Modi Ministers’ new found offensive
A new pattern has emerged in the Modi dispensation as some ministers holding key portfolio are on the offensive. They don’t mince words and do straight talking. It all began with the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar who did plain speaking wherever he went. A foreign minister is expected to express his views in a nuanced manner. But Jaishankar is writing a new script in diplomacy during his interactions with leaders in the USA, Europe or Russia. Jaishankar is highly respected world over due to his vast experience in foreign affairs. When the USA raised the issue of buying oil from Russia despite a ban, he bluntly told the Americans that India is importing less oil than Europe. Secondly, India will follow a policy in its national interest.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is no different and on many occasions she was seen bluntly putting forth her views – be it in Parliament or outside. Petroleum and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is no different either. He has been maintaining a tough posture during his visits to the USA and other countries. The latest to join this new class of ministers is Law Minister Kiran Rjiju. He is known to be soft spoken and always found smiling. But when it comes to the judiciary, he has been attacking the higher judiciary left, right & center. On November 4, Rijiju shocked everybody by bluntly attacking the higher judiciary on a variety of issues including the “opaque system of appointment of judges”, PIL system and other issues. This was Rijiju’s fourth attack on the functioning of judiciary during the past few months. Grapevine has it that the PM has told these ministers to put forth their views frankly and need not be coy. This is the beginning of a new era and there is more in store as Modi keeps winning electoral battles.
Bharat Jodo, Chunav Chhodo
Rahul Gandhi's mantra of “Bharat Jodo Chunav Chhodo” during the on-going Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls has baffled friends and foes alike. No one in the Congress has a clue as to why Rahul did not take a brief break to campaign in Himachal. With the Congress putting up a tough challenge to the ruling BJP and Aam Aadmi Party retreating, the election has become bipolar. Secondly, Himachal has a tradition of not repeating a party for a second consecutive term. Not only Rahul, even Sonia Gandhi has refrained from any political activity though she is camping in Himachal due to pollution in Delhi.
Knowledgeable sources say that it has been internally decided that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be responsible for Himachal polls. Accordingly, she hit the hill-state from October 14 and created her own core team composed of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Punjab PCC Chief Pratap Singh Bajwa, Sachin Pilot, Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Shukla and a few others. Interestingly, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has not visited Himachal for campaigning. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi's team has indicated that he will campaign in Gujarat in a big way. But his "Chunav Chodo" decision in Himachal has not gone down well in the party. It will be another test for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as well who burnt her boats in UP and Punjab earlier.
Cash crunch pinching Opposition
2022 may be a watershed moment in electoral history as the Opposition parties have completely crippled due to choking of movement of cash particularly in Gujarat. Though the BJP has been in power in the state for nearly 27 years. But it never faced such a tightening until 2019. An unprecedented level of cash crunch is pinching the Opposition candidates particularly those belonging to the AAP. The ED, CBI, Income Tax and other agencies are working in tandem to curb money reaching Gujarat through hawala operators in Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, etc in Delhi after the liquor license scam was busted. Massive police force has been deployed to prevent inter-state movement of cash crippling operations at all barricades. The Gujarat Police recently claimed to have busted the network of around 30 people from outside the state who are being allegedly used by the AAP for distributing hawala money in various constituencies. A statement given by an AAP candidate to Surat Rural Police led to the busting of a hawala network. The AAP is now feeling the heat.
IT goes after JD (U) now
The Income-Tax department has turned its focus, perhaps for the first time, on Janata Dal (U) in Bihar. Since Nitish Kumar dumped the BJP, the central agencies have got a free hand to go after the JD (U) now. The RJD, Congress and other parties have been facing their heat since 2019. But JD (U) was always a holy cow but not anymore. Recently, the IT teams raided Patna-based businessman Gabbu Singh. It is no secret in Patna that Gabbu Singh is a close associate of JD (U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh and Nitish Kumar. The message is loud and clear.
