by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

RSS Puts its might behind BJP in Maharashtra polls

Held 20k meetings, going door to door

The RSS leadership is understood to have conveyed to the BJP that the Mahayuti is gaining an edge in Maharashtra Assembly polls. The RSS had already held more than 20,00 group meetings and will attain the 50,000 mark before the polling on November 20. Its army of volunteers is knocking at every door in the majority of constituencies and establishing personal contacts. The RSS deputed its key functionaries, including its Joint general secretary Atul Limaya. The RSS and BJP decided to change the course of strategy and came up with the slogan of Hindu unity such as 'Batenge toh katenge' (If divided, we will perish) and 'Ek hain to Safe hain' (United and safe) to counter MVA's planks of 'caste census' etc. Secondly, the RSS launched its 'Sajag Raho' campaign to galvanise support through its all 65 frontal organizations.

Interestingly, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who raised the slogan “Batenge toh katenge,” gained traction among the voters in Maharashtra which did not witness religious divide earlier. The BJP leadership focus also remained on ‘Ek hai toh safe hai’ (We are safe if we are united).” Even the PM resonated it several times at the rallies. The BJP is amplifying this campaign based on the PM's slogans with front-page newspaper advertisements.

Though there is rural distress due to a variety of reasons and farmers are upset in the cotton, soybeans and onion belt. But there is also a realization among the people that with the PM, Narendra Modi at the Centre and Mahayuti in the state, they will have a better future. The RSS put its entire might behind the BJP after the two came together after the BJP got a huge drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls. It was believed that the RSS did not work whole-heatedly in the LS polls and the BJP realized its folly. The gulf between the two was bridged and the two worked together in Haryana and now in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the Wall

Justice Chandrachud as New NHRC Chairman?

The Capital is rife with reports that Justice D Y Chandrachud who retired as Chief Justice of India (CJI) may be appointed as the next Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Insiders in the Modi dispensation say that the top NHRC post had been kept vacant by the government ever since Justice Arun Mishra demitted it in June 2024. It is almost six months since the post has been lying vacant and speculation has gained grounds that Justice Chandrachud would be an ideal person for it. Currently, NHRC Member Vijaya Bharti Sayani has been holding the charge of Chairman after Justice Arun Mishra retired. Sayani was appointed as acting NHRC chairman on June 5, 2024.

If reports are to be believed the new Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna has recommended Chandrachud's name for the coveted post. It was already in the realm of possibility that Justice Chandrachud may be given some key role after his retirement. The recommendation has gone to the Law Ministry and the process of selection has been set in motion. As per the law, the chairman should be a retired or serving Chief Justice of a judge of the Supreme Court of India or the high court. Earlier, the law stipulated that NHRC chairman would be a retired Chief Justice of India only. But this created a problem as not many were available for the post. The Act was amended as ambit was widened. The Chairperson and Members of the Commission are appointed by the President on the recommendations of a Committee comprising the Prime Minister as the Chairperson, the Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Home Minister, the leaders of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya.

Rahul has a role in NHRC Chairman's selection

All eyes are set on Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi as to what he will do in the selection of new NHRC chairman. Until now the Gandhis had been ruling the system by proxy and doing the back-seat driving. Rahul Gandhi even skipped the coveted responsibility to become the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament. As LoP, Rahul Gandhi has many responsibilities during this journey. But Rahul Gandhi chose to hand over the reins of PAC to his trusted lieutenant K C Venugopal. But as an LoP, he is part of the selection process of not only the Chairman of the NHRC but also selects Director, CBI, Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Chief Election Commissioner, Central Information Commissioner, Chief and Members of the Lokpal and other institutions.

Rahul Gandhi will come face-to-face with PM Narendra Modi in such committees during the next few months as after the NHRC, the CEC Rajiv Kumar is also due to retire in early 2025. Gandhi has a Cabinet rank as LOP giving him first-ever Constitutional position but that comes with responsibility. One will have to see the outcome of the first encounter with the PM as the INDIA Bloc parties have already indirectly criticised Chandrachud for hosting the PM at his residence on the Diwali pooja.

How to fight Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi

The BJP, world's largest political party and India's oldest political party, the Congress are struggling for the past 11 years to dislodge Arvind Kejriwal from his Delhi citadel. The BJP has been extremely aggressive in dislodging Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi Assembly polls during February 2025 polls. The poll announcement will take place anytime December end. The BJP is hoping to end its 30-year long drought in the national Capital though it has been winning all seven Lok Sabha seats for the past three parliamentary polls. It is wooing all prominent leaders of the AAP and Congress and leaving nothing to chance. Recently, the Centre provided Y category security to Arvinder Singh Lovely who quit the Congress to join the BJP. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is determined to snatch the UT to prove his mettle in Delhi.

The Congress is also struggling to snatch back the power from Kejriwal after he dislodged Sheila Dixit in 2013 who ruled for 15 years. The efforts of some INDIA bloc leaders to bring AAP-Congress together in Delhi failed though Kejruiwal was amenable to the suggestion. It transpires that Rahul Gandhi's Man-Friday Ajay Maken torpedoed the move. The Congress leaders wonder why Rahul Gandhi gave him so much importance particularly when he lost his own deposit in the Assembly polls last time. Rahul Gandhi appointed him as chairman of the Screening committees in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Haryana. But the party lost all the states and no responsibility was fixed on him for these losses. Maken continues to be the blue-eyed boy of Rahul Gandhi.

Tailpiece: What's common between Assam & Jharkhand ! Not really but it's true during the elections. Jharkhand witnessed a battle within a battle. The Congress deputed its deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, as a senior coordinator for the state polls while the BJP appointed Assam CM as its co-in-charge for Jharkhand, Himanta Biswa Sarma who has been wooing the Adivasi population in the state. The Congress hopes Gogoi will be able to counter Sarma’s plank by flagging the BJP’s unfulfilled promises for Assam’s tea tribes. It's a bitter battle between the two as there were bypolls in Assam too.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the Wall

Mystery of Lawrence Bishnoi being holed up in Sabarmati Jail

The case of Lawrence Bishnoi being holed up in the Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat since August 28, 2023 continues to baffle Police & security forces of many states where the B-Gang kingpin is wanted in several criminal cases. In a mysterious move, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat police took the custody of Lawrence Bishnoi from Punjab Police in connection with a drug smuggling case. It was in September 2022, when 34 kg of heroin was seized from a Pakistani fishing boat in the Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast. Though it was a joint operation conducted by the Gujarat Police and the Indian Coast Guard, the case remained with the state police. Lawrence Bishnoi was taken for questioning about his possible links in connection with the drugs worth nearly Rs 195 crore, from a Pakistani fishing boat ‘Al- Tayassa’ in the Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast in September 2022. Six Pakistani nationals were arrested after the drugs were recovered from the boat. 

