Will we see a new ‘record’ of political skills in December this year? If we do, it will most likely be in Gujarat. Chandrakant Raghunath Patil is Gujarat BJP’s state president. He creates a record every time he contests an election — by winning it. He has also been the coordinator of PM Narendra Modi’s electoral campaign in Varanasi. Curiously, now C.R. Patil has set the target of winning all 182 seats in the Gujarat assembly and has also presented his ‘strategy’ to the party’s central leadership. Many senior BJP leaders have expressed confidence in his claim because Patil has been winning the Lok Sabha seats he has contested from without any major campaign or large electoral gatherings.
The narrative bomb
CR Patil may have won elections without hectic campaigning, but the Aam Aadmi Party has to start its campaigning years in advance. Whether it’s Goa, Punjab, Gujarat, or Himachal Pradesh. And what does the AAP do when the election draws near? According to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, the AAP just spreads confusion and then maintains silence. Sources say that when Thakur uttered these words in a recent BJP meeting, an AAP leader was foretelling that the Himachal CM would soon be replaced before the election. BJP national president JP Nadda has since asserted that Thakur will not be replaced.
What’s in the caste
A former Union minister of BJP is upset because two Union ministers are ‘after him’. By this he means that he is being harassed through various means. The thing that piques the troubled ex-minister most is that now when he is no longer a minister, what is left there to take away from him for which he is being harassed? Sources say that this is entirely a caste-related issue. Both the trouble-making ministers belong to one caste, and the former minister, who is allegedly being harassed, belongs to another caste.
Want Hindi media, please
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s ambition to become the Prime Minister of India is no secret to anyone. These days he is taking the BJP head-on. Their tussle is so intense that it has even hit headlines in national media. But KCR is apparently not pleased with the coverage he is getting in Hindi newspapers. He wants Hindi newspapers to present an excellent image of him. In this regard, one person who speaks fluent Hindi has also been posted as media advisor in Delhi.
Media is OK, but no Hindi
Similarly, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin also wants more coverage and traction in Delhi media but not so much that his anti-Hindi image gets harmed, not even slightly.
Out-of-weather tourism
It is commonly known that migratory birds are an excellent indicator of the environment. But most migratory birds go by the weather. Whenever the Western world experiences harsh winter conditions, many of their top-notch leaders head to Delhi. The media used to tell numerous stories about their arrival and everyone used to visit the Taj Mahal. However, many of the top-ranked Western officials are making a beeline to India despite the scorching heat this year. These include several US under secretary of state for political affairs, US national security deputy adviser, European officials, UK foreign minister, Chinese foreign minister, Nepal prime minister, several ambassadors of European nations and a number of Sri Lankan politicians. How has India suddenly become so important? In fact, it was UP CM Adityanath who was talking about “cooling things down”. What’s there in Delhi?
Sonal Mansingh’s Bhajan recital
Sonal Mansingh is known for her excellent dancing talent. But this time around, in a function organised in the big lawns of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu’s Lutyens’ Delhi residence, MPs listened to her reciting bhajans. She sang Meera’s famous hymn “Pakhawaj”. The lyrics were — “Saawariya Mane Chakar Rakho Ji” (Oh Lord, Make me thou servant). While she was singing, her hands and fingers seemed to be automatically creating dance moves. The audience was spellbound. For the record, this function was organised as a farewell for the nominated members of Rajya Sabha, including Sonal herself, and all the retiring members of the Upper House.
Our super-talented MPs
In the same programme, BJP MP from West Bengal Roopa Ganguly sang one of Rabindranath Tagore’s songs. It was the second surprise for the audience. Most of the people in Delhi had absolutely no idea that Roopa Ganguly could sing Tagore’s songs so well and that too in such a classical way. TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen also sang one of the famous Tagore songs.
Bharat Agrawal is Executive Director, Dainik Bhaskar Group, and a columnist.
By special arrangement with Dainik Bhaskar and translated by Ram Lal Khanna from the original in Hindi.