Political delicacies
By Nora Chopra
With talks gaining ground in the Congress that Manmohan Singh will not be the Prime Minister in the next budget session, the question being asked around is whether Rahul should take over before 2014 or wait till 2014. The Congress is, evidently, divided on the issue. The majority in the party want Rahul to take over immediately as, according to them, he alone can save the party from decimating. However, the contrarian view is that Rahul is not politically ripe yet to take over the reins of the party, especially, when the atmosphere is so surcharged. According to those holding this view, if Rahul takes over the Congress at this juncture and fails to lead the party to success in 2014, then the credibility of the whole Gandhi family would be torn asunder. His failure in 2014 can lead to the disintegration of the party; so it is better that he readies himself to take over in 2014: said a senior party leader on promise of anonymity.
BJP HOUNDING CHIDAMBARAM FOR GOING AFTER HINDU TERROR
What is still shielding Chidambaram, who, for one, has no reasons for continuing in power? If Congress circles are to be believed, then there are only two factors that are contributing to saving him from the massive wrath and public outcry against the disgraced Home Minister. One is the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who believes that if he succumbs to the opposition pressure and sacks Chidambaram, he too will have to follow suit. Chidambaram, soon after the note story broke out, had chatted with the PM (who was in New York) on telephone about a suitable time for his possible resignation. But, during the same conversation, Chidambaram is said to have told Manmohan Singh that if he goes, the latter will be the next target and might be forced to resign. The other factor contributing to his longevity in office is the BJP itself. Though a large section in the Congress wants him to go, the party top brass is reluctant to take action by buckling under BJP’s pressure. The thinking in the party is that the real reason behind the BJP’s demand for PC’s resignation is not his complicity in the 2G scam, but the saffron party is targeting him because he showed the temerity to go after and expose Hindu terror. It is for this reason the party is reluctant to give in to the opposition’s demand. Finally, there is also the American factor. The Americans, too, are said to be supporting PC, though they no longer are backing the Congress. The view in the diplomatic circles is that now, when the nuclear deal is signed, they do not need Manmohan Singh, who has failed to restrain Pranab Mukherjee’s role of a speed-breaker in the Indian economy. Meanwhile, the thinking in the party is that despite all this, Chidambaram will have to go sooner or later. Several names are already making rounds as his successor. The name of Ghulam Nabi Azad has emerged as the front runner. The other names are of AK Antony, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Kapil Sibal. While Azad is the choice of both Sonia Gandhi as well as the PM, he is slightly reluctant because of his Kashmiri antecedents. Kapil is said to be extremely keen to take over. He is already trying for the post.
KAPIL SIBAL’S VANISHING ACT
The question being asked in political circles happens to be regarding the whereabouts of the HRD Minister and Chandni Chowk MP Kapil Sibal, who once posed as Prime Minister’s points man, and who seems to have suddenly disappeared from public visibility radar. The people and the media are demanding to know why he has gone underground. The flamboyant minister, who was a regular on TV defending the government, after being put out of action in the aftermath of the Anna Hazare Ramlila ground act, has closed the gates of his house for one and all. For the last one month, he has stopped meeting everyone. Even media persons’ entry has been banned. The people of his constituency are running from pillar to post, but they are not allowed audience – particularly after the referendum in his constituency. The buzz in his constituency is that he is unlikely to contest from Chandni Chowk in 2014.
PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN’S DAYS AS CM NUMBERED
Even when he has yet to complete one year as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, speculation is rife that Prithviraj Chavan may soon be replaced with a more competent CM. Reports are pouring in with the Congress President and other leaders that he is unable to run the government and it is his deputy Ajit Pawar who is the de facto CM. Resentment is brewing within the state leaders against Chavan’s incapability of taking any decision, thus benefiting the NCP, which is believed to be on a fast rise at the cost of Congress. Much would depend on the Congress’ result in the local body elections, to be held in a few months beginning in November. So upset is Sonia Gandhi with his performance that when he flew over this week end to meet her, he was denied the time. On the other hand, both his predecessors, Ashok Chavan and Vilas Rao Deshmukh, were given the audience by Sonia. Sonia is said to be extremely pleased with Deshmukh, who succeeded in reining in Anna Hazare. Prithviraj has been conveyed that his survival would depend on the results of the Municipal Corporation, Nagar Palika and Zila Panchayat elections.
NIC GLITCHES COST THE PIB LAKHS
When the UPA-II came to power in 2009 and Ambika Soni became the Information and Broadcasting minister, she decided to revamp the PIB website. The PIB then struck a deal with National Informatic Centre (NIC) on the condition that they would do live web telecast of important press conferences. But recently the PIB has discovered that the NIC was not telecasting the press conferences. When contacted it was found out that there were some technical hitches. But when after repeated requests the NIC failed to solve the problem the PIB last month severed its ties with the NIC but only after losing lakhs of rupees.
MODI UPSETS BJP TOP BRASS
The BJP Leaders are totally stumped by Modi’s emergence on the national scene. So upset are the BJP top leaders that even RSS bosses are sparing no opportunity to take a dig at Narendra Modi. A sarcastic SMS is making rounds in the BJP circles which says, ‘MODI NAAMAA: Asslam walekum. Musharaf se Mohabbat Karo , Gilani ko Gale Lagao , Sushma ko hatao, mujhe PM banao, phir topi pehnao, yeh paigham sare desh mein phailao. (IPA)