| Published on 11-11-2008 In General |
| Viewed 741 times |
|
Written by
Insider |
Election time happenings
---------------------------------
In election fever, many Delhi hotels are vying to be 'happening places" for one party or the other. at an informal level, some enterprising entrepreneurs have even offered discounts and packages to political leaders and parties for using their premises ranging from coffee shops to banquet halls for election-related strategy sessions, meetings etc. In addition, some prominent hotels have earned the tag for being frequented by a particular leader. The politically ambitious leaders of the Congress keep track of young Gandhi's evening schedule to catch an eye of Rahul at any social 'do,' marriage or function. Last heard, the AICC general secretary has issued instructions to keep his schedule closely under wraps.
-----------------
Passing Constituencies
-----------------------------
Jawaharlal Nehru wrote letters and books from prison houses thinking that it was the 'best gift' for daughter Indira who rose to become an equally illustrious politician though lacking in stature and world-view. But that was a bygone era. In 2008, father Sharad Pawar is contemplating a more direct gift for his politician daughter Supriya Sule. The father is planning to move to Shirur Lok Sabha seat and leave a more comfortable Baramati for Sule. In Pilibhit, a Gandhi mother is working on a similar formula. Mother Maneka wants to leave Pilibhit for son Feroze Varun and move to a neighbouring constituency.
------------------
Unity vs disunity
---------------------
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's political stocks are falling these days. Some of his Congress Working Committee (CWC) and Central Election Committee (CEC) colleagues accuse him of getting into a "secret understanding" with fellow Kashmiri and Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz to net maximum seats for their supporters in J & K polls. Azad is at loss of words wondering how a show of "unity" is perceived as a "game." He was heard telling a loyalist that if leaders from a state fight among themselves then it is dubbed as factionalism. But when they join hands, they are viewed with greater degree of suspicion.
---------------
Hussein-isque expectations
---------------------------------
It may not have occurred to Barack Obama but "Hussein' in his name has given him several advantages. Hard-line Muslim leaders and organizations have reacted cautiously to Obama's victory instead of painting Republicans and Democrats alike. The left parties, ever keen to rubbish US's consistent 'imperialist' policies is playing a bit of 'wait and watch. They are reportedly trying to gauge domestic Muslim opinion on a premise 'Hussein' part of Obama has generated a sense of expectation among Muslim community in India.
------------
Turf Wars
-------------
Call it cold vibes or the turf war but the prime minister's office decision to take direct charge of key economic issues and RBI governor reporting directly has not gone down very well with top finance ministry bosses. In external affairs ministry, policy statements from a top government functionary who is primarily responsible for internal security are not much appreciated. Hectic behind-the-scene activity is on both fronts and indications are it will take a decisive turn after December 8 when election results of five states will come out.
------------
Azad's woes
----------------
Suddenly the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is finding himself at the receiving end. Azad, who had a reputation of a 'lucky mascot" of the party due to his ability to oversee state assembly polls and ensure Congress victory, is a fallen man these days. The man of all seasons has been kept out of five election-bound states. In the central election committee (CEC) meetings, junior leaders like Janardhan Dwivedi questioned his handling of Kashmir which left the tall man dejected. When Azad favoured candidature of a National Conference nominee from Poonch, Dwivedi wondered why the official party nominee was being sidelined. Azad reportedly lost patience and told his CEC colleague that he did not owe an explanation to him. Sonia sat in stoic silence and did nothing to intervene.
----------------------
Pensioner's haven
-----------------------
Vigyan Bhawan was once considered as national capital's best conference hall and a centre of science and technology but a section of bureaucracy now wonders if it should be renamed as 'Bureaucrats' Rehabilitation Centre (BRC) for housing many commissions and commissions of inquiry. In most cases, these commissions are headed by retired bureaucrats.
----------------------
Smear Campaigns
----------------------
The Congress leaders have received photographs of a young daughter of a Kashmiri leader sporting a mini with a glass in hand. The insinuation is that the rival PDP may adversely use the photograph published in page 3 of national dailies. However, the liberal sections of the party are dismissive about it terming as another round of smear campaign.
-----------------
Honourable protest
------------------------
The BJP can boast of being a disciplined organization. In Madhya Pradesh, in-house protesters coined a slogan against a Bhopal party candidate Jitendra Daga who reportedly got ticket owing to his proximity to Sushma Swaraj. The slogan that was raised said: "Sushmaji ka laal, Daga hai dalaal." The optimistic members of the party expressed satisfaction that even in the honour of grave agitation, the party faithful did not forget to add an honorific "ji" before Sushma's name. |
|
|
|
|
| Social Web |  |
| |
|
|
| |
Processing please wait ...
Top Stories
