Fly On the Wall | Why Pawar, Nitish missing in Action

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Why Pawar, Nitish missing in Action

Sharad Pawar had declared with a big fanfare to lend NCP’s support to the Trinamool Congress headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Maratha strongman had also declared that he would campaign for the TMC candidates in West Bengal. The Congress was peeved at Pawar’s decision to support Mamata as NCP is sharing power in Maharashtra. The NCP supremo is also desirous to play a more active role in the UPA at the national level too. Realizing the sensitivities involved, NCP explained that Mamata Banerjee is close to the “Saheb” and the latter will only address a couple of rallies as a symbol of support. But Pawar could not make it in March as he was busy in resolving the crisis that erupted after Wazegate culminating in the resignation of Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. Later, Pawar developed severe abdomen pain leading to his admission at a private hospital. He was advised complete rest before he could be operated upon as his parameters were not fit to be operated upon. He cannot campaign anymore and there is no prospect of his being in action in West Bengal in near future either.

Nitish, Tejashwi keep away too

Sharad Pawar is not alone missing in action. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav are also keeping completely away in this round of Assembly polls. Though the Janata Dal (United) is contesting the West Bengal polls dumping its alliance partner BJP, Kumar has chosen to keep away and not campaign. On the other hand, the RJD is supporting the TMC despite being a partner of Congress in Bihar. But Tejashwi is also looking the other way and has not for campaigning. The JD (U) doesn’t explain why it has left its candidates in the lurch in West Bengal. However, a close confidante of Nitish Kumar said he is avoiding traveling West Bengal to keep the BJP and Mamta Banerjee in good humour. Mamata has a fractured leg and Nitish Kumar doesn’t want to rub salt on her wounds in the given situation. After all, Nitish Kumar has also been nursing national ambitions like Sharad Pawar. The Congress is also confused as it is hand-in-glove with the Left in West Bengal while fighting with the CPM in Kerala. Secondly, Rahul Gandhi has not rolled out his program to campaign in West Bengal so far either.

Priyanka goes missing too!!

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has gone into self quarantine after her husband Robert Vadra tested positive of Covid almost a week ago. The jolt came when she was drawing huge crowds during her rallies in Kerala. According to Congress insiders, she was able to connect better with the voters due to her style of campaigning causing some anxiety in some party quarters. Though Priyanka has now been tested negative, she continues to stay home. Whatever may be the reasons; her absence is a setback to the party as most of the party’s 30 star campaigners were missing in action including Capt Amrinder Singh, Navjot Singh Sidhu to name a few. Even Rahul Gandhi has been missing in action in West Bengal, at least until writing this column. Perhaps, it’s a season of leaders missing in action.

Missing frontline workers for Jab

The Prime Minister’s Task Force on Vaccination is burning midnight oil as Health and Frontline Workers (HFW) are missing in getting themselves vaccinated. Of the 3 crores HFWs only 65% came forward for the first vaccine dose during the past 90 days while 50% came for the second dose. The government is worried about these missing Covid warriors and vaccine hesitancy has clearly among them. It is worrisome as they are directly dealing with the deadly disease. The government toyed with the idea of imposing certain restrictions on those refusing to take the jab as suggested by experts and Indian Medical Association too. But these are tough times and the government cannot risk taking disciplinary action against them for refusing to take the jab. Dr Randeep Guleria, Director AIIMS and member of the PM’s Task Force, has been on record to say that this hesitancy may be because they want to wait and read more. He did not elaborate but many are worried as the government is not sharing the Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) data. Though the government told Parliament that 89 adverse events took place and none of them was due to vaccination. But it has not shared the causes behind such deaths so far except in 13 cases.