It was almost a year after the arrest of these accused, Bishnoi emerged as the person on whose instructions drugs were being smuggled from Pakistan to India. Interestingly, Lawrence Bishnoi had been operating in most of the North Indian states and Maharashtra also. But he had kept away from his extortion and criminal activities from Gujarat. In the instant case, Lawrence Bishnoi was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act and taken to Ahmedabad by air and produced before a court on remand. Later, he was shifted to high-security jail in Sabarmati in August 2023.

Bishnoi's Tihar to Sabarmati Yatra via Punjab

Earlier, Bishnoi was lodged in Delhi's infamous Tihar Jail where he was being interrogated in several cases of extortion and conspiracy to kill. It was from here that the Punjab Police took him to Bathinda and later, he was whisked away by the Gujarat ATS. The Gujarat Police linked Bishnoi to Bharat Bhushan alias Bhola Shooter who was a member of his gang. Bhola had died in Gujarat while being in jail in 2021 in the Morbi drug seizure case where he was running a drug network from inside the jail in Punjab. Though Bishnoi's name cropped up in the Morbi case as well, he hogged the limelight long after the Gujarat ATS linked him to the drugs seized from the Pakistani boat and remained in the safe confines of the Sabarmati  jail. The Mumbai Police's repeated attempts from June 2024 to gain Bishnoi's custody has only stumbled into legal roadblocks under Section 268(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) prohibiting transfer of prisoners without the state government's approval. The Gujarat government has refused to transfer Bishnoi outside the state and even the access to interrogate him is also denied. The Union Home Ministry empowered the Gujarat Police under this section to refuse Bishnoi's transfer to any other state. There is also a mystery as to why the Gujarat ATS swung into action in the midst of Bishnoi's interrogation of Bishnoi in connection with threat to businessman Kunal Chhabra who had received an extortion call from the B-Gang. The gang wanted Rs 5 crores from him.

The Bishnoi gang video call to Chhabra dates back to 2023 demanding Rs 5 crores. It is learnt that Chhabra approached Nadir Shah in South Delhi who was also running his own gang. He wanted Nadir to help him and promised him Rs one crore to bail him out. Chhabra is allegedly running illegal call centers and based in Dubai. Nadir Shah did some fixing and an officer of Delhi Police told Bishnoi to back off Chhabra who is willing to pay Rs one crore. At this, Bishnoi told the officer that Chhabra will now have to pay Rs ten crores. Nadir Shah paid the price by losing his life later in a shooting incident.

Will Rahul's gamble pay off ?

After losing Haryana and Jammu, Rahul Gandhi decided to take the command of setting alliances and adjustments in his own hand rather than leaving it to the leadership of concerned states. Even state observers appointed to oversee the poll strategies and related issues by the AICC were virtually made powerless. The same had happened in Madhya Pradesh when Rahul sent observers like Randeep Singh Surjewala and others. But they were too junior to withstand Kamal Nath's aura and personality. Ultimately, the party and Rahul Gandhi paid the price. The same happened in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh too.

Rahul Gandhi changed tack and chose to appoint senior leaders as observers for Jharkhand, Maharashtra Assembly polls such as Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury there. Senior leaders were deputed region-wise. Gehlot and Karnataka Deputy CM G Parameshwara have been assigned Mumbai and Konkan region while Vidarbha region will be handled by former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi (Punjab) and Madhya Pradesh MLA and former minister Umang Singhar. Sachin Pilot and senior Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy have been deputed to Marathwada region while former Chhattisgarh Deputy CM T S Singhdeo and senior Karnataka Minister MB Patil have been assigned Western Maharashtra. Senior Rajya Sabha MP Syed Nasser Hussain and senior Telangana minister D Anasuya Seethakka have been asked to look after North Maharashtra. Senior leaders Mukul Wasnik and Avinash Pande have been appointed state election senior coordinators. The Congress and BJP are face-to-face in nearly 75 plus Assembly seats in Maharashtra and the fate of the next government hinges on the outcome, say observers.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the Wall

Why Diwali is different in Lutyens' Delhi

The Diwali festival is celebrated in world Capitals including the White House in the USA for almost two decades. The Prime Ministers of UK, Australia, Canada and other countries also host guests at their official residences to celebrate Diwali. The Hindu festivals are celebrated with fervour across many western countries. Lately, this culture has started even in several Muslim countries where Diwali parties are held. This pattern started in the late 1990s in the US and the UK particularly after the arrival of PM Atal Behari Vajpayee on the scene. Vajpayee visited the US and held rallies of people of Indian origins and wooed them and took several initiatives to resolve their issues. Vajpayee was affable and jovial too and connected instantly with the people and was taken in high esteem. Diwali was a special festival for him when hundreds lined up to share the spirit of the festival with him in the PMO. He held regular parties with staff on Diwali day and even with other sections. His successor Dr Manmohan Singh who also held the office for ten years, believed in a quieter Diwali. It's a different matter that some Prime Ministers hold Iftar parties regularly. Even a few of the Presidents held Iftar parties at Rashtrapati Bhawan. But times have changed and Diwali or Iftar parties are almost a history. Of course, some of the ministers celebrate festivals they wish to at their official residences.

Modi wrote his own script

The Diwali Festival, most revered for the Hindus across the world, has never been the same in the Lutyens' Delhi after the advent of Modi as Prime Minister in 2014. He wrote his own script even in celebrating the Diwali festival instead of making it a mega event after creating history by winning a majority on his own in three decades by any party. He quietly moved out of the Capital on the day to be with soldiers on the borders. He began a new tradition and started celebrating Diwali with security forces in Siachen in 2014. “From the icy heights of the Siachen Glacier & with the brave Jawans & Officers of the Armed Forces, I wish all of you a Happy Diwali,” he had tweeted at the time. Next year, he chose to visit three memorials in Punjab to honour the successes of the Indian Army in the 1965 war.

