Varanasi Blues
Seems like the Congress was so thrilled at the thought of reconnecting with the masses in UP, it forgot to have lunch! That too in Banaras, the city of halwais. Not only did Sonia Gandhi take ill, the entire top brass was on an enforced hunger strike as no one had thought of organising lunch for them. Finally, what came to the rescue were a few unusual dry fruit garlands party workers put around their necks. Ghulam Nabi Azad and other worthies were seen breaking off some almonds, walnut and pistachios just to stay afloat.
Katju Batting
The words of the irrepressible former judge, Markandey Katju, may be music to the ears of the BCCI, which he is advising on what to do with the Lodha Committee recommendations. So did Finance Minister appoint him to that role? The FM denied he was behind the choice. Apparently, even the MPs, three from Lok Sabha and two from Rajya Sabha, who are ex-officio members of the Press Council, which Katju heads, are wary of attending its meetings. “It’s a madhouse,” is the word.
Indomitable Captain
When Navjot Singh Sidhu broke off from the BJP with his usual brand of sodapop thunder and lightning, the Punjab Congress was quick to extend an invite to him, saying after all Sidhu’s father was a Congress supporter. The AICC, however, would have none of it—New Delhi sees him as just a noisy gadfly. Strategist Prashant Kishor, in fact, wants to use the prolonged “deal-making” between Sidhu and AAP as a poll issue. AAP is making heavy inroads into Congress strongholds in the state. Despite this diktat, apparently Capt Amarinder Singh does not let a day go by without calling Sidhu and exchanging (“tusi mera puttar ho”) Punjabi endearments.
Slap-gate
The AIADMK is naturally a bit nonplussed at the open rebellion by its now-expelled MP Sasikala Pushpa, on the floor of the Rajya Sabha and on air, after her slapping of DMK’s Thiruchi Siva created waves. But they say her dramatic claims of having been attacked by the “leadership” is all hokum. Apparently, the leadership hadn’t even met her (too down the ladder to merit audience)—the message for her to resign had been conveyed through old party sentinel M. Thambidurai, and she had been on board all along, before she made a stunning last-minute volte-face.
Patel Chop
A few months ago when Anandiben had come to Delhi, she was accompanied by Nitin Patel. After the meeting with the
Prime Minister where her resignation schedule was more or less decided, a few Sangh functionaries congratulated Nitin
Patel as her successor. The latter never attempted to contradict, or act coy, instead he thanked everyone. Those present where surprised to see him behave as if he had already been named the next Gujarat CM. Similarly, on Friday morning even before BJP chief Amit Shah’s meeting with state party leaders was over, Patel started giving interviews on his chief ministerial vision. Apparently, these pre-emptive actions were not seen kindly by Shah. So, in the final chopm he was named deputy to Shah’s trusted man, self-effacing Vijay Rupani.