JD (U) slide worries BJP - Priyanka back in Lutyen’s Delhi

FLY ON THE WALL

Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

JD (U) slide worries BJP

Irrespective of Modi’s undiminished Charisma and immense popular appeal, the BJP leadership has a reason to worry in Bihar. As the state enters the second phase of bitterly fought polarized battle, the BJP is rattled as its key partner Nitish Kumar’s graph is on the downhill. The mishandling of migrant labourers and Coronavirus issues may cost him dearly and hurt BJP more in the months to come if the NDA loses Bihar. It is not as if the BJP was not aware of the sliding graph of Nitish Kumar. All internal surveys conducted by the RSS and the BJP signaled that Nitish Kumar's popularity is waning. The vocal Bihar BJP leadership wanted to go alone smelling blood riding on Modi wave. It was in this background that PM Modi, BJP president J P Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah held two rounds of talks on Bihar in June-July. A conscious decision was taken to go with Janata Dal (U) as the consequences of dumping Nitish Kumar could have been fatal. It would have pushed Nitish Kumar to go back to the RJD-Congress. In order to off-set the anti-incumbency factor of Nitish Kumar, a buffer zone of sort in the form of LJP’s Chirag Paswan was created. It was done with the hope that LJP could cut into anti-Nitish Kumar votes which otherwise would have gone to the RJD-Congress-Left combine. But as the campaigning picking up, collapse of JD (U) is more visible. Secondly, Coronavirus has invaded the top leadership of the BJP beginning with Devendra Fadnavis, Sushil Modi, Mangal Pandey, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Shahnawaz Hussian and others. Amit Shah is also out of action.

BJP's Bihar Waterloo 

The BJP was on the seventh Heaven after its tumultuous win in May 2019 Lok Sabha polls. But its stars started fading as it suffered one loss after the other in states. If it failed to form a government in Maharashtra, it had to depend on Dushyant Chautala in Haryana to form the government. Then it suffered humiliating defeats in Jharkhand and Delhi in 2020. Therefore, a Bihar win is vital for the BJP. A Bihar loss will have a direct bearing in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, kerala, Puducherry and Assam where Assembly polls are due early next year. Many in the BJP say it will be happy to emerge as a single largest party in Bihar. Therefore, the BJP has changed its strategy mid-way. It may hold a few rallies of the PM in constituencies where BJP candidates are contesting without Nitish Kumar. Some posters are already out in the public without Nitish Kumar. Secondly, the PM will be more aggressive in his speeches in the days to come.

Priyanka back in Lutyen’s Delhi

After a brief stint in Gurugram in Haryana, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is back in Lutyen’s Delhi. She vacated her government bungalow a couple of months ago when the Modi dispensation served a notice. She shifted to Gurugram for a short while and now back in Sujan Singh Park near Khan Market. However, she doesn’t meet political workers at her residence due to paucity of space. Her security guards are having a tough time as the residential complex itself is very small.

Ram Madhav’s big slide

It seems BJP’s rising star has run out of luck with the party. He was incharge of the Jammu & Kashmir affairs and North East. He too played a key role in formulating BJP's J&K policy and helped forming governments in some of the North East states. He runs India Foundation which worked for Modi in the US and other countries before he became the PM. When he was removed as BJP as general secretary, it was widely believed that he will get a Rajya Sabha seat and possibly a ministerial berth when reshuffle takes place. It was also expected that he will be nominated to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh where the BJP is set to win at least eight out of ten seats. But his name didn’t figure in the list. It now transpires that he is vacating his South Avenue government flat also which he had been allotted as general secretary. The last word on his new assignment is yet to be heard. One report is that he may now go back to the RSS as he is now full time “Sangh Pracharak”.

Rahul returns after Sojorn !

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report

Rahul returns after Sojorn !

“Family” decides No RS Seat for Priyanka

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, March 1

After holidaying in Italy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi returned to India yesterday and took a stock of political situation in the country.

If sources are to be believed, the members of the Gandhi family- Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi- met twice over two days.

These sources told Lokmat today that the issue of sending Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to the Rajkya Sabha was  part of the agenda and the Gandhis decided that she will continue to serve in the organization. She will stay away from the parliamentary responsibilities considering the challeneges ahead. Her task has been to strengthen the organization and assist her brother Rahul Gandhi. Whether Rahul Gandhi takes over formally the reins of the party once again or not, he will continue to be the pivot.

With Sonia Gandhi’s frailing health and inability to extensively travel across the country, the responsibility is likely to come to Rahul Gandhi to come to the helms. It is in this background that a view has emerged that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should continue to lay stress on the organizational responsibilities.

