Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi had stayed away from the BJP for a long time. But now that he is once again with the party, he is trying hard to topple the Hemant Soren-led government in Jharkhand with the hope that he might once again become the chief minister. This was indirectly made public by Home Minister Amit Shah. At a rally in Chaibasa, Jharkhand, Shah said that Marandi wanted him to topple Soren’s government, which is embroiled in an alleged lease mining scam. But Shah disappointed Marandi by saying that in a democracy, it is only the people who can cause a government’s fall.
Amit Shah’s role to play
The home minister’s big statement at the Chaibasa rally is being minutely deciphered within the party ranks. Examples of states such as Goa, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra were cited. According to sources, these whispers reached Amit Shah who cleared the confusion, with a smile on his face. It might not be his job to take down state governments but as a party worker, it is his first and foremost responsibility to form BJP governments wherever possible. That is all he has ‘helped’ with.
Waiting for the Sun, hoping for good news
BJP leaders in South India are eagerly waiting for Makar Sankranti. While efforts are being made in Karnataka to avoid the wrath of Raahu Kalam, Telangana is waiting for Pongal to bring some good news. The Karnataka government as well as its cabinet are almost certainly going to go through a reshuffle. Many are expected to be dropped in the process. Meanwhile, Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar is eyeing a place in the Union Cabinet. Now, who gets what and who loses what is all part and parcel of politics.
Yatra permission
Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is bound to make an impact on Congress leaders. Akhilesh Prasad Singh, the newly appointed state president of Congress in Bihar, will take out a yatra from Banka to Bodh Gaya. In West Bengal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has already started his yatra, and Assam’s Bhupen Bora has completed his. Now the question being raised is why it took Bihar so long to start its yatra. The response is: Bihar has a coalition government so it needed the permission of allies.
Caste census—Masterstroke or personal goal
The caste census has begun in Bihar. And supporters of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are considering it a masterstroke. BJP members are also not able to protest because they had already extended support for this move in the assembly. So, what to do now? The BJP leaders from the state are now saying that once the caste census is complete, Nitish Kumar will get to know that his caste has only 2 per cent representation in the state. And then he will have to answer why he kept the state away from a Chief Minister who belongs to a caste with double-digit representation.
Also read: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘MP sweep’ comment was to boost morale but Congress leaders are under pressure
Haryana Congress’ father-son duo
During the Haryana leg of Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra, only the swagger of Deepender Singh Hooda and his son was on display. The rest of the Congress leaders — men, women, general secretaries and state-in-charges — also walked the yatra but that is all they did. Now, All India Congress Committee officials are wondering if this was only to showcase the Hooda father-son duo or if there is more to it. Even the crowd gathered at the Panipat rally was raising slogans in their name. Pointing towards Hooda, one prominent leader said that Haryana’s youth, farmers and wrestlers were all seen together at the Bharat Jodo Yatra. When asked why, he said that the Hooda family is one of farmers and Deepender Singh Hooda is young. The political wrestler here is someone you can figure out yourself.
By special arrangement with Dainik Bhaskar. Translated by Ram Lal Khanna and edited by Ratan Priya from the original in Hindi.