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Saheb’s Chaal Many people do not know how former Delhi Chief Minister Saheb Singh Verma managed to wangle a Cabinet berth, This time Verma took Communications and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan into confidence. Just hours before the reshuffle, Verma had a closed-door meeting at the 7 Sardarjung Road-based residence of Mahajan. Later, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister rushed straight to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. According to sources, Mahajan succeeded in convincing Vajpayee about the importance of allotting a cabinet berth to Verma, a Jat leader. Delhi is swamped by Punjabi Khatri leaders, Mahajan is understood to have told Vajpayee. If Vijay Malhotra is given the plum cabinet post, it means appeasing one section of the electorate at the expense of the others was the line adopted by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister. From Madan Lal Khurana down to Jagdish Mukhi, the leader of the oposition in the Delhi Assembly, all are Punjabi Khatris. The overwhelming presence of leaders from this community could not garner votes for the BJP in the municipal elections. This is believed to have been enough to 'persuade' the Prime Minister. That evening, to everyone’s surprise, Verma was found to be among those to be sworn in as cabinet ministers. Saheb Singh’s "chaal" proved effective and ultimately worked. | |
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Congress Politics For the first time in recent political history, the Congress Party appears to be playing a calculated game by handing over both the Pradesh Congress Committee presidentship and the Congress Legislative Party leadership to upper-caste Hindus. A month earlier, the party’s high command had made Pramod Tiwari, a Brahmin, the CLP leader. Now it has appointed Arun Kumar Munna, a Thakur, as PCC chief. In political circles, it is said that Munna has been appointed to counter the influence of the BJP’s newly-appointed State party chief, Vinay Katiyar, among the upper castes. Others maintain that Munna has been made PCC president to infuse spirit and dynamism among the rank-and-file of the party in the State, whatever that may mean. However, only time will tell whether Munna's appointment will help tilt the scales in favour of the Congress Party. | |
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H. L. Bajaj takes over as Chairman, CEA Harbans Lal Bajaj has taken over as Chairman of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). Earlier, he was Director (Commercial), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). At CEA, he succeeds V. V. R. K. Rao, who has retired. Before joining NTPC, Bajaj served with BHEL and HSEB in various capacities. Bajaj, holds an M.Sc. Engineering (Power Systems) degree and has over 34 years of experience in the field of power. At NTPC, as head of the Consultancy Wing, he executed projects in India, Dubai and Nepal. As Executive Director (WR), he steered the construction activities of Vindhyachal Project and synchronized the seventh unit of 500 mw, 11 months ahead of schedule, besides receiving ISO-9002 certification for all the projects under his charge. An eminent Technocrat, Bajaj played a leading role in hundred percent Rural Electrification of Haryana. Widely travelled person Bajaj has won laurels in the field of outstanding performance and excellence in Power Sector. | |
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Pariwarwad Former Communications Minister Sukh Ram has, a la Farooq Abdullah, made his son the head of the Himachal Vikas Party, the outfit he had launched in the late 90s. Sukh Ram resorted to this step following his conviction by a Delhi court in a multi-crore telecom scam. Though the practice of crowning sons or daughters as heirs is not new to India, what is surprising is the fact that this trend is spreading among the political class. Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, sensing the political atmosphere in the State which is going to the polls in September, placed the mantle of the leadership of the National Conference on his son, Omar Farooq. In the days to come, the wily Farooq may enter politics at the Centre, but no one knows what Sukh Ram is going to do. On the political radar of the county, however, he has added one more name in perpetuation of ‘pariwarwad’. | |
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Kalam’s hairstyle: Any takers? Presidential candidate A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is known for his ingenuity. His hair style too is something uncommon. But a few political leaders do not want Kalam to keep the same hair style after his election as the country’s 11th President. It is learnt that he has been advised to change his hair style. His response has been typical. He says if people are so concerned with his hair style he will have no other option but to get it patented! | |
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Guarding the 'past' In a poor country like ours, it is not expected that leaders should indulge in wasteful expenditure of taxpayers’ money. But what is shocking is their cynical view on the personal safety and security aspects. For this, however, no one else but former Internal Security Minister Arun Nehru is responsible. In the mid Nineties he drafted a law which allowed a prime minister to get SPG security cover even after he or she demits office. Former Prime Minister I. K. Gujral’s security is looked after by 167 SPG men. Besides, 25 cars have been earmarked so that he can move around safely. What about the pouting Narasimha Rao? The Government has provided him 162 SPG men and 24 cars, while his sons’ security is managed by 71 SPG men. For their movement, 25 cars have been put in place. And poor H. D. Deve Gowda! He enjoys 159 SPG men’s cover, while 24 cars have been given for the his minister’s movement. Not only that, his family has been provided with 68 SPG men and 24 cars. All this apart, it is common knowledge that the Government has to shell out billions of rupees for the security of Sonia Gandhi . Now SPG personnel have been provided for Rohit also, Priyanka’s son. It is said this has come about following a specific request from Priyanka. And then, Bhondsi Baba appears to be reluctant to shed away the aura and importance that SPG cover gives him. The Centre has, for this 70-plus former Prime Minister, provided 159 SPG men and 24 cars. Besides, his close relatives have also been allowed to enjoy SPG cover. Only former Prime Minister V. P. Singh has requested the government to lift the SPG cover provided to him. What message does such expensive measure give? No government gives such facilities to its retired public servants. Would the people ever forgive Arun Nehru for setting this pernicious trend? | |