In 2016, his Diwali destination was Himachal Pradesh to be with soldiers near the China border. He interacted with men from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Dogra Scouts and the Army at Sumdoh; and made an unplanned stop at a village, Chango. In 2017, Modi visited the Gurez sector in North Kashmir and chose to spend Diwali in Uttarakhand’s Harsil and the iconic Kedarnath Dham. It was the same story in subsequent years when he celebrated Diwali with soldiers in one state after the other. In 2022, he was with soldiers in Kargil and paid tribute to the Army personnel who lost their lives in the 1999 Kargil war and in Lepcha in Himachal Pradesh next year.

Perhaps, 2024 was different in the sense as he celebrated Diwali in the PMO itself on January 22, 2024 sharing photos on X with the caption "Ram Jyoti"; the lighting of diyas is meant to recreate how Ram's subjects welcomed his return after his 14-year exile. He lit the Diyas in the evening at his official residence to celebrate an early Diwali after he led the 'pran pratishtha' of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in UP in the morning.

Tombs and monuments up for the grab now

A lot more has undergone a change in Lutyens' Delhi; not the Diwali spirit alone. It transpires that India's heritage monuments are gradually being passed over to the private players. Look at the southern gateway of Humayun’s Tomb under the Ministry of Culture’s “Adopt a Heritage” scheme. It's under the monument’s makeover plan that you have not only a restaurant, a ‘vision document’ of the company entrusted with ‘adopting’ the 16th century complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site but also proposes a café atop the western entry gate. The restaurant and the café will be accessed by elevators installed abutting the historical structures. And there’s more: a gaudy sound and light show on the tomb’s western façade; and special events and private dining in the gardens.

When a private player with little experience in conservation came forward to “adopt” the Red Fort in 2018, it was claimed that it would change the entire culture. Since the founder of the company that was given the contract was closely associated with the powers that be, it became an added qualification. In March 2024, the group, an off-shoot of a foundation, was also given by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Humayun’s Tomb, but also the Purana Qila, Safdarjung’s Tomb, and the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. The ASI has signed 19 MoUs with corporate entities, covering more than five dozen monuments across the country, including the Qutub Minar, the Elephanta Caves, and the Sun Temple of Konark. The idea was first floated by the Ministry of Culture scheme to put Delhi’s most renowned monuments in the care of a private foundation to save money from the government. But it ended up in making these monuments places of rich and fine dining clubs.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

10 Rajya Sabha seats up for grab in 4 states 

BJP strength may go up, Defections galore continues 

Even as the process of Assembly polls in Maharashtra and Jharkhand and bypolls for 50 Assembly and Lok Sabha seats in states is underway, the Election Commission may also have to hold elections for four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu & kashmir and by-polls for a few other states. These polls may be held after the current round of polling. 

The Upper House had an effective strength of 231, with the BJP having 95 members of its own. There are 12 vacancies including Jammu & Kashmir (4), Andhra Pradesh (4), Nominated (4), Odisha (1) and Haryana (1). Two members of the YSRCP and one member of the BJD have quit as Rajya Sabha MPs recently. The BJD member -- Sujeet Kumar -- has since joined the BJP,  which is expected to win the bypoll in the state. The two YSRCP members -- M Venkataramana Rao and B Masthan Rao -- quit their membership of the upper house and they are expected to join the TDP, a BJP ally in Andhra Pradesh.

Elections for four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir will be held after nearly four years following the swearing-in of the National Conference-led government of Omar Abdullah. The National Conference-Congress is expected to win three Rajya Sabha seats as the strength of alliance including CPI-M, AAP and five Independents have taken the strength to 55. The BJP, which finished second with a best-haul of 29 seats, could get one Rajya Sabha seat.

National Conference supremo Farooq Abdullah is likely to be nominated to Rajya Sabha while BJP may send one of its senior leaders to the Upper House. Former Deputy Chief Ministers Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta, who were denied tickets for Assembly polls, are the frontrunners for the BJP's Rajya Sabha nomination.

Lobbying in BJP is on for the one Rajya Sabha seat in Haryana vacated by BJP MP Krishanpal Panwar who became an MLA from Israna Assembly seat.  Kuldeep Bishnoi and others are also in the race.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the Wall

Canada Softens, Modi Hardens

If PM Modi is going out of his way to placate the USA over allegations of Indians involved in the plot to murder Pannu on the American soil, he has hardened his stand against Canada over allegations of murder of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia last year.

Modi is reported to be extremely upset as the Canadian PM tried to damage the image of India and named Indian government officials linked to the murder. Since India had been soft towards Canada since the time immemorial (Kanishka bombing in 1985), Modi decided to take the bull by the horn. Canada is somewhat isolated as well though the 'Five-eye' countries (US, UK, New Zealand and Australia) share all intelligence information with it on all sensitive issues. But the Canadian PM crossed the line when he made allegations against the 'Indian Government' merely on the basis of “intelligence inputs” rather than on hard evidence.

The other four countries including the USA are doing the lip service with Canada as everyone is keen to do business with India. Canada is aware that not all of the three million Indian diaspora on its soil are not Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party of Canada. Modi has made deep inroads into this diaspora. Now the Canadian government is sending friendly overtures as Canadian universities are finding it difficult to financially survive without Indian students. The Canadian government is facing massive unrest due to unemployment in the country, and price rise. India also allayed fears of this latest row with Ottawa impacting the Indian diaspora there when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the issue was limited to a particular line of politics. “We would like to maintain people-to-people relations” he said. It emerges that the Indian government has withdrawn the massive Police security cover given to the Canadian High commission in Chanakyapuri here and told them that they will have to hire their own private guards.

