane questioned if this was the Congress culture and asked party leaders who had criticised him whether they would now criticise party workers?
Song Sung Blue
Shiv Sena and it’s leaders became a laughing stock when they tried to give a rebuttal after radio jockey Malishka mocked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in a music video asking people whether they believe their municipal corporation. BMC retaliated by warning Malishka of action over dengue mosquitoes breeding in her home, missing out on the humour in the song. The Sena’s founder Bal Thackeray, a cartoonist too, was famous for his wit.
Madhya Pradesh
Transgender’s Curse for Lalu
Shabnam Mausi, the first Indian transgender to be elected an MLA, is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fan. On July 17, when 228 MLAs voted in the Presidential election in the Assembly in Bhopal, the former legislator from Sohagpur praised the PM’s leadership and Central government agencies in unearthing the alleged corruption of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and kin. Shabnam, who lost the 2008 Assembly polls from Kotma seat as an RJD candidate, reminisced how she spent `30-40 lakh in contesting the elections and getting a helipad built for Lalu’s helicopter, but neither he nor his party leaders came.
“My curse will destroy Lalu and his kin,” said Shabnam.
Mirthful Musings
The Assembly debated for 11 hours the June 6 deaths of farmers in Mandsaur. At least three young MLAs, including Manoj Patel (BJP), Jeetu Patwari and Shailendra Patel (Congress) said in the House that they would quit politics if the rivals’ charges of them or their kin involvement in the June violent farmers stir was found true. This amused senior legislators. Some, including Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh ‘Rahul’ smilingly asked the young MLAs not to go to extremes.
Uttar Pradesh
Lawmakers or Breakers
While the mystery over the white crystalline powder—believably the explosive PETN—is still unresolved, the security drill in the Assembly exposed a few gaping chinks when police recovered scores of pouches of gutkha, paan masala and chewing tobacco from under the seat cushions of MLAs. They hid the treasure surreptitiously to escape the eyes of CM Yogi Adityanath, who banned the pouches on all office premises after assuming charge.
Inhouse Discontent
The government doesn’t need an opposition as scores of opposing forces are active in the saffron party. During a recent meeting with Narendra Modi, two BJP MPs from eastern UP, Bharat Singh of Ballia and Harinarain Rajbhar of Mau, approached the PM with a list of cvorruption charges against three ministers. Only the PM’s assurance of firm action could placate the MPs.
West Bengal
Singer’s Barb at Roopa Ganguly
Bengali singer Kabir Suman took potshots at BJP MP Roopa Ganguly over her remarks of women getting raped in West Bengal. He then sang a song registering his protest against rising religious extremism in the state. The move came after the Ganguly was booked for the remark and CID summoned her and BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya over their alleged links with the high-profile Jalpaiguri child trafficking racket.
Bihar
Nitish, the Simple Man
Nitish Kumar is known for his simplicity. The birthday celebration of his only son, Nishant Kumar, at the CM’s residence was marked by an utter lack of pomp. Besides Nitish’s close relatives, the only well-known person present was his trusted aide and Rajya Sabha member RCP Singh. The simple ceremony drew comparisons with birthday celebrations of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s two minister sons. Unlike them, Nishant Kumar has no political ambitions. The computer science graduate turned 37 on Thursday and posed for photographs with his father. “He imbibed his father’s simple lifestyle,” said a close Nitish aide.