It may be mentioned here that a clamour has been growing in the Congress that  Priyanka be brought to the Rajya Sabha.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was the first to fire the salvo and write a foral letter to the Congress Interim president that she be sent to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan where the party is set to win two seats.

Later, Kamal Nath and Bhupesh Baghel and even Adhirranjan Chowdhury have jumped into the woo Priyanka campaign. They too want Priyanka in RS. Interestingly, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is reported to have dumped her earlier plans to shift to Lucknow and hire a house on rent to focus completely in UP. She has started campaigning outside the state including Delhi and elsewhere.

The buzz is that Gehlot wants Priyanka be brought to the Rajya Sabha arguing her popularity and charisma be utilized in states other than in UP where she is general secretary incharge of Eastern part. Now

Gehlot even had  reported to have met Priyanka recently and sounded her out in this regard. He wants Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to play more active role by entering Rajya Sabha. Rahul Gandhi is already holding the fort in Lok Sabha.

But the Gandhis have decided that she strengthen the oragniation as parliamentary duties are equally demanding. 

Gehlot wants Priyanka Gandhi in Rajya Sabha !

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special report

Gehlot wants Priyanka Gandhi in Rajya Sabha !

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 13

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is understood to be keen that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra be brought to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.

With three Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant and biennial poll to be held next month, the Congress is set to win two seats. The buzz is that Gehlot wants Priyanka be brought to the Rajya Sabha arguing her popularity and charisma be utilized in states other than in UP where she is general secretary incharge of Eastern part.

Interestingly, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is reported to have dumped her earlier plans to shift to Lucknow and hire a house on rent to focus completely in UP. She has started campaigning outside the state including Delhi and elsewhere.

Gehlot is reported to have met Priyanka recently and sounded her out in this regard. He wants Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to play more active role by entering Rajya Sabha. Rahul Gandhi is already holding the fort in Lok Sabha. But the Upper House requires a new face to take on the BJP there. The front benches leaders on the  Opposition  in Rajya Sabha comprise of mostly older leaders and the entry of a Gandhi will help galvanizing the party.

Since Sonia Gandhi has been unable to campaign due to health reasons, the party needs an additional face to take on the ruling BJP in Parliament and outside. If sources are to be believed, Gehlot had also talked it out with the other members of the Gandhi family too in this regard.

There are reports that Rahul Gandhi is likely to return as party president sooner than expected and would require to travel extensively. Therefore, Gehlot feels that the party would be significantly strengthened in Parliament too with Priyanka's entry.

Though there are many in the party who feel that she should come to the Lok Sabha as no member of the Gandhi family had ever taken a Rajya Sabha route.

But Gehlot loyalists pointed out that late Indira Gandhi entered the Rajya Sabha first and then went on become the tallest leader. Gehlot had been a minister in the Indira Gandhi ministry and a family loyalist.

Officially, no one in the party is willing to comment saying that its purely a decision of the “Family” and leaders are free to make suggestions.

Ends 

Priyanka's security breached

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

A Lokmat Exclusive story

Priyanka's security breached

CRPF aghast as Car entered her Lodhi Estate House

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 27

The Security and Intelligence agencies are shocked that the fortress like security cover to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been breached. The security breach is considered unprecedented for a high-risk protectee. Not only the Gandhis but the newly deputed CRPF VIP Security Unit is also aghast at the breach in the broad day light.

It was Monday afternoon when Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was at her 35 Lodhi Estate residence with her family members. All of a sudden a car entered inside the porch and five person including a young girl alighted. They walked straight into her garden and requested for a photo opportunity. They claimed that they had all the way from UP to Delhi only to be photographed with her. A surprised Priyanka didn't know how to respond by visitors who had no prior appointment and nor she had told the CRPF guards about it either. She agreed for a photo session and before the CRPF guards could realise what was happening, the five visitors had gone. All hell broke as Priyanka wanted to know how these visitors were allowed inside without her permission and that too along with the car.

This is considered the worst security lapse as the VIP being guarded by a trained guards not only allowed the car to enter the premises but did not even check the identity of the occupants.

