By Nora Chopra
WHEN VIRBHADRA MET ADANI
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh’s recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s favourite industry boy Gautam Adani in Delhi has raised many an eyebrow. The information was given by former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal’s youngest son Arun Singh Thakur on Facebook. He said the Congress leadership, especially vice-president Rahul Gandhi, had been “cursing” the businessman for past several years and told Virbhadra that nobody could “save” him now. The CBI and Income Tax department are probing a disproportionate assets case against Virbhadra. A few days later, the Himachal cabinet refunded Rs 280 crore upfront premium to Adani Power Limited for the power project that had been awarded to another company.
RAHUL PICKS GHULAM NABI OVER JANARDHAN
The Congress Working Committee that met in Delhi on Tuesday may have deferred the date of Rahul Gandhi’s coronation to god knows when. But Rahul continues to be the most powerful leader in the Congress, more powerful than even his mother. Sonia will only be the titular head of the party, while Rahul will be the remote control. The first and most visible impact of the CWC and Rahul’s powers were evident on the very first day. Going against the traditional way of the CWC briefing, which is generally conducted by the general secretary of the organisation, Rahul jazzed up the whole affair. Dwivedi, who is the general secretary in-charge of the CWC, and who had been doing the briefings of the CWC was conspicuous by his absence. Instead, it was Ghulam Nabi Azad who came to brief. Dwivedi has been sidelined for quite sometime now, particularly when he spoke against the party line on Dalit reservation. He should thank Sonia Gandhi for allowing him to continue as general secretary, but the party has gradually ceased all his powers. It is Rahul Gandhi and his coterie who want him out. He was not even active during the Parliament protests led by Rahul as he refuses to accept Rahul as his leader. Rahul demonstrated his power at the first opportunity he got. It was Azad who came to brief.
MEET LALIT MODI’S DELHI MAN
What is the Samajwadi Party MP Naresh Agarwal’s connection with the now infamous Lalit Modi and his family and relatives? If anyone happens to visit Naresh Agarwal’s house, most often one would spot two persons hanging around. One is Sunil Gupta – the liaison man of Lalit Modi and his uncle Umesh Modi; and the other is Taj Hasan, the special commissioner of police in the economic wing of the police station at Mandir Marg. The question being asked is: why are these two men permanent fixtures in NareshAgarwal’s house? The buzz in the power circles is that Naresh Agarwal is the man who looks after the interests of Lalit Modi and his near and dear ones in the capital and it is through this special CP Taj Hasan that Agarwal manages things of economic offence for the Modi family. Meanwhile, Naresh Agarwal has admitted that he knows Sunil Gupta for the last 20 years. But has declined that he has anything to do with Taj Hasan. Though visitors to his Tughlaq Lane residence have seen the special CP at his house a number of times, he denies everything.
RAHUL SCANS UTTAR PRADESH FOR 2017 POLLS
Although it is clear that Rahul’s ascendancy has been put on hold, the race for the Uttar Pradesh PCC is hotting up. The latest to join the race is the erstwhile UPA minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal. Jaiswal met the Congress vice president early this week along with other UP leaders. At the meeting, he tried to pitch in by putting his case strongly. He gave explanations to negate the charges against him. The charges against him are that he was against Rahul and got posters put up in Kanpur, his hometown, that said:”Rahul hatao Priyanka lao.” But in his meeting with Rahul, he said he had no knowledge about the people who had put up these posters. Meanwhile, he too, like the present PCC chief Nirmal Khatri, belongs to the caste, which has never voted for the Congress. Jaiswals are of vaish community and the banias in UP are traditionally the RSS BJP supporters. They are basically anti-Congress. Pradeep Mathur, the other strong contender for the post, was heard telling Rahul the Congress could win the elections in UP. He even gave a few points. Since Mulayam is losing in UP and Narendra Modi has lost his magic, the voters are now looking at the Congress and if it goes alone in the state it can easily sweep the elections. All that Rahul should do is to tour the entire state and should make the beginning from Mathura, his hometown.
ASSAM CM, SPEAKER LOCK HORNS
The chief minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi is nervous. After the split in Assam, a tussle of sorts has broken out between CM Gogoi and the speaker Pramud Gogoi over the issue of disqualification. While the speaker is adamant that those MLAs who were busy in the anti party activities and were supporting Hemanta Biswa Sarma should be disqualified, the chief minister Tarun Gogoi is apprehensive. When Rahul Gandhi asked him why the government is not moving to disqualify Sarma’s supporting MLAs and those who owe allegiance to him, Gogoi told him that the disqualification would bring in by-elections and if the party loses then it would not send the right signals. The speaker is however adamant on disqualification. Out of the total 75 Congress MLAs, four have been suspended and six have been served show-cause notice.
NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN
Prithviraj Chavan, the former Congress chief minister of Maharashtra, had his gaddi blown away by the saffron storm. Most Congressmen, however, were delighted by the turn of events. Chavan was not exactly popular with the state leaders. His exit, it was hoped, would breathe life into the party. But thanks to the antics of Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, the leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, the Congress remains a divided house in the state. Vikhe-Patil created a flutter of sorts when he hosted a reception for the Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis. Disgruntled Congressmen have also alleged that they have often heard Vikhe-Patil requesting the CM for a private chat in his chamber. Vikhe-Patil’s smooth ties with the CM have left many Congressmen red in the face. There are reports that 10 Janpath has also been approached to sort out the problem. Clearly, Chavan’s replacement is far from an ideal choice. The party’s hunt for an able leader continues in Maharashtra. (IPA)