KEEPING TABS ON POWER POLITICS IN PUNJAB, HARYANA, HIMACHAL PRADESH AND J&K
Barb time for Sidhu, Joshi
BJP leader Anil Joshi is not an unknown man. But when local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu was asked about his predecessor and one-time protégé, his response was “Joshi kaun” (who is Joshi). “Oh taan barsaati dadoo hai (He is a seasonal frog),” he added. Joshi did not wait to hit back. “His (Sidhu’s) takleef (pain) is that he took over from me (as the local bodies minister) and likes to be in the plush office built by me. And everywhere he sees my reflection, which he is unable to bear,” said the BJP leader. Then, he also had a piece of advice for the former colleague. “He should be large hearted to accept such things. These things are very common in politics. You never know who becomes your senior and who slides down,” said Joshi.
New govt, old website
The Congress government headed by Capt Amarinder
Singh has employment generation high on its agenda. The reason: the lofty promises made by the ruling party about creating employment opportunities for lakhs of youth every year. The department officials are also working hard to formulate schemes and update their record of “unemployed” youth in the state. But they seem to have forgotten to update their official website. Those visiting the department’s website and looking for contact details of officials to know about the new government’s employment schemes find the names of Parkash Singh Badal as the CM and minister in-charge, and his ‘favourite’ IAS officer KJS Cheema as secretary and director. Both do not currently have any position in the state government. Badal was voted out more than four months ago. The West Bengalcadre IAS officer, too, has been repatriated by the state government after an unduly extended inter-cadre deputation to his home state.
Amritsar’s carobar blues
Punjab additional director general of police (law and order) Rohit Chaudhary was in Amritsar recently to assess the crime situation. He met people from different walks of life who talked about snatching incidents and traffic woes. As he was getting feedback from industrialists, traders and others at a public meeting, renowned film personality Deepa Sahi touched the issue of ‘car bars’ in the city. But she was not the only one to talk about car-o-bars. There were many others who also told the top cop that rampant drinking in cars was a nuisance and leading to crime at times. Chaudhary promised to take immediate steps.
Waiting for Kovind’s picture
BJP leader Ram Nath Kovind took oath as India’s 14th president more than 10 days ago, but his photograph is still to adorn the walls of the offices of ministers and officials in the party’s government in Haryana. Former president Pranab Mukherjee’s photo was removed after he completed his tenure. The blank spot on the walls by side of pictures of the prime minister, governor and the chief minister looks odd and draws attention. “The photo of new president will soon fill the blank spot,” said an official.
Cong leader’s ‘chai pe charcha’
Congress firebrand leader Ranjeet Ranjan, who is All India Congress Committee (AICC) co-incharge of party affairs in Himachal Pradesh, had hit the headlines when she rode into Parliament on a swanky Harley Davidson on International Women’s Day. The two-time MP was in Shimla the other day to gather feedback from the people before the state elections due in four months. Ranjan, who was putting up in state-run Hotel Peterhoff, landed at a nearby dhaba close to Vice Regal Lodge in the morning to have tea. She talked at length for feedback to who were there for their morning cuppa. Given the current political mood in the state, not all of it would be palatable.
‘Perks for exCMs’ plan junked
Politicians start worrying about their comforts close to the elections. Days before the Haryana assembly polls in 2014, the Bhupinder Singh
Hooda’s cabinet had paved the way for rent-free bungalows for former chief ministers. Now, the Himachal Pradesh government headed by Virbhadra Singh also prepared an agenda for the cabinet to give a slew of additional perks, including reimbursement of mobile bills 24x7, security guard and vehicle, for the former chief ministers. But the proposal raised the hackles of several ministers and was not brought up in the meeting for discussion.
Shinde’s pill for bickering in HP Cong
All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of party affairs in Himachal Pradesh Sushil
Kumar Shinde was in Shimla last week to try and put an end to growing factionalism in the state unit. A twotime former chief minister of Maharashtra, he sent a stern message to warring factions headed by chief minister Virbhadra Singh and state unit president Sukvinder Singh Sukhu. “I am also a former policeman. I know how to deal with people in different way,” he said while praising the work of the state government and party unit.
Bali, Mankotia: ‘Hum saath saath hain’
Ever since Congress leader
Vijai Singh Mankotia has opened a front against chief minister Virbhadra Singh, bonhomie has been growing between transport minister GS Bali and him. The two “brothers in arms” have been seen together on many occasions, having coffee at Shimla’s busy Mall Road or travelling together. The chief minister was in Dharamshala recently and asked by the media about the new bond between the two leaders. He quipped: “Oh! It’s like Mil baithe 2 deewane”. “It doesn’t affect my health in any way,” he added quickly to a loud cackle from supporters.
Ad blitz on b’day
Urban development minister
Sudhir Sharma celebrated his 45th birthday last week. It was a low key affair – no cake cutting, no hullabaloo, just a sober plantation drive across Dharamshala town. But, what created buzz around the occasion were the jacket advertisements in local newspapers on the day, promoting image of the young leader. However, the Congress workers were left baffled. The leaders of block Congress were missing from among those whose photos appeared alongside the minister’s. “How will he work in the coming elections without block Congress?” asked a party supporter.