Paying Price Silently

All Secretaries of the country's top espionage external Intelligence agency, the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW), remain silent and invisible. If they are rewarded, it is done behind the curtains and within the four walls of the fraternity and if they suffer, they have to suffer in silence too. The last RAW Chief who hung his boots was 1984-batch Punjab cadre IPS officer Samant Kumar Goel. He was picked up by the Modi government to head the RAW considering his impressive record of fighting against terror in Punjab when it was at its peak and demitted office in June 2023. He had done commendable work as RAW Chief and reported to have played a key role in the government's “Pro-active policy” against Pakistan in identifying terror modules operating from their soil and destroying terror networks. He was instrumental in creating a network of informers across Pakistan who were virtually eliminated during the UF and Congress dispensation in the past. He is perhaps the only former RAW Chief who was provided with Z-category security by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after his retirement due to perceived threat to his life. Insiders in the Modi dispensation say that Samant Goel was to be rewarded with a Constitutional post due to his tremendous contribution. But it so happened that the controversy erupted in Canada and the USA about the role of some modules allegedly connected to the agency. Though no proof has surfaced so far. But this has made Goel suffer in anonymity.

Congress' RS Litmus test; thanks to Maharashtra

After the Haryana debacle, a win for Congress and its allies in Maharashtra and Jharkhand is crucial. It may be a do- or-die battle for the principal Opposition party due to a variety of reasons, the foremost being its lead role in the Rajya Sabha. A loss for Congress particularly in Maharashtra may cause turbulence in the Rajya Sabha where it is already vulnerable as it had seen defections of many of its senior leaders in the past. The Congress currently has 27 Mps in its kitty, just two more to retain the post of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), occupied by Mallikarjun Kharge. If the party loses Maharashtra, there is a possibility that a few of its MPs hailing from Maharashtra and even Karnataka may quit the Congress. The BJP has already identified five such Rajya Sabha MPs who are vulnerable. The Congress is in poor shape in Delhi where Assembly polls are due and Bihar is also not a bed of roses either given the current situation. The Assembly polls are due in these states in 2025. Secondly, Team-Rahul continues to behave in an arrogant manner and even Rahul Gandhi has not changed his style of functioning as he continues to be a delusionalist. A delusionalist  person believes things that couldn't possibly be true. If you're convinced that the microwave is attempting to control your thoughts, you are, sadly, delusional.

Nitish Missing the Plot!

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's absence from the swearing-in-ceremony of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini raised many eyebrows. Reason; Nitish was the only NDA CM to miss the event though Prime Minister Modi was personally monitoring the event. It was a turning point for the BJP as it won third consecutive term in a row and Nitish's absence was not in good taste for the NDA either. It now transpires that Nitish Kumar had personally telephoned Modi and gave “some reason” for his inability to travel. Though Nitish attended the “Ravana vadh” ceremony during Dussehra in Patna, he missed the shot which revealed the true status of his health. Nitih Kumar was to shoot an arrow at the effigy of the demon king so that the fireworks could begin and engulf it in flames. The Governor, Rajendra Arlekar was also present on the occasion. But Kumar fumbled and his bow and arrow fell on the ground. The effigy went up in flames without Kumar’s arrow. This slip-up was panned by politicians cutting across party lines.

Obviously, earlier reports of his health being in good shape were not correct, feeling whether it was yet another instance of Kumar suffering from dementia. While the Opposition pointed out that the arrow is the election symbol of Kumar’s JD (U), has missed the target and 2025 will be his Waterloo.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the Wall

Harish Gupta

Modi's Caste googly

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually silenced the Opposition parties including Rahul Gandhi who were demanding holding Caste Census without further delay. Modi bitter;ly attacked the Congress for dividing the Hindu society on the caste lines for political gains. But this was only the beginning. Modi googly came when he asked why the Congress never asked to conduct the Caste Census of the Muslims and other religions too. After all, Muslims are also divided on the Caste lines and there are among the Muslims who are virtually untouchable and out-caste. Political analysts say that Modi is perhaps the first political leader in India who has raised the issue of why the Congress did not hold or raised the issue of holding Caste Census among the Muslims. Why are the Hindus being singled out, he wondered. It is said that the Muslims are divided largely into the Shias, the Sunnis and Pasmandas who are very poor and largely treated as out castes. Rahul Gandhi has not reacted to Modi's statement. But Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the PM is on the path of dividing the country on religious lines. But Modi's statement reveals the government's intentions that it is toying with the idea of holding Caste Census if such a Census is agreeable across other religions too. This will be like opening another Pandora's box and too hot a subject. Even BJP's partners in the NDA have also maintained a silence on the issue. Perhaps, the issue may crop up in the Winter session of Parliament which will be held after the results of Maharashtra & Jharkhand Assembly polls are out on November 23. Modi's googly has gladdened the hearts of the RSS leadership as well.

Why No Rahul-Omar Chemistry !

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi seems to be somewhat cold to National Conference Vice president and now Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. It is unimaginable that Rahul Gandhi did not congratulate Omar Abdullah on his big Assembly win in the Union Territory against heavy odds. He made no personal phone call to him either. Rather, he chose to telephone Dr Farooq Abdullah on the INDIA bloc win in J&K while Omar Abdullah telephoned Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on the alliance getting a majority.

Though the Abdullahs have been having extremely cordial relations with the Gandhis. But Omar Abdullah has been very upset with Rahul Gandhi for his style of functioning as an alliance partner in the state. It was decided that the Congress would focus on seats in the Jammu region and take on the BJP head-on while the NC will fight with BJP and its proxies in Naya Kashmir. But Rahul Gandhi chose to campaign in the Naya Kashmir areas particularly on seats where the Congress was having a friendly fight with the NC. Omar had to speak up about it and went on to question the Congress leaders for not campaigning in Jammu on September 26 a week before the final phase of polling on October 1.

Omar Abdullah went on record to say, “I hope after Rahul is done campaigning in one or two seats in Kashmir, he focuses on Jammu. Ultimately what the Congress does in Kashmir is not important. What the Congress does in Jammu is important.” Rahul ended up showing Congress' worst performance not only in Haryana but also in Jammu as well.

Rahul's stony silence on NC Win

Rahul Gandhi's conspicuous silence all through on October 8 when the results of Haryana and J&K were out surprised many. Finally, he put out a post on social media on the Assembly election results the next day promising to analyze the reasons for the Congress’s shock defeat in Haryana but made no mention of the party’s performance in J&K. He skipped any reference to the National Conference, which won 42 of the 49 seats while the Congress could barely win six seats.

