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.