A DIG level of the CRPF rushed to the house to inquire and was surprised that the guards on duty did the blunder. They told the DIG that they thought the car belonged to Rahul Gandhi and hence did not stop it.

The Delhi Police officials are also worried as outer security is provided by them while inner security cover is with the CRPF.

When contacted, a senior police official told Lokmat that a high-level inquiry has been ordered by the CRPF and Delhi Police into the incident. The security guards responsible for the serious lapse on Monday have been sent packing.

Since the security cameras captured the car number of the occupants, the same has been traced. Detailed inquiries are underway about the antecedents of the occupants.

It may be mentioned that only last week the CRPF cover with Z plus status was provided to members of the Gandhi family including Priyanka.

Ends 

Rahul Reluctant campaigner in Assembly polls

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Rahul Reluctant campaigner in Assembly polls

Congress banking on Sonia, Priyanka

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Sep 26

There is intense speculation in the Congress whether former Congress president Rahul Gandhi will campaign in Maharashtra and Haryana in the ensuing Assembly polls.

The speculation gained momentum as Rahul Gandhi has become incommunicado and stays away from party activities. Except for visiting his parliamentary constituency Wayanad in Kerala, he is not taking interest in party affairs.

he has shunned meeting even the senior leaders and did not attend the CWC meeting and other meetings. So much so that when senior leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad wanted to inquire through his office if he would be campaigning for the Haryana Assembly polls, he did not get any response. Though he has not said a "No" to the campaigning but he has not consented as yet.

If sourcese are to be believed, Rahul Gandhi is expected to participate in the foot march (Padyatra) from Gandhi Ashram in Wardha. But its a non-political program and not part of the poll campaign.

However, there are indications that Congress president Sonia Gandhi, despite not so good health, will address a couple of rallies in the two states. Priyanka Gandhi, incharge of UP, may visit Haryana as she is under extreme pressure from the state leaders including Sejia, B S Hooda and others.

The Congress' leadership problem is that it doesn't have star campaigners except the Gandhis and sword of uncertainty is hanging. Even Navjot Singh Sidhu has gone in hibernation.

The party is in the process of compiling a comprehensive list of its campaigners in the Assembly polls.

However, Rahul Gandhi is active on twitter stridently opposing the abrogation of Article 370 despite the party officially had been coy. In fact, the party has allowed different voices to be expressed by its leaders sensing the mood of the people.

Rahul Gandhi has been poking fun at PM Modi for HOWDY, Modi at Houston and on other issues.

This is the only visible line of communication he has kept open with the party.

Otherwise, he is confined to reading books, watching TV on the big screen at his Tughlaq Road residence, visiting Khan market with a couple of close friends, rigorous workout at the gym at home and talking to non-political friends.

Ends 

Priyanka Gandhi takes charge of UP Congress, Scindia demits UP (West) charge

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Priyanka Gandhi takes charge of UP Congress, Scindia demits UP (West) charge

Rahul Gandhi to return on July 22-23

Harish Gupta 

New Delhi, July 19 

After the resignation of Jyotiraditya Scindia as AICC General Secretary incharge of UP (West), Priyanka Gandhi has been entrusted with the task of looking after the entire UP. Until now, Priyanka Gandhi was the AICC general secretary incharge of UP (East). After Scindia's resignation, she has been asked to look after the whole of UP.

Though no formal orders have been issued by the AICC in this regard. But Congress president Rahul Gandhi, before his departure to the USA on Wednesday, asked Priyanka Gandhi to look after the entire state until further arrangements. Rahul Gandhi has approved several appointments including that PCC Chiefs of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. It is also learnt that Rahul Gandhi will return to India on July 22-23 and the Congress Working Committee may meet thereafter. There is intense media speculation that Priyanka Gandhi may replace her brother as AICC president. A clamour is also growing in the party for her induction as many feel that a member of the Gandhi family can revive the party. In fact, many of the senior party leaders feel that an interim arrangement of appointing someone like Mallikarjun Kharge, Mukul Wasnik or Selja would only delay the revival of the party. They say that the Congress under the Gandhis had secured more than 11 crore votes in the May 2019 Lok Sabha polls and these can grow if Priyanka Gandhi is installed as party chief. Since Rahul Gandhi has firmly rebuffed suggestions of staging a come back, these sources say that only someone like Priyanka can take the party on the revival path. But Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is maintaining a studied silence. She has quietly taken the charge of the entire UP and held a marathon meeting of all the district presidents of UP Congress. She has already taken on the Yogi government head on. 