Rahul Gandhi not only avoided talking to Omar Abdullah but also made no mention of the National Conference on the “X” one day after the poll results. The poor performance of Congress is attributed to Rahul Gandhi's failure to address any joint rally with Omar Abdullah during the poll campaign though Farooq Abdullah did join the Congress leader at a public meeting on his last trip. Omar Abdullah is miffed that the Congress has not focused enough on the Jammu region where it was in direct contest with the BJP.

Tailpiece: Eyebrows were raised at the BJP's headquarters when party's musket and general secretary Vinod Tawade raised a slogan from the podium welcoming PM Modi, “Modi ji Vikas Karo Hum Tumhare Saath Hein”. The occasion was celebrating the party's historic win in Haryana polls and credit went solely to Modi. Tawade raised the slogan and the crowd roared though a few wondered why the slogan was raised. Perhaps, Tawade was part of a close-door meeting with Modi and others prior to the celebrations.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the wall

BJP's brush with its women leaders

Bollywood actress cum first term Lok Sabha MP Kangna Ranaut is not the first woman leader who has embarrassed the party. She has done it on several occasions in the past as she is brutally frank and known for speaking her mind. She recently claimed that the farmers' protests in 2020 were a build up to a “Bangladesh-like situation” in India and several killings and rapes were reported from the protest sites. There was a huge outcry in Haryana BJP which is already on the back foot and distanced itself from Ranaut’s remarks. As if this was not enough, she was also directed to retract her statement.

Even before she joined the BJP, she made headlines for making nasty remarks against the Opposition leaders and parties. It was due to these qualities that the BJP leadership rewarded her with a Lok Sabha ticket and she won. But the BJP is now finding it extremely embarrassing as she keeps speaking her "mind" on one issue or the other. But this is the first time she has been forced to retract her remarks. However, Kangna is not the first BJP woman leader who has embarrassed the BJP. The party has a long list of such women leaders barring late Sushma Swaraj. The fire-brand Hindu icon Pragya Thakur was brought to the Lok Sabha from Madhya Pradesh with much fan-fare and throughout her five year tenure, she ran into one controversy or the other. The BJP also had its ups and down with Uma Bharati and to some extent with Smriti Irani as well. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasudhara Raje Scindia's brush with the party high command is continuing even now. The BJP had also been uncomfortable with Maharashtra's Pankja Munde though all is well now.

Manoj Sinha, BJP's new star on horizon

With the almost violence free conduct of polls in Jammu & kashmir, the Modi dispensation is extremely happy with Lieutenant Governor  Manoj Sinha. He has been at the helm of affairs after the utter failure of his predecessors; be it Satya Pal Malik or G C Murmu who ran into one controversy or the other. Earlier, the Modi dispensation retained N N Vohra from 2014 to August 2018 as Governor, an appointee of PM Manmohan Singh. Vohra served the state for more than 10 years. But it was Manoj Sinha who delivered what Modi desired. Malik fell out with Modi after he was shifted to Goa and later to Meghalaya while G C Murmu had to be brought to Delhi as CAG.

Manoj Sinha had missed the bus for the CM's post in 2017 and had lost Lok Sabha polls too in 2019. He was picked up by Modi as LG J&K where he proved his mettle as an able administrator and astute politician. If the BJP is able to form a government with the help of individual groups and Independents in the Valley, Sinha's graph will shoot up further. There are reports that he will be adequately rewarded after the new government stabilizes in the state. Sinha has strong roots in the RSS and is extremely close to Modi and Amit Shah. There are many who say he may be the dark horse for the post of the BJP president though it will be a long shot.

No playing to the tunes of agencies

It seems the Congress has decided to toe the line of other INDIA block Chief Ministers who refused to resign merely on the ground of a case of corruption being registered by the agencies or even on court orders. Though Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren had resigned after the ED took his custody. But Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stood his ground and stayed put for nearly six months while in jail. With the various high courts and even SC coming down heavily on the agencies for rushing to arresting people and keeping them in jail without even filing a chargesheet or accelerating trial, the Congress has decided to follow the same path. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has not filed an appeal against the HC order and nor quit in the MUDA scam. The Congress appears to have taken a cue from the BJP even after Siddaramaiah's petition was dismissed by the Kartataka high court challenging the Governor’s sanction for investigating the “illegal” allotment of land to his wife. Though the Opposition is pressing for his resignation, the Congress seems to have stood by Siddharamiah until a chargesheet is filed.

A Third Intellectual Forum Emerges 

After the tremendous success of Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) and India Foundation, a third such organization is making waves in the Lutyens' Delhi. The VIF was founded by Ajit Doval who rose to become the National Security Adviser. All those connected to the VIF made a huge contribution to the cause for which it was created in 2009 and many of its leading lights are playing a key role in the Modi dispensation. Then came the Ram Madhav-led India Foundation which is working in many areas relating to security and international affairs. Ram Madhav was once close to Modi and later sent back to the RSS and now back in action in J&K as Modi's point's man. 

Come 2024 and a new Foundation emerged under the nomenclature of ‎ World Intellectual Forum (WIF). Its key man is veteran RSS leader Ram Lal who was BJP's general secretary (Organisation) for many years. He was replaced by B L Santoh. Ram Lal is the key person  behind the WIF. Thinkers, intellectuals and activists from across the globe descended in Delhi to attend its major meeting here quietly. Ram Lal is highly respected in the RSS and the BJP and popular with the cadre. 

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

BJP may field 4 ex-CMs, top leaders in Jharkhand

After anticipating a drubbing in Haryana Assembly polls, the BJP leadership is leaving nothing to chance in Jharkhand and Maharashtra state polls to be held this year-end. It is contemplating fielding at least four former CMs and senior leaders in the Assembly to win the polls. Former CM  Arjun Munda, recent entrant former CM Champai Soren and veteran leader Babulal Marandi and former CM and current Odisha governor Raghubar Das may be fielded in the assembly polls. Alternatively, someone from his family may be brought in. The names of Union Woman and Child welfare Minister Annapurna Devi, and BJP's national secretary and former ST morcha chief, and Rajya Sabha MP Samir Oraon are also being mentioned in this regard. A final decision on Annapurna Devi is yet to be taken.

