Rajasthan has given a new direction to party politics in the Congress. Many in the party had unfulfilled desires but nobody paid heed to them. Now, they are all giddy. One such leader is learnt to have told his friends that he too would have to announce something like a fast, only then would he be heard by the high command. Among those present was a state in-charge with a nominal support base who found the idea of agitation to be useful. But a general secretary sitting in the group promptly asked the state in-charge to restrict the idea to his home state. What he didn’t say was that nobody would care about such a strike anywhere else. That was enough to leave the in-charge shocked.
Dual high command
In a BJP-ruled coastal state, the chief minister is so caught between the high command at his home and the one in his party that his chair is now under threat. He is doing all the hard work on the state’s development but political chatter has picked up that his wife is too involved in governance. It’s also been said that the CM was called to New Delhi to be reminded of Na Khaunga, Na Khane Dunga, BJP’s anti-corruption slogan.
Karnataka’s Star War
The most interesting contest in the Karnataka election campaign is likely to be between BJP’s star campaigners. Anant Hegde is a local leader. He is such a firebrand that his desire to be a central minister has been burned to ashes. Now he has again become active in the election campaign, in the same firebrand style. His competition is with Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath. Karnataka has many followers of the Nath sect and Bulldozer Baba’s followers are no less.
Votes in Karnataka, results in Bihar
Home Minister Amit Shah may visit Bihar for a day amid the Karnataka election campaign. It could be by the end of April or the first week of May. But why would Shah tour Bihar when there is an election going on in Karnataka? Some are saying that the results in Bihar may start coming in even before voting starts in Karnataka.
Also read: Charcha without chai—when Amit Shah didn’t let anyone have refreshments during a meeting
The turncoat season
The emergence of turncoats during elections is an old democratic tradition. In the last few years, many have joined the BJP in the polling season. But this time in the run up to Karnataka assembly elections, many have left the party. To save face, BJP is recruiting more and more people from other south Indian states. There is a joke doing the rounds that it may not be so in Karnataka but BJP’s wave is all over the neighbouring states.
Women of Lucknow
Municipal body elections have been announced in Uttar Pradesh. Out of 17 posts for which polls will be held, Lucknow is the most important one as a woman is to be elected as the mayor. And the competition is astonishing. Many prominent leaders are willing to field a woman, either their wife or anyone from the family. Wives of former and current deputy chief minister, former central minister of state, wife or daughter-in-law of late Akhilesh Das, wife of current MLA, mayor’s daughter-in-law and late Mulayam Singh Yadav’s daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav is also named. The city is the parliamentary constituency of Union Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh. BJP is finding it difficult to decide on a candidate. Samajwadi Party is also dealing with the same issue. The wife and daughter-in-law affair is causing problems. And yes, no names of the leaders’ daughters have been revealed yet.
Passion for power
Retired or about-to-retire bureaucrats’ fascination with power is at its peak. In Uttar Pradesh, the bureaucrats are seeking bigger and more powerful posts after retirement. Usually, retired officers become the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) or advisor to the chief minister. But now, a recently retired IPS wants a minister’s chair along with the post of a security advisor. The word is out that he wants to stay involved in the intelligence department, which is only possible in the rank of minister. So far, three retired IAS officers have become advisors and OSD to the UP CM. And a former IAS MLC who got voluntary retirement from the Gujarat cadre is already a cabinet minister in the state. By the way, the situation is the same everywhere else.
Quit your job, become a boss
A senior Income Tax officer is currently part of the government machinery. But how long would that be the case is hard to tell. He has a strong family background with the caste factor also in his favour. Plans are being devised to push him into politics. A political party is considering making him quit his job and make him a candidate in the upcoming assembly elections in Rajasthan.
Bharat Agrawal is Executive Director, Dainik Bhaskar Group, and a columnist.
By special arrangement with Dainik Bhaskar, edited by Ratan Priya.