Gubernatorial dilemmas

The race for new Governors has begun. Tarun Gogoi is opposed to the idea of outgoing Governor, Lt General (retd) Ajai Singh a getting second term. Arunachal Pradesh Governor and former Army Chief, General (retd), J.J.Singh is keen to move to Assam.

Similarly in J & K, search is on for the new governor. A key Manmohan Singh aide in PMO is pushing for N.N. Vohra but Congress circles are intrigued by the choice of Vohra pointing at his dismal record as Centre's pointsman in the state. For months and years, Vohra has done little to carry forward the peace process. His functional relationship
 with intelligence agencies is far from satisfactory. The question is if PMO official will have his way for his old friend? Governor of Goa, S.C.Jamir has also sought to be relieved on health ground.

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 Yadavs' Nuclear "deal"

Laloo Prasad Yadav has become a votary of pushing Indo-US N-deal.Prior to May 28 crucial meeting with the left, Laloo has taken upon himself to meet Mulayam Singh Yadav and Sharad Yadav. The Yadav trio is said to be keen to back the deal in exchange of an informal assurance that women reservation bill will not be pushed any further.

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Pachauri's LTTE link!

The good news for the Congress in Madhya Pradesh is that it can not get worse. Barely three months after getting appointed as MPCC chief,Suresh Pachauri is battling at home front. The latest is an allegation about his alleged "links" to LTTE dating back to 1991, a year in which Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated. A local Congress leader, who was heading anti-corruption wing of the MPCC till Pachauri removed him, has circulated some affidavits and press cuttings to point a "needle of suspicion" at the new state Congress chief and marked copies to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul, Priyanka and all top guns in Delhi.

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Cong youth brigade playing truant

The call for young blood in the Congress is constantly raised as a solution to prepare country's oldest political party for future challenges. But a closer look says something different. On Rajiv Gandhi's "martyrdom day," the younger lot was completely missing from 24, Akbar Road New Delhi where a medical check-up camp for needy women was organized. It was raining hard which could have prevented some willing party leaders to pay homage to their leader. But among those present to mark Rajiv's death were septuagenarian Motilal Vora and Mohsina Kidwai. In fact, Vora is present from 10-am to 9pm almost six days a week. Unfortunately the same can not be said about three dozen
other AICC functionaries who have been given rooms at the national headquarters.

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The flying Sultan

Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkaih himself flew Boeing 747 when he arrived in Delhi. Minister of state for external affairs E. Ahmad kept waiting at tarmac when the flight landed but there was no sign of the distinguished guest who also happens to be the richest man in the world. When sultan finally arrived, he apologized for delay saying it took
him time to come out of the cockpit. Bolkiah told a surprised Ahmad that five and half hour long flight from Bander Seri Begawan was smooth and less strenuous than flying across USA.

The sultan's notable worldly possessions include a palace having 1788 rooms, fleet of over 5,000 cars including fifty Mercedes.

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