Perhaps, one will have to wait for a week to things to unfold in the Congress.

Ends 

Shatrughan Sinha considered from Varanasi

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report

Shatrughan Sinha considered from Varanasi  

Joint Opposition candidates against Modi planned 

Priyanka in the reckoning too 

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, April 4

The Opposition parties are seriously considering fielding a strong joint candidate from Varanasi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. The poll in Varanasi will be held on May 19 and last date for nominations is April 29. Except for the BJP no party has announced its candidate from the Varanasi seat. Even the Samajwadi Party which had made some announcement, has withdrawn its candidate. The BSP has opted out of the race and gave the seat to the Samajwadi Party as part of the seat sharing arrangement.

Highly placed sources in the Congress told Lokmat today that parleys have been going on to find a common ground to corner the BJP in Varanasi and not to allow a cakewalk to Modi who had won the seat by a margin of more than 3.50 lakh votes in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. This was largely because there was a 4-corner contest. This time, a common candidate be pitted against Modi to avoid splitting of anti-BJP votes.

If these sources are to be believed two names are under serious consideration for the Varanasi seat-- Priyanka Gandhi and Shatrughan Sinha. Though Shatrughan Sinha has already declared his intentions to contest from Patna Sahib which he represents in the Lok Sabha as BJP MP. But there is a suggestion that he shifts to Varanasi instead of Patna Sahib and become a joint Opposition candidate. He has personal rapport with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav who had earlier offered that his wife Poonam Sinha contest from Lucknow against the BJP stalwart Rajnath Singh on the SP ticket. Shatrughan Sinha is reported to have discussed this issue with Rahul Gandhi. However, details on this issue are not immediately known.

In addition to Shatrughan Sinha, a proposal is also afoot to field Priyanka Gandhi from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat. Though she is campaigning in UP East but she can galvanize not only the party cadre but the entire area if she is fielded from Varanasi. Priyanka Gandhi had said in a lighter vein the other day in response to a question, “Do you want me to contest from Varanasi.”

Even Shatrughan Sinha was coy when asked by Lokmat today at his residence.He said, “A lot of people want me to contest from Varanasi. But it is not for me to comment. It is for the party to decide.”

A final decision in this respect will be taken sometime next week.

Ends

No cake-walk for Priyanka, Scindia in UP

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

News analysis

No cake-walk for Priyanka, Scindia in UP

Congress to focus on 25 Lok Sabha seats

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Jan. 24

Stiff challenge awaits Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in UP East when she returns from the USA in the first week of February to take charge of her first formal political assignment. She along with her family members, has gone there for a medical check up of a family member three weeks ago, sources say. Her entry in UP East is not a cake-walk but like a greenhorn in the Lion's den. She has been given the charge of those 33 Lok Sabha seats where the Congress had drawn a big Zero in 2014 parliamentary polls. If anyone thought that Priyanka Gandhi has been rewarded by her brother Rahul or it is a bed of roses for her or a big favour, he is sadly mistaken. Its a deft, crafty political move where the Gandhi scion knew he will have to fight it all alone now. After all, party stalwarts Ghulam Nabi Azad included, failed during the past three decades to revive the Congress in UP. Left high and dry by the SP-BSP with only two seats (Amethi & Rae Bareli), Rahul could find only her sister for UP East and and trusted colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia for UP West. The UP West includes regions like Bundelkhand, Ruhelkhand and western part accounting for 30 odd-Lok Sabha seats. It must be borne in mind that when the Congress won 21 Lok Sabha seats in UP in 2009, 15 came from Eastern part while six from other regions. The Congress had a vote share of 10% in UP East compared to 4.90% in UP West. It may also be worthwhile to mention that it contested 67 seats out of 80 in 2014.

