These days, VVIPs are keeping a low profile and without much hesitation. While flying back to Delhi from Chhattisgarh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stood in the middle of the queue at the airport and sat on a middle seat on the plane. Although his party colleague Shashi Tharoor, who was on the same flight, did not see him, others looked at him with curiosity. Gandhi also had conversations with some passengers. In the evening, BJP’s organisation secretary B.L. Santosh also travelled from Raipur to New Delhi as an ordinary passenger and quietly sat in the last row of the plane. Despite the presence of a helper, he carried his luggage.
Blame the mic
During his recent visit to Chhattisgarh, Home Minister Amit Shah got angry with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Why? Sources say that Shah, who was in the state to release BJP’s aarop patra (govt’s report card) against Baghel government, was dissatisfied with the arrangements. And possibly that is why he was annoyed by the chief minister. Apparently, at the BJP event, neither the microphone was working properly, nor was the lighting right. According to sources, Shah had to wait in his car outside the venue as arrangements weren’t done yet.
Recipe sharing
Rahul Gandhi may have learnt Champaran mutton recipe from former Bihar CM Lalu Yadav but it is being said that no one in the INDIA alliance is willing to share the political biryani formula with each other. Who knows how hungry someone might get.
Another common point
Lalu Yadav’s preference for fish and sattu (protein-rich flour) was widely known. Also known in the circles was his habit of making fellow politicians and bureaucrats crush khaini (tobacco). But the RJD leader now loves Thai food. He revealed this in the video he did with Rahul Gandhi. People are joking that Thai food could be the foundation of alliance unity.
Special session
The government has called a special 5-day session of Parliament later this month. And there is a lot of speculation about it. BJP workers are also indulging in guesswork. Some are hoping for early Lok Sabha elections, while others are saying that the special session has been called to change the Constitution. Some even believe that the government is going to declare Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a Union Territory. A BJP general secretary has started making a list of these theories. In just three days, the list already has 60 entries.
Big leaders’ pain
In the Mumbai meeting of the INDIA Alliance, each party submitted names of their representatives for various committees. Names of Congress members are the subject of major discussions. Those who aren’t named in the list see themselves as “big crowd-pullers”. A few general secretaries were heard questioning if the INDIA alliance has no space for them. The names that Congress has submitted include many newcomers. Some of them have no connection to politics at all.
Hijacking alliance
During the meeting, some prominent leaders of an ally party from Maharashtra got quite upset with the Congress. They feel that Congress brings along too many people to any meeting without an invitation, and these people have nothing to do with the meetings’ agenda. The ally’s leaders even alleged that Congress tries to hijack meetings, which is not good for the alliance. A leader from Jammu and Kashmir had agreed with this point. What will happen next?
Also read: UP Congress is experimenting with a new strategy—focus on upper caste votes
Mamata is upset
Part of the INDIA Alliance, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is currently acting like a distant relative. She has expressed her displeasure over what happened in Mumbai. She’s not happy with the appointment of coordinators without consultation and the issues raised during the press conference. Additionally, the long speeches made by the Communists during the meeting have annoyed her. Then there is the question about the national alliance with Communist Party of India (Marxist). Can her party afford a similar partnership in West Bengal?
Bharat Agrawal is Executive Director, Dainik Bhaskar Group, and a columnist.
By special arrangement with Dainik Bhaskar.