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Rally -Ridden And VIP-Driven The fortnight that went by left the non-political majority of Delhi citizens miserable and baffled. The two prime causes were the rally rush and VIP movement denying them the use of vital necessities like roads for hours on many days. The VIP movement left them miserable and the rallies left them wondering about the games politicians play. Sonia Gandhi, Ram Vilas Paswan and Mayawati held their rallies on the strength and muscle power of their cadres. But the BJP too had its own rally to mark the completion of five years of its central rule. To help the rally manager, BJP strongman in Delhi, Madan Lal Khurana, sudden help come from a neighbouring State. Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala generously provided muscle and material support. But why was he so generous? The secret was out three days after the Delhi rally when the Haryana BJP leaders came in full force to complain against Chautala and submit a petition demanding his removal on various counts of high-handendess. Khurana came to his defence. Was Chautala's generosity at the rally a pre-emptive strike? | |
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The Indore Media War The rumour mill has it that when BJP President Venkaiah Naidu give strict instructions to the strongwoman of the BJP, Sumitra Mahajan, to deal with the media strictly according to discipline, he did not realise the responsibility it would place on her. After some time, she came to him in tears and all urgency with the news that the Congress Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, the "Diggi Raja" had ordered a royal welcome and all facilities for the journalists descending on Indore to keep them happy and busy on their own. The BJP boss was said to have relented and relaxed instructions to allow the "Hathi Ghora Palaki" treatment to journalists from the BJP too. There were finally no winners and no losers in the media war. | |
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Mahajan's bag has no money "Sorry Boss, there is no Dal Daliya in my bag." That was said to be the polite and hunble explanation given by the former parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan to the BJP President Venkiah Naidu whe he distributed tasks and political fiefs to various new political bosses of his chief. When all of them gratefully accepted their new empires, they asked their boss, "O Master, where would the money for carrying out our important duties come? The BJP President, who had not given such a responsibility to Pramod Mahajan till then, turned around and said, "Of course Mahajan Ji shall provide for Dal Deliya". Mahajan, who had been for years the principal fund raiser for the party and had financed its organisation and growth from the days when it was just a "two-member party" in Parliament, said with folded hands, "Sir, that great responsibilty is discharged by the Party Treasurer and the person who is appointed the coordinator between the Government and the party. I just do not happen to be either of the two. "I am sorry, there is no Dal Daliya in my bag." Knowledgeable sources said that Mahajan was trying to protect himself from the bitter experiences he suffered as the party fund raiser. Instead of being grateful, many jealous Johns made him the victim of a slander campaign by branding him as a "Reliance" man, rather than calling him a reliable man. A man with sharp memory, Mahajan does not seem to have forgotten. | |
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Sonia Getting Her Battle Squad Ready The Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, is reported to be getting her political battle squads ready for confrontations to come in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra. Initially there were murmurs about possible changes in Punjab. R. K. Dhawan is said to be the choice to head the Delhi Pradesh Congress though he himself is in two minds about possible responsibilities. In U. P., former mayor of Allahabad, Rita Bahuguna, is reported to be the choice for Pradesh Congress presidentship replacing Aroon Kumar Munna and Jagdambika Prasad, one-day C. M. of U. P is being talked about to replace CLP leader Pramod Tiwari as leader in the U. P. Assembly. In Jharkhand, Subodh Kant Sahai is being mentioned as the new PCC chief and in Bihar the search is on to find a successor for PCC chief Shakeel Ahmed who had walked over to the Laloo camp. In Maharashtra, Murli Deora and Mukul Wasnik are said to be the choice for her team and in Kerala, Vyalar Ravi is said to be replaced by Ramesh Chennithala. The principle behind the revamping exercise is said to be to induct leaders with guts and muscle to lead the Congress in the State and particularly counter the political raid conducted by Mayawati and Laloo on the Congress. In Punjab, while Buta Singh is being brought into the AICC, the enemies of Ambika Soni are floating her name as the possible replacement of Captain Amarinder Singh as the Chief Minister with former Punjab Congress Chief Minister Rajender Kaur Bhattal waiting in the wings, hopefully eyeing the throne. How strong and mighty will the new Sonia brigade emerge, only time and will tell. | |
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The Women's Raj Is Coming The Parliament and political parties drag their feet in passing the law for women's empowerment and implementing the legalisation with honesty and determination, but they just cannot stem the womanly tide in politicians which can be seen coming. The Indian National Congress, the BJP and the BSP seem to have already demonstrated their woman power and have indicated that they would use the womanpower to topple sceptre and crown in many an Indian state. At the present moment Shiela Dikshit in Delhi, Mayawati in Lucknow, Rabri Devi in Patna and Jayalalitha in Chennai, represent the womanpower of four different political parties. More woman chief ministers are expected to head the state governments in the days to come. The BJP is said to have plumped for Vasundhara Raje as Rajasthan CM of the future, Uma Bharti as Madhya Pradesh future chief minister and possibly a woman to contest for the chief ministerial throne in Delhi also. Congress is believed to have decided to promote Mrs. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal in Punjab, Shiela Dikshit in Delhi and at least one more chief minister down south. BSP will continue its policy of promoting dalit woman as dalit leaders and West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and at least one of the North Eastern might see the rise of new female political stars. Happy days are coming ahead, women seem to be the theme song of new politics of India. |
