Pre-Truth — snappy, witty and significant snippets from the world of politics and government.
No home delivery of liquor, clarifies Maharashtra CM
Maharashtra Excise Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule left his chief minister red-faced
when he spoke about the state considering a policy to allow online orders and home delivery of liquor. The very next day, an embarrassed Devendra Fadnavis issued a statement saying there was no such plan and online sale or home delivery of liquor was out of the question. Meanwhile, the opposition parties as well as BJP ally Shiv Sena were seen all over the media slamming the government for such a proposal. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray also said there should be home delivery of relief aid to farmers instead.
Grapevine has it that the controversy was discussed in the state cabinet meeting Tuesday and Bawankule denied making any such statement to the media. There was, however, already a proposal before the minister from a company, asking for a change in norms to allow online sale/home delivery of liquor. Bawankule, say party insiders, may have tried shooting an arrow in the dark to see how far it goes. The minister had apparently even discreetly enquired with some officials to see if such a provision was possible.
Also read: This former BJP leader has got more Facebook views than PM Narendra Modi
Why BJP leaders flocked to Dehradun last weekend
The past weekend was a busy one for some key BJP leaders and their families. However, what kept them occupied wasn’t their political responsibilities, but family duties. It was the annual Founders’ Day of Doon School and some BJP netas, in some cases their families, were in Dehradun to be with their sons. While Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were present, it was the family members of Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Lok Sabha MP Dushyant Singh who descended in the Uttarakhand capital over the weekend. What struck many was how the composition of politicians, whose wards study in the elite boarding school, is slowly changing — from the Congress to now the BJP.
Ram Madhav’s ‘glasnost’ remark irks RSS leaders
BJP leader Ram Madhav called Mohan Bhagwat’s lecture series in Vigyan Bhavan last month the ‘Glasnost moment for the Sangh’. But when the media picked it up and began using the word ‘glasnost’ in their piece to cameras or backstories, they started getting angry calls from the RSS saying the usage was absurd. “Glasnost was the opening up of a closed society but the RSS has always been open,” they tell reporters. The last thing you expect the revered RSS members to fight over is a milestone in Soviet Communism.
Meanwhile, the battle continues in the op-ed universe as well. First, Rakesh Sinha wrote an editorial, and now it is Manmohan Vaidya in The Indian Express Wednesday saying RSS’ “openness of thought is routine” and words such as Glasnost don’t have relevance.
Not everyone in JD(U) is happy with Prashant Kishor’s entry
As former poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s foray into active politics got further strengthened with his elevation as JD(U)’s vice-president, a Facebook page called ‘Team PK’ emerged. Created on 9 October, the page is now aggressively pushing out sponsored posts — for which you pay Facebook — calling people to join the page and be part of Kishor’s team.
One post says it is a golden opportunity for the youth to join Bihar politics by being part of Team PK. Yet another post shares a story about how people from his village are happy about his entry into politics. However, it is one particular post, also sponsored, that has riled many in the JD(U). Announcing Kishor as JD(U) vice-president, this post shares a news story about his appointment, with “Nitish ke baad PK” (After Nitish, it’s PK) written on the side.
Also read: Karnataka ‘super CM’ transfers 700 officers in 24 hours
Is BJP in two minds over inducting Jay Panda into party?
About five months after he quit the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) following differences with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Baijayant Jay Panda is keeping his cards close to his chest. There was intense speculation about him joining the BJP but there has been no development on this front. BJP leaders maintain that there has been no discussion on the Kendrapada MP’s induction into the party.
The former BJD lawmaker says he has his options open. While he has been approached by some parties, he is also looking at the option of floating his own political outfit. Grapevine has it that while he is keen on joining the BJP and the ruling party at the Centre is also inclined, the latter doesn’t want to upset Patnaik just yet. The BJP is likely to take a call on Panda’s entry closer to the Lok Sabha elections.
(Contributors: D.K. Singh, Ruhi Tewari and Manasi Phadke)
Good move