Chhattisgarh CM’s father gets state guest treatment in Uttar Pradesh
On his visit to Uttar Pradesh last week, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s father was treated as state guest by the Yogi Adityanath government. He stayed at the state’s VIP guest house in Lucknow.
Grapevine has it that the CM’s father, Nand Kumar Baghel, also visited Rae Bareli, Jhansi and Pilibhit. Bhupesh Baghel is a staunch Congressman while Adityanath is a leading light of the BJP. But extending courtesies or hospitality to the family members of political or ideological rivals is not unusual in politics. Bitter political rivals who might be sparring in public domain often end up breaking bread in the evening.
Chhattisgarh CM’s office contacted UP’s CM office and arrangements were made, say informed officials in Raipur.
Baghel’s father recently visited several other states, including Maharashtra and Kerala in the last few weeks. The Chhattisgarh government confirmed the four-day visit of Nand Kumar Baghel to UP from 17-21 November, claiming it was his personal tour. “There was no official communication as to this between the two governments either. No one should see politics in his visit to UP,” CM Baghel’s political advisor Vinod Verma said.
“Even if the Uttar Pradesh government bestowed state guest status to him, it was the former’s decision. Chhattisgarh government has nothing to do with it,” he added.
Navneet Sehgal, additional chief secretary, information, UP government said he has no idea about the visit, adding Baghel was not an invitee of any government function, and it might have been his personal visit. In such cases, the CM offices of both the states coordinate with each other, added Sehgal.
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Karnataka CM’s political advisors ‘failing to keep pace’ with his son
If you want to be in the good books of Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, better impress his son and BJP vice-president B.Y. Vijayendra. So goes the chatter in the ruling party circles. Grapevine has it that Vijayendra was the reason for the recent exit of two of Yediyurappa’s advisors — M.B. Maramkal and Mahadeva Prakash.
Maramkal, a political advisor was sacked and soon after, media advisor Prakash tendered his resignation. It is being speculated that N.R. Santhosh, another political advisor and grandson of Yediyurappa’s sister, is also on his way out.
Santhosh has been working closely with Yediyurappa for the last decade. He rose to prominence for his perceived role in ‘Operation Lotus’ that caused the fall of the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) last year.
BJP insiders claim that Yediyurappa’s advisors fail to “keep pace” with Vijayendra’s “style of functioning”.
Also read: In BJP’s bypoll win in 2 Karnataka seats, a message from Yediyurappa to party bosses