But surely, 2019 is not 2009 and Priyanka and Scindia would have to fight for every vote in their respective battle ground. Congress insiders say that the Congress would not contest all the 80 seats as was declared by Ghulam Nabi Azad. In fact, one of the reasons for him being shifted to the small state of Haryana was his suo-moto declaration of taking on SP-BSP too. Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that seats and candidates be selected with the objective to defeat the BJP and improve party's own tally. It is also clearly emerging that the Congress will focus on 25 Lok Sabha seats where it will put up strong candidates.

It had a formidable presence in nine Lok Sabha constituencies and strong in another five besides winning two seats in 2014. Therefore, it had a reasonable case of getting 10 Lok Sabha in the bargain with the SP-BSP. Since it couldn't happen, it will now focus on

Barabanki (2nd), Kushinagar (2nd), Mirzapur (3rd), Pratapgarh (3rd) and Varanasi (3rd). Of course, in Varanasi, there is already a talk of putting up a joint Opposition candidate in Shatrughan Sinha. Similarly, the Congress was second in Saharanpur, Ghaziabad (Raj Babbar contested), Lucknow (Rita Bahuguna Joshi joined BJP after being defeated), Kanpur (Sriprakash Jaiswal) and Kheri constituencies. It was pushed to third position in Rampur, Unnao, Farrukhabad (Salman Khurshid). With the young Rahul team taking over UP, the Congress workers will surely be enthused and galvanized. But it is certainly not a red carpet that awaits Priyanka and Scindia. Its a long, hard battle ground.

ends 

Fly on the Wall : The “hug” was no fluke, Rahul scripted it

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

The “hug” was no fluke, Rahul scripted it

Ever since Rahul Gandhi took over as Congress president, he is learning the ropes, rather fast. If he took the party and political observers completely by surprise by dropping big guns from the Congress Working Committee last week, he also sent out a clear signal that generational shift has come here to stay. Then came his “hug and wink” storm in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the No-Confidence motion. The debate on the No-Confidence Motion has been relegated into the background while “Hug & wink” continues to make columnists burning their mid-night oil. To top it all, Rahul Gandhi himself is sending out contradictory signals over the “hug & wink” events. He told NDTV the same day that the 'Hug” was a spontaneous decision as he had sat down after finishing his speech and later got up and moved over to Modi. The Wink was also impromptu. But when he met women journalists on Tuesday over high-tea at the India International Center (IIC), he told them that he was thinking about it for the past some time. Rahul didn't disclose further. But sources close to him said that Rahul Gandhi gave considerable thought to his “hug” plan. These sources also say that the inner core group of the party comprising of Sonia-Rahul & Priyanka did discuss the consequences of such an initiative. Sonia Gandhi was slightly worried that it may not be parliamentary protocol. But Priyanka Gandhi said Modi has broken every parliamentary protocol by not allowing a no-confidence motion (NCM) during the Budget session. The NCM is Opposition's birth right. But even that was over-ruled. Therefore, there is nothing wrong in the hug. Thus Rahul's thinking was converted into action on Friday. In fact, Rahul Gandhi's speech was so good that he was overwhelmed and sat down. Suddenly he realised that he had forgotten the planned “hug”. He got up again to the surprise of the Speaker and others and started speaking for less than a minute. Instead of taking his seat, he moved over Modi, hugged him and gave the PM his first shock. The headlines next day was the rare Hug and not the motion.

Rahul’s PM card

Ever since “sources” in the Congress Working Committee said to the media after the mega event that Rahul Gandhi would be party’s prime ministerial face, all hell broke. Until the CWC, Rahul Gandhi was sending clear signals that his aim for 2019 is to defeat Modi and not become PM himself. It was almost year and a half ago when he said in an informal chat with the a select group of journalists, myself included, that he is willing to wait until 2024 or beyond, but Modi must go in 2019. The sourced report did the damage as Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar etc became unhappy. This was also contrary to what Rahul Gandhi had discussed with Sharad Pawar during his three long interactions. But he undid the damage  on Tuesday when he told women journalists that anyone, Mamata or Maya, could be PM. The Congress will support any "non-RSS-backed Prime Minister" in 2019  Rahul said and added the priority was to defeat the BJP and end the climate of fear that has entered "our homes". Asked if the Congress was open to a woman Prime Minister, he said that anyone not backed by the RSS was acceptable. With Congress’ U-turn on the PM’s issue, the hearts of contenders are gladdened.

