The Story and the Footnote
Former Home Minister in the UPA government and also ex Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Sushil Kumar Shinde’s family has been the target of a salacious unfounded rumour recently, a story that was probably planted by vested interests within the Congress (as is usually the case). In all the din, another event within the family got less play, which was the launch of Shinde’s biography: “Five Decades in Politics” (as told to Rasheed Kidwai). The blurb on the book has a quote by Sonia Gandhi referring to Shinde as a “stalwart Congressman symbolising the party’s fundamental values”. There is also an interesting anecdote within the book where Shinde recalls how Sonia had gifted him a copy of Barack Obama’s autobiography: “Dreams from My Father, A Story of Race & Inheritance”, saying that the former US President’s story reminded her of Shinde. It is of course another matter that the country’s highest office has eluded the veteran Congressman though he always makes it to the shortlist whenever the Congress has the numbers to appoint the Prime Minister—or even the President of India. But then that’s a footnote many an able politician carries around his neck.
Ram Madhav Returns
RSS leader Ram Madhav’s return to the BJP as the incharge for Jammu & Kashmir is being seen as a strong signal of an increase in the RSS influence over the party. During his earlier stint with the BJP as general secretary, the RSS leader was given charge of both J&K and the Northeast. His track record in delivering wins for the party was quite stellar, and he showed a flair for some out-of-box strategic thinking in forging alliances. Now at a time when the newly formed Union Territory is set to go for its first election post the abrogation of Article 370, Ram Madhav will have his task cut out; for the reaction to the BJP ‘s move is mixed within the Valley. Former J&K Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah also seems to be doing a rethink on his earlier plans of not contesting the Assembly-level elections until statehood was restored. He will be a formidable opponent for the BJP’s plans to retain control of the Valley (which is currently under Governor’s rule). What will help the BJP is the fact that Ram Madhav has kept his contacts in the Valley intact even during his break from active politics.
There is also a larger message from his return, about the role the RSS will be playing within the BJP in the near future. It does seem as if the RSS will be more active, especially in the run-up to appointing the next party president, or working president as the case may be. There is a buzz that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis may be looking to shift base to Delhi. An RSS favourite, is he tipped to be the next BJP chief, or else working president? Watch this space.
Phogat’s next bout
Will Vinesh Phogat be given a Congress ticket from Haryana? That seems to be the buzz, though some also claim that she could be given a Rajya Sabha berth. Congress leader from Haryana, Deepender Hooda was there at the airport to welcome the wrestler back from the Olympic Games. He was present throughout the roadshow as she was welcomed by her village in the wee hours of the morning; no single BJP leader was present. Her cousin Babita Phogat, who had contested an earlier election in 2019 on a BJP ticket, was also missing. However, the Congress made up in full strength, leading to speculation. There is also a possibility of Vinesh being given a Rajya Sabha berth. This is something that Deepender Hooda had hinted at during the Parliament session when asking the government to take up Vinesh’s case with the Olympic Committee.
The Lateral Entrants
The Congress and the rest of the opposition seems to have successfully stemmed the Government’s plans to induct outsiders into the bureaucracy but that is not the only lateral entry open for outsiders in the BJP government. If you take a look at the recent list of Rajya Sabha nominations then there are “outsiders” like Ravneet Singh Bittu, who left the Congress to join the BJP in March 2024. He lost the Lok Sabha election from Ludhiana, but has been compensated with a Rajya Sabha nomination from Rajasthan. Ditto for Kiran Choudhry who joined the BJP in June this year along with her daughter Shruti after the latter was denied a Lok Sabha ticket from the Congress. At the time of joining, Kiran was a sitting MLA from Haryana. However, she has now been given a Rajya Sabha berth from Haryana. Another turncoat, Mamata Mohanta, who recently resigned from her Rajya Sabha seat and left the BJD to join the BJP, has been compensated by the saffron party with a berth from Odisha.