The BJP leadership moved with alacrity in Jharkhand to seal the deal with its NDA allies including JD (U) and Sudesh Mahato-led All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU). Another ally, LJP of Chirag Paswan is also insisting on a couple of seats. But the BJP seems unwilling. The seat-sharing formula is likely to be announced anytime. It may be mentioned that Union Agriculture and Food Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam CM Hemant Biswa Sarma, Incharge and co-incharge of Jharkhand election, have traveled to the state more than 15 times since June 17 to put BJP's best foot forward. In 2019, the BJP faced a serious setback when it contested the assembly polls alone and ended up winning only 25 out of 81 seats. The BJP may contest 68-71 seats leaving the rest for its allies. The ruling JMM, Congress, RJD, CPI, CPM and others are also finalizing seat-sharing deals.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

RSS' first reaction in five month on ties with the BJP

“It's a Family Matter” Says Ambekar on Nadda's comments

The cat is finally out of the bag and it's official. For the first time, the RSS officially said that the organisation “solves 'family matters like family matters' and doesn't discuss such issues on public platforms.” But it acknowledged that there is a matter and needs to be solved within the family. This also indicates that the last word on controversy erupting within the Sangh Parivar over BJP president J P Nadda's comments in the midst of Lok Sabha poll campaign about the RSS, has not been written yet.

Sunil Ambekar, Joint general secretary of the RSS declined to discuss J P Nadda's comments in public today saying it's a 'family matter.' Nadda had said in May 2024 in the midst of Lok Sabha polls “In the beginning, we would have been less capable, smaller and needed the RSS (support). Today, we have grown and we are capable. The BJP runs itself. That’s the difference.”

Since then, the RSS had maintained a stony silence on the issue with the BJP not retracting or issuing any clarification on either. Therefore, Sunil Ambekar's reaction is extremely significant. It reflects that the issue is alive and being the 'Family matter', it will be solved within the family.

It may be worth mentioning that after the Lok Sabha polls, the RSS leaders had met J P Nadda at his residence and the latter also travelled to Palakkad to attend the annual review meeting of the RSS with its 36 frontal organisations. No official statement was issued from Kerala on the issue then. But Sunil Ambekar, who is also the official spokesman of the RSS, commented on the issue for the first time after almost five months.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the Wall

Why has Gadkari started talking!

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari is known for speaking his mind frank and candid. In the past ten years in the government as a Cabinet Minister in the Modi government, he had created a lot of uneasiness and there was a time when misunderstanding reached  a plateau. There was even a talk that he may be even part of the government. A lot of water had flown down the Ganges since then and Gadkari stopped talking at public forums and even privately. But lately, he has started talking and putting forth his views though within the parameters. A couple of weeks ago, he wrote a letter to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking to lift the 18% GST levied on insurance policies. When controversy refused to die down, Gadkari explained he had only forwarded a memorandum submitted to him by a delegation from his Nagpur constituency. The end result was that Nirmala Sithraman set up a GoM to look into the entire gamut of GST levied on health and life insurance policies.

But this was only the beginning. Later, he made a public disclosure that he was offered the PM's post by a senior leader of the Opposition if he was interested. Eyebrows were raised by many in the BJP but Gadkari stood his ground. Recently, Gadkari fired another salvo at a public function saying “If we want our nation to become 'Vishwaguru' (educator of the world), we should take the path of social harmony." He made another remark: The real test of democracy is whether the person at the helm of affairs is able to tolerate the strongest opinion against him and introspect.” His worry was that the country “is facing a problem not about differences of opinion, but the lack of it.” The last word on what's cooking behind the curtain is yet to be seen.

The mystery behind delayed sanction

The Union Home ministry had been holding back sanction to prosecute Lalu Prasad Yadav and virtually his entire family barring elder son Tej Pratap in the Land for Job scam. Though a chargesheet had been filed in January 2024, the supplementary chargesheet had been held back. The story goes that the delay was part of a political deal that the RJD will never tie-up with Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (U) during the Assembly polls due in late next year. But Lalu committed the cardinal mistake and started attacking PM Modi personally and Tejshawi Yadav went to meet Nitish Kumar at his residence. Though it was an official meeting between the two leaders, insiders say that BJP leadership was uneasy. Nitish Kumar has lately been flexing his muscles sensing that the BJP is dependent on him not only in Bihar but Delhi as well. The CBI was quietly waiting for the sanction of the Home ministry and one fine morning the sanction came. It is said that Tejashwi Yadav was not much inclined to open the pipeline. But Lalu tutored him that living in fear is worse than death. The Job for Land is a cast iron case and the Special judge is in a mood to finish the trial before Bihar Assembly polls. The case linked to Group-D railway appointments in exchange for land when Lalu Prasad Yadav was Railway Minister between 2004-2009.

No Takers of Smriti Irani in Delhi?

The BJP leadership is desperately searching for a new 'local leader' who can bring the party to power in the National Capital. Though the BJP has been winning Lok Sabha polls in 1998-1999 under late Atal Behari Vajpayee and decisively for three consecutive terms under PM Modi. But when it comes to the Delhi Assembly, the drought has been humiliating. The BJP failed to win Delhi even once since 1998 though it made several experiments during the past 26 years. If Sheila Dikshit ruled for 15 years, the AAP has been in power since 2013. The BJP leadership is burning midnight oil to formulate a strategy to win Delhi Assembly polls due in February 2025. One of the names that made headlines recently was that of former Union Minister Smriti Irani. It now transpires that the local unit of the BJP is not comfortable with her due to her flaring up tendencies etc. It goes without saying that she has all the ingredients to lead the Delhi unit. But Bansuri Swaraj, a first time Lok Sabha MP and daughter of late Sushma Swaraj is a hot favourite. She has shown qualities in public discourse and impressed all. The ball is the court of party high command.

