Fly on the wall
Clouds of Uncertainty Over LS Tickets
With Prime Minister Modi sharpening his attack on dynasty politics being the root cause of evils at his rallies, no one is sure as to what is cooking in his mind. Many BJP stalwarts are struggling hard to decipher Modi's recent reference to the dynasty in his last speech made in the 17th Lok Sabha. Referring to dynasties, Modi suddenly turned to comments being made by some Opposition leaders about this culture in the BJP too. He ridiculed those Opposition leaders who compared Rajnath Singh ji's son being an MLA in the UP Assembly or Amit Shah Ji's son being in a cricket body (BCCI). Modi went on to attack the Opposition parties saying their dynasties are controlling the levers of powers which is not the case in the BJP.
Long before Modi's recent remarks, there were reports that Rajnath Singh's son Ajay Singh, MLA and Vice president of the BJP's UP unit, may be fielded for the Lok Sabha and the Defence Minister may be given another Constitutional responsibility after the polls. Modi has been successful in creating a perception that his government is set to return for a third term and may walk away with a majority of floating voters too. The buzz in the political corridors is that in his third term, Modi will go for a massive overhaul and bring in new faces from various fields. With increased focus on Southern Indian states to expand BJP's base in the years to come, Modi may rope in talent from there. The BJP had polled around 4% votes in 2019 and was targeting to take it to 10% in 2024. Modi made an exception for MoS S Murugan and gave RS ticket to him along with Ashwini Vaishnav from Odisha while denying to 6 others. It is a signal that the new ministry will see a new era. Modi has consciously not undertaken any reshuffle of his Cabinet since July 2021 despite several vacancies. Many ministers were much below the age of 75 years. This indicates that age is no longer a criteria.
Is Satyapal Malik writing a book
The CBI conducted raids on the premises of Satyapal Malik and many of his associates in Delhi and other places in connection with some projects he cleared during his tenure as Governor of J&K. The CBI has not disclosed so far as to what has been recovered during these raids and nor Malik has given any details in this regard. The BJP leadership is also tight-lipped because it had no clue how Satyapal Malik emerged on the scene from nowhere and was appointed as Governor of Bihar in 2017 and later shifted to J&K. Sources close to Malik say that he had been contemplating writing a book during his days as Governor of four states during his five year stint. His statements about the Pulwama attack on CRPF convoy had created considerable anger in the ruling dispensation. It was felt as to how a sitting Governor could make such statements and cross the 'Lakshman Rekha'. He should have been sacked immediately. But nothing of the sort happened. After he completed his tenure, he was quizzed by the CBI about these two contracts given during his tenure as Governor in J&K. In fact, due to his reports when he held the post in J&K, a senior BJP leader was removed from a key post. With regard to his forthcoming book, no one is sure whether Malik was actually writing it or was just thinking about it. The Last word about the Malik saga is yet to be written.
Bansuri Swaraj, a new buzz in town
Who is Bansuri Swaraj! No one knew her until March 2023 when she was appointed as co-convener of Delhi BJP's legal cell. No one knew that she is the daughter of Sushma Swaraj and Swaraj Kaushal. After doing her undergraduate studies from the University of Warwick with a BA (Hons) in English Literature, she went on to study Law at BPP Law School in London and enrolled with the Bar Council of India in 2007. She has 17 years of experience behind her and earned a lot of goodwill. She is quite popular among the BJP workers and leaders and there are reports that she may even be fielded in ensuing Lok Sabha polls from Delhi. She is also a popular face on TV channels representing the BJP and has impressed even BJP's opponents.
What next for Bijoy Panda, RCP Singh
The
future of two senior leaders who joined the BJP from other parties-
Bijoy Panda and R C P Singh- hangs in the balance. Panda came from
the Biju Janata Dal while RCP Singh from the Janata Dal (U). Since
new political developments have emerged in these two states, their
future hangs in the balance now. Bijoy Panda has been given an
important state of UP where 80 Lok Sabha seats are at stake. RCP
Singh is in the BJP but has been cooling his heels in Bihar as the
Nitish-led JD (U) is back with the BJP. RCP Singh was a Cabinet
Minister in the Modi government from the JD (U) quota. But he is not
even a member of Parliament now and so is Bijoy Panda. Both are
waiting for rehabilitation. Nitish Kumar hates RCP Singh and will
ensure that the BJP does not rehabilitate him in the Ministry.
Whether RCP Singh will get a Lok Sabha ticket or not, is not clear as
yet. The BJP may be fighting with the BJD in Odisha. But there is
friendship between Naveen Patnaik and Modi which brought Ashwini
Vaishnav in Rajya Sabha twice from Odisha as a bonus. The condition
is to keep Bijoy Panda out. But Panda is hopeful that the Gods will
be kind after the Lok Sabha polls.
