Employment Guarantee for Ex Chief Ministers?
Will the Congress ex Chief Ministers contest the Lok Sabha elections? The party leadership is keen that Bhupesh Baghel, Ashok Gehlot as well as Kamal Nath and T.S. Singhdeo should contest the elections, keeping in mind the fact that in these states it is a straight fight between the Congress and the BJP. The Congress leadership is also aware of the fact that the I.N.D.I.A partners are depending on it to deliver at least a 100 of the 250-plus seats where it is in a direct contest with the BJP. Judging by the recent round of Assembly polls, this is not going to be easy, hence the party is keen that its stalwarts take the plunge. Of these, only Kamal Nath seems willing and confident of his bastion. But if there was ever a time when the party needed its leaders to step forward, it is now. The pressure is on for the Congress to at least better its 2019 score and cross the three-digit mark. Rahul Gandhi too is doing his bit and has hit the ground with an awkwardly renamed Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
Which reminds me, is the focus of the yatra once again on the concept of Bharat Jodo; or is the idea to promote that Nyay scheme, which was a key promise of its 2019 campaign and also an issue that the Congress president talked about at the Nagpur rally last month as well? Clearly, it will be a while before the Congress finalises both its narrative and the faces to fight the coming Lok Sabha elections.
THE NAME DRAINS
At a recent (virtual) meeting of northeastern Chief Ministers with G. Kishan Reddy (Minister for Development, Northeastern region), there was a moment of panic when it was the turn of Mizoram. The worthies at the ministry could not immediately recall the name of the state Chief Minister. The microphones had to be muted as the officials did a frantic Google search to address Chief Minister Lalduhoma correctly. Uh oh, that was certainly an “Ouch” moment.
Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi?
While some in the BJP may feel that veteran leader Dr Murli Manohar Joshi may be too “old” to undertake the journey to Ayodhya for the Ram Janmabhoomi inauguration ceremony, he is busy celebrating his 90th birthday with friends and family. Dr Joshi’s daughters organised a cultural evening at his residence which had Dr Karan Singh giving the opening address while Pavan Varma moderated a panel discussion entitled Sustainable World with Dr Vandana Shiva and Sanjoy Roy. Those who know Dr Joshi, will recall his interest in physics as well as the fact that he taught physics at Allahabad University for a while. Having done his bit for the temple cause, the good professor and BJP leader is now focusing on his other interests, while his party debates his travel plans for Ayodhya. There is politics and then there is politicking.