A new “AAP” experiment in Bihar

Come October 2 and a new political outfit -Jan Suraaj party- is set to be born. Poll consultant-turned-politician, Prashant Kishor, will showcase his political vision of giving an ideal governance and development model. He had already created waves by declaring that he will throw out Nitish Kumar's liquor ban law which is anti-poor. Kishor had successfully sold various models in many states while formulating winning strategies for different political parties. He thinks that Bihar needs a fresh air as people are fed up with Lalu, Nitish and other parties. No one is sure whom Kidhor will hit in the Assembly polls. He had been making some noise about the necessity to rise above caste and creed. But he has now succumbed to these very things like distributing tickets proportionate to the population of different castes and rotating the command of the party among various castes. Will he succeed like Arvind Kejriwal's AAP is the issue?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Kejriwal's House riddle,

New CM Atishi May not live in 'Sheel Mahal', Official meetings may be held

Arvind Kejriwal who quit as Delhi Chief Minister in a surprise move, is all set to dump the controversial “Sheesh Mahal” bungalow. If reports are to be believed, even Delhi's new Chief Minister Atishi Singh may not immediately move to the official CM's 6 Flagstaff Road bungalow residence, Civil Lines. Currently, she is officially living at Mathura Road official residence allotted to her as a minister in the Delhi government. But for all practical purposes, Manish Sisodia's family is living there and Atishi Singh frequently visits the Mathura Road residence. But now that she has become the Chief Minister, this arrangement may be difficult to continue. Secondly, Atishi being only a stop gap Chief Minister until the new Assembly is elected in February 2025, she may prefer to stay put where she is currently residing.

As per convention, a chief minister should move out of the CM’s official residence within two-three weeks of his/her resignation being accepted. No government bungalow had been allotted for former Chief Ministers of Delhi like Sheila Dixit, Madanlal Khurana, Sushma Swaraj and Sahib Singh Verma. But they all had their own houses. In the case of Kejriwal, he claimed that he doesn't own any house in Delhi. Therefore, he is on the look out for a rented accommodation as a “commoner”. Even last time, when Kejriwal resigned from the CM's post, he went to stay at his private flat at Kaushambi in Ghaziabad. However, there are reports that he might have sold this flat a few years ago.

Hence, Arvind Kejriwal needs to find a new house for himself. It is learnt that Kjriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal is busy house hunting.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the wall

Why Gadkari Most popular among Mps

Irrespective of speculations triggered by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari disclosing that a leading Opposition leader had contacted him to be their Prime Ministerial choice, he is extremely popular among MPs of all hues. His ministerial chamber in the new Parliament House building is the most-crowded place. Why ? Because his chamber is like an open house and any MP can just walk in. Most Cabinet ministers have been allotted rooms in the new building while MoS are given in the old building. But Gadkari's room has been the center of attention. He is always smiling and tries his best to help whosoever comes his way. The MPs of various parties go to him for laying roads in their constituencies and if possible get the same included in the list of national highways. Gadkari's only request to these MPs is that their state governments must acquire land for laying roads at a faster pace.

He told them that it is now a policy that unless the land is acquired, the Centre won't block its funds for years together. Gadkari pointed out that as many as 697 ongoing National Highway projects started since 1st April 2014, have spilled beyond their original completion schedule. This has also resulted in heavy financial burden on projects costing various agencies including contracts to the tune of over Rs 2 lakh crores cumulatively. It may also be noted that Gadkari's warm ties with UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had already  garnered a lot of attention within the BJP although this meeting was to review national highway projects in UP.

Modi lowered Guards for bureaucrats

PM Modi's first message to the bureaucrats when he held a marathon meeting with secretaries after being elected third time in a row was that they should refrain from flooding the PMO with everything. The secretaries should take care of issues at their own level. It is a different matter that no secretary will take such a chance and often call the PMO whether the file be sent or not. Since Modi realized immediately after being elected as PM that he will be running a coalition government and partners may not like to seek approval for everything from the PMO. After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, bureaucrats are also in a more comfortable space. Officers disclosed that their colleagues do not hesitate to criticize the government or poke fun at it, especially in their various WhatsApp groups.

Another feature being noted is that many BJP leaders have also started expressing their views publicly including seniors. The change is surprising and the kind of rebellion that is seen in Haryana and other states had never been seen before. The BJP leaders in states are not listening to the high command and some of the ministers are giving vent to their feelings including Rao Inderjit Singh, MoS (Independent charge).

The importance of being Arun Goel

The rehabilitation of Arun Goel, a retired 1985-batch of IAS officer of Punjab cadre and former Election Commissioner who had abruptly resigned from his post before the 2024 general elections, has raised eyebrows. Goel has now been appointed as India’s ambassador to Croatia. It was rather surprising because had Arun Goel continued in his position in the EC, he would become the CEC in February 2025 after Rajiv Kumar's retirement until December 2027. But Goel resigned on March 10, 2024 and his resignation came just a month before the start of the first phase of voting for the 2024 Parliamentary elections on April 19.

Goel assumed charge as the EC on November 18, 2022. Incidentally, he had taken voluntary retirement as secretary of Heavy industries in the Union Government and was appointed as EC just a day after he took VRS. Goel was cooling his heels for the past six months at home after quitting as EC on March 10, 2024. But became the first political appointee abroad. Though Croatia is not critical to India's foreign policy, Goel's posting in Zagreb is important as it is located at the center of a sensitive region. Now it is clear that Arun Goel had resigned at the behest of someone assuring that he will be rehabilitated elsewhere. Goel impressed Modi when he showcased by conceptualising ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, a flagship campaign to celebrate 75 years of Independence. Goel is a “nice, soft-spoken and polite” officer who does not let anyone gauge what he's thinking, traits which are a must for a good diplomat.

Atishi no Dummy or Dumb

Atishi Marlena Singh, selected to succeed Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister of Delhi is no dummy or a dumb. No doubt, Manish Sisodia would have donned the mantle had he not been in jail in the Liquor-gate. Aitishi is the most trusted person not only close to Arvind Kejriwal but also to his wife Sunita as well. It can be judged from the fact that she was handling 14 portfolios and batted on the front-foot when colleagues were in jail. Interestingly, she became the Minister only in March last year when Sisodia and Satyendra Jain were sent to jail.