Mamata wooing Congress for tie-up

It is now clearly emerging that Congress will enter into some-sort of alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the TMC in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. While the CPM general secretary, Sitaram Yechury was keen to tie up with the Congress in West Bengal, things are not working out. One of the reasons is that Congress and the Left are arch rivals in Kerala. Congress strategists have also advised Rahul Gandhi that the Left parties, in any case, will support any combination of like-minded parties from outside. Therefore, let the Left parties go alone in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. It has some claim over 3-4 seats in other states which may be considered sympathetically later. But the Congress should go with Mamata Banerjee during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress has a legitimate claim over 7-8 seats in West Bengal out of 42 seats. But the TMC is willing to concede 5-6 seats with the argument that the strike rate of this combination will be very high. The TMC-Congress can combine is capable of winning 39 Lok Sabha seats as most of the cadre of the Left parties has either the BJP or the TMC. The TMC had won 34 and the Congress 2 Lok Sabha seats during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and both had contested separately. The BJP is targeting to win 21 seats in West Bengal on the back of anti-incumbency of Mamata, cow vigilantism, Hindu sentiments and Modi wave. Mamata is keen to join hands with the Congress too hoping to overcome this anti-incumbency and emerge as Consensus Prime Ministerial candidate.

The UP Seat-sharing formula

The SP-BSP have evolved a seat-sharing formula in UP and conveyed the same Congress & RLD. The formula is that  whosoever won or came second in the state during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, will get the those seats. As per this formula, the Congress can get 7seats while the RLD of Ajit Singh can stake a claim on two seats. The remaining seats will go to the SP-BSP. Now the young leadership surrounding Rahul Gandhi comprising of RPN Singh, Jitin Prasad and others want the party to be realistic and settle for 10 seats. On Tuesday, BSP leader Mayawati said she would join the Opposition alliance only if it gets a "respectable number of seats" to contest in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan elections and also in the Lok Sabha. Obviously, the BSP wants pie in other states before conceding even 10 seats to Congress. Hence, Rahul’s PM card.

Jayant Advani to contest from Gandhinagar ?

Jayant Advani, the only son of veteran BJP leader L K Advani had a long meeting with the Prime Minister last month. It so happened that when he was in his factory in NOIDA, his mobile rang and the PM was on the line. Jayant Advani met the PM and later Modi called on L K Advani along with party chief Amit Shah. The purpose of the visit was to understand if L K Advani would like to contest again in 2019 from his traditional Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat or make room for someone of his choice. The BJP leadership is keen to explore all these contentious seats and in the process of deciding whether seniors above 75 years of age be repeated or their kith and kin be accommodated. While Modi is reported to have kept quiet, Amit Shah broached the subject if the octogenarian leader would like to contest. Advani heard them but reported to have said nothing.

Why Priyanka Gandhi is out of action ?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Lokmat News Network

New Delhi, Feb 23:

Priyanka Gandhi who was considered as the prime architect of the Congress-SP alliance in UP and billed as a star campaigner, is suddenly out of action.

Barring the lone poll rally appearance last week in the family bastion of Rae Bareli, Priyanka Gandhi’s No-Show has set tongues wagging. The party workers and candidates in these two Lok Sabha constituencies and neighbouring areas were desperately looking for Priyanka Gandhi. But she was no where around.

Highly placed sources in the Gandhi family say that the reasons for Priyanka Gandhi’s absence from the poll scene are personal. While Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been out of action due to medical advice, Priyanka Gandhi has been forced to stay back in the Capital due to serious injury in the left eye of her son Rehan.

Presently admitted at Capital’s prestigious Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Rehan’s eye ailment has been a cause of serious worry for the entire family and virtually incapacitated her movement.

While the family sources confirmed the injury to Rehan’s eye when it was hit by a cricket ball. It transpires that Rehan was first taken to AIIMS and then to Hyderabad and now admitted at the Ganga Ram hospital.