By Rahil Nora Chopra
IT MAY BE NAJMA OR VENKAIAH FOR VICE-PRESIDENT
The real googly that Modi can throw is to have a Muslim Vice-president to replace Hamid Ansari. Manipur Governor Najma Heptullah fits the bill as she had even been considered for the post of President when she was in Congress. Sources claim Heptullah has been given an assurance about the Vice-president nomination. Now-a-days she is campaigning in Delhi and giving interviews to various channels on the issue of Triple Talaq and supporting Narendra Modi’s governance. It is believed that she also will have the support of the veteran BJP leaders like Advani. The other name under consideration is Venkaiah Naidu, who is believed to be a front runner.
MURMU AND MUNDA FRONT RUNNERS FOR NDA PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
With the ruling side apparently in a position to get its man, or woman, elected to the Rashtrapati Bhawan, all eyes are on the choice of the NDA candidate. Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu continues to be in contention. One factor in her favour is that she is a tribal woman from Odisha. Kariya Munda, another tribal leader from Jharkhand, is also in the reckoning. Munda is a former Deputy Speaker and was a minister in the Janata Party government in 1977 and also cabinet minister in the Vajpayee government. The BJP think tank is believed to be keen on his candidature as the move might turn out to be beneficial in the Gujarat and Orissa assembly elections. Another name apparently under consideration is Narendra Jadav, a Dalit with RSS background, who is currently writing a book on BR Ambedkar. One section of the BJP is reportedly pushing Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for the coveted post. Mahajan enjoys good relationship with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. But overall,Kariya Munda and Draupadi Murmu are believed to be the front runners although the names of Ram Naik, and Kalyan Singh are also being mentioned in the power corridors.
YOGI’S FREQUENT AYODHYA VISITS PART OF PRESSURE TACTICS
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to visit Ayodhya on 31st May when he is expected to meet a number of seers, including Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, who has been spearheading the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, as well as local BJP leaders. By visiting Ayodhya frequently, Yogi is keeping the temple issue in focus. The event is being keenly watched as he has himself been involved in the Ram temple movement for decades. After the 2017 state polls, the BJP leadership knows how a reservoir of Hindutva and development works best for the party. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s suggestion for a negotiated settlement to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, Modi in Delhi and Yogi in UP could mean a lot of pressure on the Muslim community for an out of court settlement.
GHULAM NABI, RAJ BABBAR FALL OUT OF FAVOUR WITH RAHUL, PRIYANKA
Ghulam Nabi Azad and Raj Babbar were conspicuously absent from the press conference organized by the Congress to highlight the failure of the Modi government to deal with the issues of agriculture, farmers and farm labourers on the occasion of its completing three years in office. The development comes amidst speculation that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are not happy with Ghulam Nabi Azad and Raj Babbar for the way they handled the UP assembly election in March this year. The UPCC leaders are seething with anger against Ghulam Nabi Azad and state party chief Raj Babbar for having misled Rahul Gandhi to join hands with the Samajwadi Party .
HARYANA MAY HAVE DEPUTY CM IN POST-PRESIDENTIAL POLL RESHUFFLE
A cabinet reshuffle in Haryana is expected after the President and Vice President elections in the wake of infighting and open resentment in the state BJP, the Jat agitation and the disappointment about the manner in which the chief minister is handling the state of affairs. Among the remedies being considered is a move to make Captain Abhimanyu as the deputy chief minister. According to sources, many BJP MPs and MLA have complained to the central leadership that under the chief ministership of Manohar Lal Khattar the party cannot win the assembly elections and 2019 Lok Sabha election, but Modi is not very keen to listen, reminding them that he had himself witnessed such resentment when he was chief minister of Gujarat, but later on all of them changed their attitude. The point being driven home was that he wants to give more time to Manohar Lal Khattar. On the other hand, Rao Inderjit singh is lobbying hard to become the chief minister with the support of 25 MLAs.
MADHYA PRAESH PCC CHIEF ASPIRANT, KAMAL NATH BRIEFS SONIA GANDHI
Congress general secretary Kamal Nath has met party president Sonia Gandhi amid speculations that he might be appointed as the Madhya Pradesh PCC chief ahead of the state assembly elections next year. The meeting lasted around half-an-hour and Kamal Nath is learnt to have discussed the latest political situation in Madhya Pradesh. Nath, a protégé of Sanjay Gandhi, is one of the few Congress leaders who have been winning elections and the Chhindwara MP now wants to take up the mantle in the saffron state. The general perception is that Kamal Nath would be a better choice. (IPA)