She is former Stephenian, a Rhodes Scholar and studied at University of Oxford, London and has a background in education, policy, and governance. She worked with several NGOs in Madhya Pradesh before joining AAP and was a key member of the Manifesto Drafting Committee of the party for the 2013 Assembly election which was a game-changer. Therefore,she is neither a “dummy and nor dumb.”

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

BJP to celebrate PM Modi's 74th  birthday as “Sewa Pakhwada”

fortnight long campaign will begin on Sept. 17 to Oct. 2

The BJP leadership has decided to celebrate “Sewa Pakhwara” (fortnight-long Service of the people) beginning September 17 as a mark of respect to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. The party is contemplating to organize blood donation camps across the country in all districts in coordination with various social organizations; blood banks, Indian red cross society and state health departments.

The fortnight social service fortnight will culminate on October 2 as a mark of respect on Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay's Jayanti and Gandhi Jayanti. The nationwide Swacchta Abhiyan (cleanliness campaign) will also be conducted in schools and hospital premises from September 18 to September 24. Painting of schools can be done or donation drives could be arranged.

A felicitation program for Paris Paralympics- 2024 will be organized at state headquarters and sports persons have to be invited for the program. The Divyangs sports persons will be provided with Assisting equipment. Free health camps for elderly women will also be conducted on September 23. It is the day of launch of Ayushman Bharat Yojana. MPs, MLAs, and legislative Council members will be asked to actively take part in it. A pictorial exhibition of the PM will be organized as well. The BJP also plans to hold seminars based on the Book "Power Within: The leadership & legacy of Narendra Modi" authored by R Balasubramaniam.

Plans are afoot to organize art, drawing, essay, rangoli, competitions based on Atmanirbhar Bharat, viksit bharat, vocal for local themes. On Sept 25, Deen Dayal Upadhyay's Jayanti, workers will enroll 100 members through door to door campaigns for booth-wise. On 2nd Oct - cleanliness drive around statues of Mahatma Gandhi, floral tributes to be paid and and buy one khadi product.

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Fly on the wall

How Amit Shah's Pep Talk did wonders 

It is unbelievable but true, say BJP insiders. An extremely upset Union Home Minister Amit Shah virtually summoned Union Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan. Chirag, president of the Lok Janshakti Party (RV) along with his party Mps at his 6 Krishna Menon Marg residence. Apparently, Shah took the step in the wake of internal discussions in the core group. The BJP leadership was upset with Chirag over some of his public statements. Chirag Paswan publicly opposed the Waqf Bill and demanded the same be sent to the committee. He also sought rolling back of Lateral Entry route for recruitments in the government and threw his weight behind Caste Census. He supported a Bharat Bandh against the Supreme Court’s decision to allow sub-classification in reservation for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes – the only party in the ruling alliance to do so. As if this was not enough, he desired to contest the Jharkhand Assembly elections on its own if there was no consensus over seat sharing in the NDA.

The BJP leadership had already sent a message to Chirag Paswan when Amit Shah met his estranged uncle Pashupati Paras on August 26. The BJP had dumped Pashupati Paras in the Lok Sabha polls and decided to go with Chirag Paswan and he won five seats. On August 30, Chirag Paswan reached Amit Shah's residence along with his three other Lok Sabha Mps. The Mps sat outside while Chirag was called in. It was a different kind of experience for Chirag where he got a virtual dressing down. The sum and substance of pep talk was that he is free to quit the NDA but must remember that none of his Mps will go with him. What Chirag told the PTI later in an exclusive interview the same day was complete somersault. He went to the extent of saying that he was willing to contest the upcoming Bihar assembly polls as an NDA partner "if the BJP so desires."

Rahul's googly Stumped party men

It is a do or die battle for the Congress leadership in Haryana as they have been cooling their heels in the Opposition for the past ten years as BJP formed the government for two consecutive terms. The Congress leadership is upbeat this time and the BJP is facing huge anti-incumbency, virtual revolt and unable to even put its own house in order. When the issue of distribution of tickets came to the core committee, Rahul Gandhi indicated that a few seats out of 90 should be set aside for the AAP and the Samajwadi Party. Even senior leaders of the party were shocked as none of them had any pockets of influence. They said giving Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat to the AAP in 2024 Lok Sabha polls did not yield any positive result and the BJP won. The Congress won five Lok Sabha seats rejuvenating the cadre and wanting to go for the kill in the Assembly polls.

But Rahul Gandhi had other plans. He said, “I am not the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha. I am the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and representing the entire Opposition including those in the INDIA Bloc or outside. We have to accommodate them if we want to defeat the BJP in the country.” Though the alliance with the AAP has not succeeded so far, the SP may still be in the fray with some understanding. But Rahul Gandhi certainly earned browny points with friendly parties and stumped his own party men.

Secret abode of Sheikh Hasina !

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to fly out of her country last month amid massive protests and mounting deaths in the violence. She made an unscheduled landing in India for a short while along with her sister. But it has now turned out to be a long haul as her plans to stay in the United Kingdom have run into rough weather.

Now pressure is mounting from the new Bangladesh government to send her back to face criminal cases against her. India and Bangladesh have an extradition treaty. The new Prime Minister of Bangladesh has asked her to stop talking if she wants to live in peace.

The last time a troubled Hasina sought refuge in India was after the massacre of her family, including her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in 1975. Hasina took refuge in India along with her husband, children, and sister. They lived in Delhi's Pandara Road under an assumed identity for six years, from 1975 to 1981. But this time, she was holed up initially at the Ghaziabad's Hindon air base guest house. No one has a clue as of now where she is residing in Delhi. The little bird learns that she is not living in any government bungalow this time but in a private bungalow in the Lutyens' Delhi. Strict secrecy is maintained due to threat to her life under the changed circumstances.

RSS affiliates air grievances

Even as the RSS and BJP are sorting out their coordination issues, its many affiliates also flagged their grievances to BJP Chief J P Nadda who is Union Health Minister and Leader in Rajya Sabha. Nadda attended the three-day meet of the RSS at Palakkad in Kerala last month end. These affiliates met Nadda separately and complained that they are not given appointments in time by the ministries though things have improved lately. These affiliates work in various fields and need active support of the government to serve the people in far flung and remote areas too. It must be to the credit of Nadda that he listened to each one of them with patience and promised to revert back to them and solve their problems.