Northeast
Mere Eyewash
The CBI has begun a probe into the Louis Berger bribery scam in Assam. The US-based consultancy firm had allegedly shelled out Rs 6 crore as bribe to win the contract of a Rs 1,452 crore water supply project. The public perception is that the probe, handed over to the CBI from the Criminal Investigation Department of Assam Police by Gauhati High Court, is a mere formality. At least one politician—besides some babus whose names got entangled in the scam—is now with the BJP and it is unlikely that the party will gun for him.
Old Versus New
It’s a clash between the old and the new. BJP’s seasoned workers in Assam have started alleging, albeit in private, of being subdued by those who defected to the saffron party not so long ago. The old guards claim they are being discriminated against by the party leadership while delegating responsibilities. Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and several MLAs, who were with the Congress, had worn saffron ahead of last year’s assembly elections in the state.
Uttar Pradesh
Dynastic Prosperity
In a veiled attack on BJP president Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah who has been hitting the headlines for making a quick buck in doubly quick time, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav took a jibe at his BJP counterpart by asking when will there be a debate over those who prospered within no time by virtue of being related to a political heavyweight. “We discuss dynastic politics, when will we discuss dynastic prosperity,” Akhilesh asked. Recalling BJP’s verbal attack when his family was caught in a feud, the SP chief asked when will the discussion focus on those (Jay Shah) who converted Rs 50,000 into Rs 80 crore within no time.
Yogi’s Salvo
While leaving for Gujarat to launch the BJP’s first phase of poll campaign, UP CM Yogi Adityanath slammed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. Adityanath said that wherever Rahul canvasses, his party loses. Yogi derided Rahul’s promises of developing Gujarat in six months much more than what the BJP could do in two decades, and said he should focus on Amethi, which was “craving for development” even after being the Nehru-Gandhi constituency for four decades. “When Rahul Gandhi goes to Italy, he forgets about Gujarat and Amethi,” Adityanath said.
Madhya Pradesh
Congress Conundrum
The first visit of newly appointed Congress general secretary in-charge Deepak Babaria to Bhopal brought to fore that all is not well in the party, which has been out of power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003. While senior leaders showed unity before the media, there was pervasive dissent among supporters against the current state leadership. While followers of nine-time Chhindwara MP Kamal Nath demanded their leader be appointed state president, MLA from Jabalpur said, “People want Congress back in power. The same cannot be said about senior leaders ruling the roost in Bhopal.”
Yatra Turns Political
Former CM w’s six-month Narmada Parikrama Yatra in the state and some parts of Gujarat started on Dussehra as a non-political yatra. But now several Congress leaders and MLAs, including former ministers Rajendra Singh (also deputy speaker in assembly) and Govind Singh recently participated in the yatra in Hoshangabad district. Not just Congress leaders, former BJP MLA Girja Shankar Sharma (brother of assembly speaker Sitasharan Sharma)—who was recently ousted from the saffron party—welcomed the yatra at his house. Those present included former independent MLA from Ratlam district Paras Saklecha, showcasing the possible political permutations and combinations ahead of 2018 assembly polls.
Bihar
Nitish the Narrator
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is enamoured by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals and his activism in Bihar. At a programme of the state education department as part of the ongoing centenary celebrations of Champaran Satyagraha, the JD(U) leader narrated a series of anecdotes about Gandhi’s struggles in the state. After imposing prohibition in Bihar in April last year as per Gandhi’s teachings, Nitish launched a campaign against child marriage and dowry earlier this month. “He is injecting Gandhian values in society, but what about politics?” asked an unimpressed leader of the Opposition RJD.